Hebrew is FUNdamental Welcome ברוכים הבאים Questions Tech Support? [email protected]...

Hebrew is FUNdamental Welcome ברוכים הבאים

Questions

Tech Support? [email protected] 1-800-221-2755

© Dina Maiben 1www.BehrmanHouse.com

What You’ll Get From Today’s Presentation

See how Alef Bet Quest works Understand the research on which

it’s based Learn how this primer efficiently &

effectively teaches Hebrew decoding

Know what it can and cannot do for you


Alef Bet Quest

? מה נשתנה

Innovative Integrated Learning System

Based on Hebrew Reading Research

Engaging & Cute


Alef Bet Quest Fully Integrated


Based on Research in Hebrew Reading

Learn how Israeli researchers uncovered the secrets of successful Hebrew reading instruction.

Examine their findings on efficient & effective Hebrew phonics instruction.

Discuss how these findings apply to our classrooms today.


4 Questions for Hebrew Reading

1. Why is learning to decode Hebrew often so difficult?

2. What are the right sequences for introducing letters and vowels?

3. What is the optimum age to begin Hebrew instruction?

4. How can you include meaningful Hebrew language at the primer level?


Survey Says…

What is the biggest problem you face in teaching Hebrew decoding?

A. Letters that look alike.B. Vowels.C. Not enough time.D. No one at home can help.


1. Why is Learning to Decode Hebrew Often So Difficult?

A. Learner Issues

B. Subject Matter Issues

C. Environmental Issues

Subject Matter

EnvironmentLearner


Learner Issues

General Learning Skills—the “10-80-10 Rule”

Age & Prior Experience with Hebrew

Interest & Motivation

Tolerance for Frustration


Subject Matter Issues Visually similar (“look alike”) letters Symbols for similar but not identical sounds Single symbols for 2 purposes ( שוא/ קמץ ) Two symbols for a single sound ( ת/ ט ) Vowels Letters for sounds that don’t exist in

English Directionality


Environmental Issues

Don’t understand what they’re reading

Not enough instructional time English reading strategies do not

help No one at home who can provide

assistance


Survey Results…


2. What Are the Right Sequences for Introducing Hebrew Letters & Vowels

Feitelson’s Team, 1958 Began with error analysis—what was difficult

for students. Feitelson’s team conducted classroom

experiments to find optimal approaches to Hebrew reading instruction.

A. Sequence of IntroductionB. Patterns for Reading Drills


A. Introductory Sequences

Symbols that are visually similar.

Symbols that represent similar, but not

identical, sounds.

Different symbols that represent a single

sound.

Single symbols that represents more than

one sound.


Three Instructional Sequences

1. Concurrent: Items are introduced together

2. Sequential 1 right after the other: The first item is taught one day, the second is taught in the next session.

3. Separated Sequential: The first item is taught one day, the second is taught later, separated by strings of neutral symbols.

2

3

1


Visually Similar Symbols: How Much Effort is Required to Tell Them Apart?

English has a few visually similar letters.

Most are mirror images: b d p q f t

Others share overall shape: g y j i


Hebrew has Many, Many, Many Visually Similar Letters

More than 30 letter pairs with only 1 tiny difference.

2 pairs share a general overall shape.

3 pairs are similar when rotated.


Widely Separate Look Alike Letters

Introducing visually similar letters together or one right after the other increased the likelihood that students would confuse them!

3


Hebrew Letters that Represent Similar, But Not Identical Sounds

Hebrew has about a

dozen pairs of consonant and vowel sounds

that are similar.


Widely Separate Similar Sounding Letters & Vowels

As with visually similar items, introducing those that sound similar either together or one right after the other, greatly increased the likelihood of confusion.

3


Multiple Symbols that Represent Single Sounds

כ ך מ ם נ ן פ ף צ ץ

א ע ו ב ש ס כ ק

ט ת ת ח כ ך

7

Pairs of regular and final letters.

Pairs of unrelated letters that represent the same sound.

Combinations Vowels


Introduce All Symbols for a Single Sound Together

When these letters were introduced one right after the other or widely separated, the learners tended to recall 1 symbol, but not the other.

Less common symbols often forgotten.

Compounded by visually similar alternatives.

1


Two Sounds, One Symbol

“ghoti”

ה י 7

English has many symbols that represent multiple sounds, and most sounds can be represented in at least two ways.

Hebrew has 2 letters & 2 vowel symbols that represent two different sounds each.


Widely Separate 2 Uses ofa Single Symbol

Because they represent two sounds, they should be treated as symbols that represent similar sounds.

Especially important because these items are specifically cited as as causing problems for beginning readers.

יד הדג

ינה ד=

3


Introductory Sequences: Best Practices

If they look similar—widely separate.

If they sound similar—widely separate.

2 symbols 1 sound, teach them together.

1 symbol 2 sounds, widely separate.


Alef Bet Quest:Introductory Sequences

Look alike letters widely separated.

Sound alike letters widely separated.

2 symbols-1 sound taught together.

1 symbol 2 sounds widely separated.


Visually Similar Items—Practice Makes Perfect

Need to be able to tell which letter is which in real reading situations.

Once the second member of pair introduced, practice is given in visual discrimination—generally self-correcting activity.


Similar Sounding Items—Sound Practice

As with fine visual discrimination, practice with fine auditory discrimination is often very helpful.

Here, cognates (words that are the same in both languages) are helpful.


2 Symbols 1 Sound—Hebrew Homonyms

Identifying homonyms provides students with an interesting way to review different symbols that represent 1 sound.


Questions?

שאלות?


B. Vowels and Drill Patterns

ב� ב� ב� ב� ב�

ב� ג� ד� ה� א�

Two possible patterns:

Drill 1 consonant with every vowel.

Or

Drill 1 vowel with every consonant.


Drilling 1 vowel with Every Consonant is More Effective

2 Lines introduce new vowel with letters they have learned.

Consistent patterns of vowels.

2 lines more of more complex forms (2-syllable words).

6 short, complete sentences.


Alef Bet Quest—Sequences for Success

If they look or sound similar—widely separate.

2 symbols 1 sound, teach them together.

1 symbol 2 sounds, widely separate.

Drill individual vowels with each consonant.


Environmental Issues:The More Things Change…

A. English reading strategies not help.

B. Parents unable to assist.

C. Students learning to read a language they don’t know.


A. English Reading Strategies– English Relies on Word Shapes

th = the

tht = that

ths = this or thus

thgh = though

thgh = through

thght = thought

English words vary in length.

Many ascending and descending letters give English words distinctive shapes.

Fluent readers glance at the beginning & ending of a word, deriving the rest from context.


Hebrew Word Shapes

Deriving vocabulary from roots leads to words of 3 to 8 letters on average

Hebrew lacks ascending and descending letters. Only 1 ascender (ל); only 1 descending letter except for finals (ק).

Hebrew words are similar in both length and shape, lacking distinctiveness.

ב ך =

� �ך ��רו בך ר� ד� ב�יך ר בך ד� י� ביך ז ב�יך ד� ב�


Parental Assistance—Feitelson’s Findings

1950 Reading failure in Israel reaches 50%.

Szold Institute hires Feitelson to study causes.

10 classes studied, 9 from immigrant communities, 1 control class from established area.

Won Israel Prize in 1953


B. Parents Unable to Assist—Modern Solutions to Old Problems


How Alef Bet Quest Integrates the Book with the Digital Application

Last activity in each lesson provides a key to scoring bonus points in the computer game.

Opening of each lesson on digital application reviews what was covered in the book.


Learning to Read a Language They Do Not Know


3. What is the Optimum Age for Learning Hebrew?

Are children always better language learners?

Critical Period Hypothesis

Hebrew as a Heritage Language

Brain-based research


Child vs. Adult L2 Acquisition

Adults learn L2 faster than children; adolescents fastest of all.

Best approach for children: acquire L2 .

Children attain highest levels.


Critical Period Hypothesis Windows of

Opportunity for L1: Circuits in auditory

cortex completed by age 1.

Syntax—age 5 – 6 Vocabulary—may

never close Optimum age for L2

is between 5 and 10 years.


Naturalistic Methods

כלב

Vocabulary taught without translation.

Students deduce meaning from context.

Input is a little above learner’s level.


4. How Can We Include Meaningful Hebrew at the Primer level?

Companion Reader follows naturalistic approach.


Feitelson’s 3 Stages of Reading Acquisition

Vocabulary built from letters & vowels they know.

Words for concrete items are taught via pictures.

Key words, vocabulary & cognates relate directly to the child’s immediate experiences.


Words Lead to Sentences; Sentences to Stories

Vocabulary-driven. Introduce via oral

language presentation. Very little grammar

taught. Reading

comprehension does not necessarily lead to conversation and vice versa.


Questions?

שאלות?


Conclusion

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