Language Courses 2024–2025
Many language courses are listed with undergraduate-level numbers but can also be taken for credit by graduate students.
ARAMAIC
ARAM 10101 Old Aramaic Inscriptions Autumn T/Th 3:30–4:50 pm; Aren Wilson-Wright
Selected monumental inscriptions from the Old Aramaic period (c. 1000-600 BCE) are read with special attention to the dialectal differences among various subgroups of texts.
ARAM 10102 Imperial Aramaic Winter T/Th 3:30–4:50 pm; Aren Wilson-Wright
Selected letters and contracts from the Imperial Aramaic period (c. 600-200 BCE) are read with special attention to the historical development of the grammar of Aramaic during this time period.
ARAM 10103 Middle Aramaic Spring; Aren Wilson-Wright
Selected texts from the Middle Aramaic period (c. 200 BCE-200 CE) are read with special attention to the historical development of the grammar of Aramaic during this time period.
CLASSICAL HEBREW
BIBL 33900-34000 (= RLST 13900-14000) Introductory Biblical Hebrew I-II Autumn, Winter 8:30–9:20 am; Emily Thomassen
This is a two-quarter sequence designed to introduce students to the language of biblical Hebrew, with special emphasis on the fundamentals of its morphology, syntax, and vocabulary. The course follows a standard textbook supplemented by lectures, exercises, and oral drills aimed at refining the student’s grasp of grammatically sound interpretation and translation. At the conclusion of the two-quarter sequence students will be prepared to take a biblical Hebrew reading course in the spring quarter.
HEBR 10101-10102-10103 (= JWSC 22000-22100-22200). Elementary Classical Hebrew I-II-III Autumn, Winter, Spring M/W/F 12:30–1:20 pm; Aren Wilson-Wright
The purpose of this three-quarter sequence is to enable the student to acquire a knowledge of the vocabulary and grammar of Classical Hebrew sufficient to read prose texts with the occasional assistance of a dictionary. The first quarter focuses on the inflection of nouns and adjectives and begins the inflection of verbs. It includes written translation to and from Hebrew, oral exercises, and grammatical analysis of forms. The second quarter focuses on verb inflection and verbal sequences and includes written translation to and from Hebrew, oral exercises, and grammatical analysis of forms. The first half of the third quarter concludes the study of verb inflection and the second half is spent reading prose narrative texts with specific attention to the grammatical analysis of those texts.
HEBR 20104-20105-20106 (= JWSC 22300-22400-22500) Intermediate Classical Hebrew I-II-III Autumn, Winter, Spring M–F 8:30–9:20 am; Dennis Pardee
A continuation of Elementary Classical Hebrew (HEBR 10101-10102-10103 [JWSC 22000-22100-22200]). The first quarter consists of reviewing grammar, and of reading and analyzing further prose texts. The last two quarters are devoted to an introduction to Hebrew poetry with readings from Psalms, Proverbs, and the prophets.
MODERN HEBREW
HEBR 10501-10502-10503 (= JWSC 25000-25100-25200) Introductory Modern Hebrew I-II-III Autumn, Winter, Spring T/Th 12:30–1:50 pm; F 11:30 am – 12:20 pm; Ari Almog
The beginner's course is the first of three sequential courses offered to students at the university. The course aims to introduce students to reading, writing and speaking Modern Hebrew. Toward that end all four-language skills are emphasized: comprehension of written and oral materials; reading of non-diacritical text; writing of directed sentences, paragraphs, and compositions; speaking. You will learn the Hebrew root pattern system, and by the end of the year you will have mastered the five (active) basic verb conjugations in both the past and present tenses (as well as simple future). This grammatical knowledge is complemented by an 800+ word vocabulary, which is presented with an eye toward the major syntactic structures, including the proper use of prepositions. At the end of the year, you will conduct short conversations in Hebrew; read materials designed to this level and write short compositions.
HEBR 20501-20502-20503 (= JWSC 25300-25400-25500) Intermediate Modern Hebrew I-II-III Autumn, Winter, Spring T/Th 2:00–3:20 pm; F 12:30 – 1:20 pm; Ari Almog
The course, which builds upon Introductory Modern Hebrew (first year HEB) focuses on the acquisition of proficiency and communicative skills in Modern Hebrew. The purpose of this class is to expand and strengthen beginners' Hebrew skills so that they become more self-assured, communicative, and versatile when they listen to, read, speak, and write Hebrew. It emphasizes both communicative and cultural themes and focuses on developing a rich and active vocabulary in several language domains.
HEBR 33301–33302 Reading Modern Hebrew for Research Purposes I-II Autumn, Winter T/Th 3:30–4:50 pm; Ari Almog
The course concentrates on the written language and aims at enabling students to use Modern Hebrew for research purposes. The course is designed to enable students to read Hebrew freely. Major grammatical and syntactical aspects will be covered, and students will acquire substantial vocabulary, with attention paid to lexical collocations and semantic fields. By the end of the course, students are expected not only to be able to successfully satisfy their departmental language requirements but also to have a great set of skills that would allow them to read any given text written in Modern Hebrew. (The term "Modern Hebrew" covers primarily literature from the mid-twentieth century to current time).
HEBR 15001-15002 Elementary Modern Hebrew in Jerusalem (study abroad)
HEBR 15003-15004 Intermediate Modern Hebrew in Jerusalem (study abroad)
HEBR 15005-15006 Advanced Modern Hebrew in Jerusalem (study abroad
YIDDISH
YDDH 10100-10200 (= JWSC 20300-20400) Elementary Yiddish I-II Autumn/Spring 10100; Winter 10200 T/Th 10:30 am - 12:20 pm; Jessica Kirzane (Autumn, Winter); Chana Toth-Sewell (Spring)
The goal of this sequence is to develop proficiency in Yiddish reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Touchstones of global Yiddish culture are also introduced through song, film, and contemporary Yiddish websites.
YDDH 20100 (= JWSC 27301) Intermediate Yiddish I Autumn M/W/F 10:30–11:20 am; Jessica Kirzane
This course offers students the opportunity to study the Yiddish language at the intermediate level. It reviews and extents students' knowledge of the grammar of the Yiddish language, enhances vocabulary, and includes literary and cultural readings. Designed to further develop listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and writing skills.
YDDH 21003 (= JWSC 21024) Advanced Yiddish: Yiddish Children’s Literature Winter T/Th 12:30–1:50 pm; Jessica Kirzane
Modern Yiddish children's literature developed during a time of enormous political and social upheaval across the Yiddish-speaking world. Writers addressed an audience of children to explain, reassure, inspire, and educate them toward identities as Jews in a complex modern world. In this course we will read children's literature in the Yiddish originals and will discuss in Yiddish. Students will be expected to produce oral presentations on a story or author, short blog-style responses in Yiddish to the texts we read together, and a collaborative creative final project. This course is designed to accommodate students of a variety of language levels. PQ: One year of Yiddish or equivalent (determined by instructor)
YDDH 21023 (= JWSC 21023) Advanced Yiddish: Translating Yiddish Literature Autumn 9:30–10:50 am T/Th; Jessica Kirzane
This course will primarily be a workshop for sharing, revising and refining our own translations‐in‐progress from Yiddish literature. Drawing from a corpus of Yiddish texts written in or about Chicago, we will explore and translate within a variety of genres. Each week, in addition to our continuing work on translation projects, we will study the work of translation. This will include comparing different English translations of Yiddish literary texts, as well as examining Yiddish translations of English texts, to discuss how translators make decisions and the impact these decisions have on the resulting text; reading (in English) and discussing (in Yiddish) major theoretical texts about translation studies; and examining Yiddish language texts about translation. All of this study will inform our own translations. At the end of the term, the class will create a profile of polished translations of Chicago Yiddish writing, together with translators' introductions, which (with the permission of the students) may be distributed to future courses on Chicago Jewish history and culture.