Ariela Finkelstein
Office: Gates-Blake 223
Email: afinkels@midway.uchicago.edu
Senior Lecturer, Department of Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations and the College
B.A. Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 1983,
M.A. University of Chicago, 1996.
Background:
The Modern Hebrew Language program was established in its current format at the U of C 19 years ago with the goal of introducing students to the language, as well as the cultural and literary context of Modern Hebrew. In addition to students in the college, the Modern Hebrew program supports students in NELC, Linguistics, the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, and the Center of Jewish Studies.
I am a graduate of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and my field of expertise (which is also my hobby and my passion) is Modern Hebrew language and Modern Israeli Literature.
The Modern Hebrew program is a four-year program, whose aim is to enable students to read, write and speak Modern Hebrew. The emphasis is upon contemporary usage, and the cultural context within which the language is spoken. The basic philosophy is to teach Hebrew in Hebrew, based upon the model of the Hebrew language program at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Along with the textbook, students are introduced, from the elementary level and up, to a variety of cultural aspects, through music, movies, television and literary material (both poetry & prose). The program primarily uses the textbooks that were developed by faculty at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem who encourage teaching Hebrew in Hebrew and advocate focus on reading, speaking and writing. In addition to the formal curriculum, there is also a Hebrew Circle that meets every other week to watch Israeli films, listen to lectures in Hebrew, and practice spoken Hebrew.