Did you know that this month marks Hebrew Language Day, which commemorates the birthday of Eliezer Ben Yehuda, the father of modern spoken Hebrew? What is it about Ivrit B’Wise, Hebrew at Wise, that brings me so much pride and joy? Without a doubt, it is witnessing our students unlock the magic of Hebrew language acquisition starting in kindergarten and growing through grade 6. I am always in awe of our language learners and their achievements. In my upcoming articles, I am excited to share some grade level highlights from our Wise Hebrew program.
At Wise, we believe in the centrality of the Hebrew language in the development of our children as global citizens of the world and as Jews. This principle guides our rationale referring to Hebrew as a Heritage Language and/or Target Language rather than a foreign language. There is nothing foreign about Hebrew to our children. Our Hebrew students understand that it is the language of our people all over the world and especially in Israel.
The advantages of language learning as shown in research are undeniable:
- enhances problem-solving skills
- improves verbal and spatial abilities
- improves memory function (long & short-term)
These cognitive benefits of language learning enhance student performance, producing:
- higher standardized test scores
- higher reading achievement
- expanded student vocabulary in native language (English)
- higher academic performance at the college level
In the words of a Wise student, “When I study Hebrew, it is like unlocking a code. I get to understand how Hebrew is an integral part of my Jewish identity and how, through Hebrew, I understand the world better. I love it.”
-מחיל אל חיל May we go from strength to strength,
Malka Clement
