| Modern Hebrew is a historic language that draws | | | | dots and dashes known as nikkud. There is no |
| many people to study it for various reasons. | | | | upper or lower case to the letters, but a few of |
| While modern Hebrew is somewhat different than | | | | them have a different form when they come at |
| the historical language known to many as the | | | | the end of a word. People who are learning |
| language of the Hebrew Bible, learning modern | | | | Hebrew often struggle with the fact that the |
| Hebrew means that despite developments and | | | | language is written from right to left, rather than |
| changes that have occurred, you will nevertheless | | | | from left to right. The lack of written vowels |
| be learning a language that has been used since | | | | poses problems for many new learners. |
| Biblical times. If you are a native English speaker, | | | | As with most languages, the best way to learn |
| you might encounter some difficulties associated | | | | modern Hebrew is to both study the grammar |
| with learning this beautiful language simply because | | | | and syntax of the language and to practice |
| of how different it is from modern English. | | | | speaking and listening to the language being |
| Before you can begin studying Hebrew, you need | | | | spoken. You can study grammar until you know |
| to know a little about the language you will be | | | | everything perfectly, but if you do not learn how |
| learning. Today, 6 million people speak the Hebrew | | | | to properly pronounce the language, you will not |
| language, with most of these people living in Israel. | | | | be able to function in a situation where you are |
| The language almost completely disappeared in | | | | required to speak the language. Simply studying |
| everyday speech between the ninth and | | | | Hebrew grammar is not enough. You need the |
| nineteenth centuries due to lack of use. While the | | | | conversational aspect as well. |
| language was used by Jews during prayer and | | | | In fact, the conversational component of learning |
| Torah study, it was not commonly spoken | | | | Hebrew is almost more important than learning |
| outside of the home and synagogue. In the | | | | the language's grammar, as most situations where |
| nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Zionists | | | | you will need to know the language will require |
| worked to restore the language, making modern | | | | you to speak or understand it. |
| Hebrew the official language of the newly formed | | | | As you are looking for something to help you |
| State of Israel. Today, modern Hebrew | | | | reach your goal of learning Hebrew, look for a |
| somewhat resembles the Biblical variety, with | | | | course that will give you the chance to speak |
| subtle changes to allow the language to work in | | | | Hebrew and listen to it being spoken. This should |
| today's society. | | | | be combined with some grammatical instruction, |
| Learning Hebrew usually starts with learning the | | | | but immersion into the spoken language is one of |
| Hebrew alphabet. The Hebrew alphabet contains | | | | the best ways to learn a complex language like |
| 22 letters, all of which are consonants. When | | | | modern Hebrew. Once you can speak the |
| vowels need to be represented, which is rarely | | | | language with some confidence, it is far easier to |
| done in written Hebrew, they are represented by | | | | learn how to read and write it as well. |