Beginner I Yiddish (In-person)
Tuition: $480 | YIVO members: $375**
Students: $240 (Must register with valid university email address)
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This class meets weekly in person at the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research in New York City. Enrollment will be capped at about 15 students. All course details (syllabus, handouts, assignments, etc.) will be posted to Canvas. Students will be granted access to the class on Canvas after registering for the class here on the YIVO website. This class will be conducted in Yiddish and English.
Instructor: Nachum Lerner
Who should take this course?
This course is appropriate for those who are new to Yiddish or would like a review.
What topics will this class cover?
This class will cover the alef-beys (the Yiddish alphabet), conversational vocabulary, and verb conjugation in present and future tenses. Students will start to develop a basic competence in Yiddish conversation, reading and writing, as well as familiarity with Yiddish culture and music. We will read passages in the textbook, as well as additional poems and songs. Videos and recordings will supplement the class discussions.
Is knowledge of the Yiddish alphabet required?
No, knowledge of the Yiddish alphabet is not required. However, students who have no prior experience with reading and writing the Yiddish or Hebrew alphabets are highly encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Yiddish alphabet before class, as the course will move at a fast pace. The tools and videos provided here will be helpful in getting a handle on reading and writing the alef-beys, and are designed for independent use.
Course Materials:
This course will use Yiddish: An Introduction to the Language, Literature & Culture, Volume I by Sheva Zucker (Purchase).
Nachum Lerner was raised in a Yiddish-loving home in Miami Beach, Florida. He studied Yiddish language and literature at Bar Ilan University, the YIVO Summer Program (at Columbia University), and the University of Pennsylvania. In addition, he holds an MA in modern Jewish history and literature from the Jewish Theological Seminary. He has taught Yiddish at the Workers Circle/Arbeter-Ring, Makor, the 92nd Street Y, and Yeshiva University, and since 2010, has been instructor of Yiddish language at JTS.
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