Goals+of+HipHop+Hebraics

Hip-Hop Hebraics

//Hip-Hop Hebraics //is a new, distance learning course for students in middle school and high school being piloted by JETS, a Jerusalem based distance and on-line learning provider. The course is presented in a blended fashion, including a live distance learning lesson presented by a JETS instructor, followed by an on-line asynchronous follow-up activity. The live component can be presented via video conferencing or via webex computer conferencing.

//Hip-Hop Hebraics //represents a new concept in Hebrew education. It aims to engage students with Hebrew language and culture - to encourage them to value Hebrew as the unifying language of the Jewish people, and as a code that provides access simultaneously to modern Israeli culture and to their rich Jewish heritage. The //Hip-Hop Hebraics// "engagement" approach is guided by the following principles of language acquisition:


 * Language acquisition, in contrast to language learning, is a subconscious process, meaning that the activity performed by the student is not perceived as formal language learning.


 * Language acquisition is enhanced by high quality input – i.e. materials that consists of authentic language (the language used by native speakers), reflect a high interest level, and are in the students' zone of proximal development.


 * Both children and adults acquire, use, and develop language in order to transmit or receive meaningful messages. Thus, content (i.e. meaningful messages), rather than language structure, should be the most important guiding factor in the selection of pedagogic material.

The focus on engagement enables //Hip Hop Hebraics// to function in a differentiated fashion for different student populations:


 * For all students, the course serves as an intriguing bridge to modern Israeli culture and uncovers connections between modern Israeli culture and Jewish history and tradition. In so doing, it is also designed to strengthen Jewish identity.

With regard to language, goals may vary between different groups:


 * For weaker or disengaged students, the primary goals of engagement will be to help them value Hebrew language as the unifying language of the Jewish people, both past and present. Success in this goal will inevitably lead to an increased level of proficiency, but only within the students' zone of proximal development. Hebrew fluency will not be a goal in such cases, and the exclusive use of Hebrew in the class may be an unrealistic methodology.


 * On the other hand, for stronger students, one of the goals of engagement, in addition to that of increasing the degree to which they value Hebrew, will be to enhance their Hebrew fluency. They will be called upon to react to material presented primarily in Hebrew by creating their own thoughts in Hebrew in the various modes of communication.

Specific language goals and methods will be set by the JETS teacher in consultation with the student or school administration, based on the current Hebrew level of the students.

Thus, //Hip Hop Hebraics// is a different kind of Hebrew course than your students may have experienced in the past. By using fascinating content and absorbing methodologies to engage students in Hebrew language in a fun, interesting and interactive way, they will build and expand their Hebrew proficiency while strengthening their connection to the global Jewish community and to their Jewish roots. It is hoped that //Hip-Hop Hebraics// will provide a valuable instructional resource for Jewish supplementary and day schools.

For more information, or to pilot the program in your school, contact info@jetsisrael.com or go to [|www.jetsisrael.com].