It's been about 10 weeks since my arrival to Israel. I have SO MANY things I want to write about---and I faithfully keep adding to my iPod list almost on a daily basis.
How about I start with today?!
Up at 05:45 to get ready for Ulpan. Ulpan is available to every new immigrant at no cost. The sessions start at various times throughout the calendar year, depending on where the Ulpan is located and the number of people that have signed up to take it. It is the 5-5-5 plan: lasts for 5 months, 5 days a week, 5 hours a day. My class doesn't start until 08:20, but I must take the bus, so I get up early. It's about a 30-45 minute ride depending on traffic. (Note: The post about the bus system is still to come!).
I am in Kita Aleph, which is the Beginner's Hebrew class. But let me tell you!! Don't let that Aleph fool you! This is the most intensive workout my brain has been through in quite a while. From Day 1, our teacher (morah) only speaks to us in Hebrew (Ivrit). Of course, almost no one in the class of 25 students knew what she was saying. Didn't matter. She continued on, our heads spinning, and our hearts beating fast, fearing that we will never learn this difficult language. It was all Greek....well, Hebrew to us!!
Slowly, through her patience and repetition, small glimmers of hope broke through the dark language barrier. And it was only Day 2! By the end of week 1, she had us READING and WRITING simple words. By Day 10, we were writing sentences and practicing dialogues.
I now know that the key to learning a foreign language successfully is by total immersion. If you are allowed to revert to what is comfortable, i.e. your native language in the classroom, the learning is delayed. I have taken 3 language classes in the past---and although I did understand things eventually, it was at a much slower rate than what I am experiencing now. It's so exciting to see a billboard (really?!?) and be able to decipher what I am reading. :) Ok, granted, that may grow old...but I feel like a kid again!
Tomorrow is Day 13. I can't wait to start the day with all of my "fellow 6 year olds"...however old we may be!! At least in the classroom, we are all on the same level, with the same goal: To learn Hebrew and become an integrated member of Israeli society.
Nice to be Home!
Have a great week, (Shavua Tov)
Aliana
