Speaking in tongues

Jerusalem is a city where people of many nationalities live and visit. Although the three main languages are Hebrew, Arabic and English, many other languages can be heard on the streets, whether spoken by immigrants, diplomats or tourists. The capital also has a sizable Russian-speaking and an ever-growing French-speaking population. As befits a multilingual city, Jerusalem offers language instruction in a variety of languages and formats, ranging from courses at university and cultural institutions to informal talk cafes, private lessons and online courses. While Hebrew ulpanim are the most prevalent classes, it is possible to learn foreign languages such as Arabic, French, German, Italian, Turkish and Greek. During my university studies here, I studied classical Arabic, French and Farsi. However, while the university is a great place to learn a wide variety of languages, the emphasis tends to be more on reading and writing the language than on speaking it. This is good for academic purposes; but in my opinion, the best way to learn a language is to learn how to actually speak it. Of course, living in the native country of a language makes a big difference. My Hebrew is much better than my French, as I have never lived in France, although I have visited it frequently. For those seeking a more regulated course of study outside university, cultural institutions are a great place to look. They offer both language instruction and cultural events. The Romain Gary center (French), the Dante Alighieri Society (Italian) and the Goethe Institute (German) offer language classes from beginners to advanced level, as well as online resources, lectures and cultural events such as film screenings. The Dante Alighieri Society even offers the option of learning Italian cooking with a chef. What better way to learn a language than through your palate! The courses cost NIS 2,000 to NIS 3,000 for periods ranging from 15 to 32 weeks for two to three hours a week in a group of at least six. The cultural centers also offer private lessons, which are more expensive. For those who want to learn non-European or ancient languages, Polis, the Jerusalem Institute of Languages and Humanities, offers classes in modern Hebrew and spoken or modern standard Arabic. And for those interested in ancient cultures, there is biblical Hebrew and Koine Greek. The prices are on a par with those of the cultural institutes and are also for a full semester (100 academic hours). Arabic is one of the most commonly taught languages in Jerusalem, on offer at places such as the Minerva Institute and the Carousela restaurant in Rehavia. The classes at Minerva cost NIS 1,300 for 15 lessons and NIS 450 for six lessons at Carousela. I have been taking Arabic classes at Carousela for the past few months, which I greatly enjoy. The classes are on Friday mornings and consist of seven people. Our first teacher was an Israeli Jew who instilled in us a love of Arabic and a knowledge of the cultural norms, while at the same time ensuring that we didn't neglect the less exciting aspects of learning the grammar and syntax. We have just been assigned a new teacher – an Arab woman from east Jerusalem who has been teaching for many years. In the two lessons that we've had so far, it was interesting to be introduced to the cultural norms that accompany learning a language. For example, we learned that there is no word for “boyfriend” in Arabic, as in traditional Arab culture the concept of a boyfriend as opposed to a male friend does not exist. Carousela also houses a small cultural center, where lectures and musical evenings are held. Jonathan Vadai, the owner of Carousela, says that he started the center to preserve the cultural heritage of Jews from Arab countries, who number at least 50 percent of the Israeli Jewish population and whose cultural heritage is becoming increasingly assimilated into Israeli culture. Vadai recognizes the importance of understanding Arabic in this region and wants to increase the teaching of Arabic, which he feels is being sorely neglected. There are also opportunities for those who want to learn a language in a more informal way. On noticeboards throughout the city, people are offering private lessons in a variety of languages, such as Finnish and Japanese. Another popular informal method of learning languages here is the Talkcafe program. It offers people the opportunity to improve their language skills in an informal atmosphere over a cup of coffee. The sessions are held in local coffee shops, bars and restaurants at convenient times so people can drop in and participate in a conversation whenever they can. Each group is led by a moderator who speaks the language fluently and assists in keeping the conversation running, correcting grammar and providing vocabulary when necessary. Each session has a suggested theme but often diverges onto a completely different tangent as happens during normal conversations. The cost is NIS 50 per session or NIS 355 for eight sessions, plus the cost of whatever you order to eat or drink. These chat groups are offered in Hebrew, English, French, Arabic, Spanish, Italian and Yiddish. While it is very important to know Hebrew if you live in Israel, knowing more languages can open up new worlds and cultures and sometimes even lead to a job or meeting a partner. So if you're interested in learning new languages in Jerusalem and meeting different types of people, there are options to suit every budget and taste. And learning a new language has the added benefit of being great for your brain and memory. What better reason do you need?

Speaking in tongues

Opportunities abound to learn a plethora of languages in the holy city.

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