Winter 2019/Menlo Park

LG502A

Loepp

LG502B: BEGINNING HEBREW (4 units: 162 hours). Dale Loepp

DESCRIPTION: This two-quarter course is an introduction to Biblical Hebrew with the first half offered in the Fall quarter, and the second half offered in the Winter quarter. Participants enrolling in this course must enroll in both LG502A and LG502B with the same instructor (transferring between sections is not permitted).

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Participants who successfully completing this two-quarter course will have demonstrated ability in the following: (1) read aloud from the Hebrew Bible; (2) write legibly in a standard Hebrew script; (3) recognize and use the high frequency vocabulary of Biblical Hebrew; (4) identify basic word forms, grammatical structures, and syntax; and (5) translate short passages from the Hebrew Bible using a standard lexicon and other tools.

COURSE FORMAT: This class meets once per week for three hour sessions for a total of 30 hours of classroom instruction plus 10 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours. Class meetings will consist of lectures on the grammatical topics for the week, practice reading and translating from the Hebrew Bible, and translation exercises, quizzes, and exams.

REQUIRED TEXTS:

Brown, F., S. R. Driver, and C. A. Briggs. A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament, with an appendix, containing the Biblical Aramaic. Hendrickson, 1996 [original date, 1906]. ISBN: 978-1565632066, Pub. Price $34.95.

Elliger, K., and W. Rudolph. Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia. Compact Edition. 5th ed. Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2006. ISBN: 978-1598561630, Pub. Price $69.95.

Seow, C. L. A Grammar for Biblical Hebrew. Revised Edition. Abingdon, 1995. ISBN: 978-1426789076, Pub. Price $39.99 [178 pp.].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT: Learning a foreign language involves commitment and dedicated study and requires significant focus on ongoing review and memorization. Participants will complete weekly homework assignments, will memorize high-frequency and important vocabulary, and will be tested on vocabulary and course content through quizzes and exams.

  1. 178 pp. of required reading from the textbook [12 hours].
  2. Vocabulary memorization [60 hours].
  3. Homework Assignments. (6 assignments worth 5% each, 30% total). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. [30 hours].
  4. Prompt-based translation project prepared outside of class. (10%). [This DLA assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. [10 hours].
  5. Quizzes. (5 quizzes, including one oral quiz, worth 4% each, 20% total). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2, 3, 4, 5]. [10 hours preparation outside of class].
  6. Midterm Exam. (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2, 3, 4, 5]. [5 hours].
  7. Final Exam. (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2, 3, 4, 5]. [5 hours].

PREREQUISITES: LG502A. No audits.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: The completed two quarter sequence LG502A/B meets the Hebrew requirement in the MDiv Program. Required in the Biblical Languages emphasis.

FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes.

NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change.