Book Nook: Learn to Read Hebrew in Six Weeks

I love languages. I speak several fluently or near-fluently, have a survival basis in several others, and find linguistics and word development fascinating. I also enjoy teaching my choir kids to sing in other languages, so I have at least a passing familiarity with the pronunciation rules and cadences of many more languages.

One very important foundational skill for any new language is understanding the alphabet and phonetic system. For most English learners learning most European languages, this isn't a huge challenge - the alphabet looks mostly the same and the pronunciation rules, while different, generally make sense. However, some languages have a completely different alphabet, which makes them even more of a challenge.

I had a chance to review a book that provides the building blocks for one of those languages: Learn to Read Hebrew in 6 Weeks. This book won't have readers being able to speak or understand much more Hebrew than the words used as examples - however, for a language with such a different alphabet than English, this book breaks down the alphabet and phonetic rules in a very effective way.

The book makes use of imagery and similar English phonetics to teach the characters of the Hebrew alphabet. It's designed to be used in several lessons a week over six weeks - although someone with an excellent memory and good linguistic talent could get through the book more quickly. The book has cheerful illustrations which are kid-friendly, but not so childish that adults will feel odd using the book. If you're looking for a way to get your feet wet with Hebrew, this book is a great start.