
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.
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