This week was great. I started with a new student- a lovely student who is a COMPLETE beginner. We first started learning the letters, the vowels, and of course how to read and to write correctly. I must admit that as I was noticing the difficulty he was dealing with, I began to hesitate about the pace and the method I chose to use. I certainly did not want to cause any overload or confusion. So, I decided that a first 'feedback chat' would be the right thing to do. At the end of our talk I was far more relaxed and calm as he explained that everything was fine for him and he believes that he will 'survive'; What a relief ☺
As I wrote previously, I am currently seeking an MA program to start in October. On Wednesday I went to visit one potential location and check my options there but it's not for me. Hoping to find something soon.
I spent Shabbat up in the North at my best friend's house who is getting married in two weeks time. All of our friends came and it was exciting and a lot of fun. Can’t wait for the wedding…
Wishing you all the best and Shavua Tov,
Saray Pentzak
Ulpan Aviv - Teacher
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Shalom Le Kulam!!
Last week was wonderful, as you will see from the last blog post, I was holidaying in the north of Israel in a little Moshav called Kalanit. It was simply beautiful and very quiet.
All of my family came and since we have a lot of children amongst us, things could get a little crowded at times but all in all it was really great being with everyone. I have three older brothers and no sisters which was a little tough growing up but now I have got used to it and have a very special connection with my brothers!
On Wednesday I came back to Ulpan. I have to say that it was a little bit hard at the beginning but after an hour everything was back to normal again.
Going into the classroom this week made me think again about something we need to handle here on daily basis; the psychology of adapting to Israeli life. Coming to study Hebrew with us is not just about learning a language; it is also about slowly learning to bridge the cultural divide so evident when one spends even just a short amount of time in Israel. It is a process that also involves support and listening to broach topics such as the different temperament Israelis have (or at least are stigmatized to have). It is always the same question for me: what should I do? On the one hand, there is a lot to learn and a lot of things to go over, but on the other hand, maybe that is not the most pressing issue at that particular moment? Usually I just let my students clear their head and talk about what is bothering them and then we move on to Hebrew.
I wish you all the best and Shabbat Shalom,
Saray Pentzak.
Ulpan Aviv- Teacher
All of my family came and since we have a lot of children amongst us, things could get a little crowded at times but all in all it was really great being with everyone. I have three older brothers and no sisters which was a little tough growing up but now I have got used to it and have a very special connection with my brothers!
On Wednesday I came back to Ulpan. I have to say that it was a little bit hard at the beginning but after an hour everything was back to normal again.
Going into the classroom this week made me think again about something we need to handle here on daily basis; the psychology of adapting to Israeli life. Coming to study Hebrew with us is not just about learning a language; it is also about slowly learning to bridge the cultural divide so evident when one spends even just a short amount of time in Israel. It is a process that also involves support and listening to broach topics such as the different temperament Israelis have (or at least are stigmatized to have). It is always the same question for me: what should I do? On the one hand, there is a lot to learn and a lot of things to go over, but on the other hand, maybe that is not the most pressing issue at that particular moment? Usually I just let my students clear their head and talk about what is bothering them and then we move on to Hebrew.
I wish you all the best and Shabbat Shalom,
Saray Pentzak.
Ulpan Aviv- Teacher
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Hi everybody!
I am really looking forward to the holiday that I am going on this week. I am going on a trip to the North will all my family for a very much needed break!
Last week was challenging indeed, I taught my first children's course and it was a big success! I met Shirel last Sunday, the cutest 7 year old in France. Not only that this was my first time teaching a child, Shirel does not speak any English and so this was another first- teaching a child Hebrew in Hebrew. It was very different since I am so used to teaching Hebrew in English and I must say that I started the course being a bit skeptical. I discovered that just as research suggests, kids do have a special sense for language acquisition. Even though Shirel and I could not communicate in any language at all, me having a few words in French and her having a few words in Hebrew, we made it and it was an amazing experience that has definitely made me appreciate the sense of communication between people. Teaching the course has definitely made me want to learn more languages and be able to communicate more fully in other languages apart from just English. It also reinforced my joy at working with kids, something I definitely want to do more of.
Wishing you all a beautiful week, not less than the one I am hoping to have myself… ☺
Saray Pentzak
Ulpan Aviv- Teacher
Last week was challenging indeed, I taught my first children's course and it was a big success! I met Shirel last Sunday, the cutest 7 year old in France. Not only that this was my first time teaching a child, Shirel does not speak any English and so this was another first- teaching a child Hebrew in Hebrew. It was very different since I am so used to teaching Hebrew in English and I must say that I started the course being a bit skeptical. I discovered that just as research suggests, kids do have a special sense for language acquisition. Even though Shirel and I could not communicate in any language at all, me having a few words in French and her having a few words in Hebrew, we made it and it was an amazing experience that has definitely made me appreciate the sense of communication between people. Teaching the course has definitely made me want to learn more languages and be able to communicate more fully in other languages apart from just English. It also reinforced my joy at working with kids, something I definitely want to do more of.
Wishing you all a beautiful week, not less than the one I am hoping to have myself… ☺
Saray Pentzak
Ulpan Aviv- Teacher
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Shalom Lekulam!
At the moment I am thinking about studying for an MA. On Tuesday I went to Rishon-Letzion for a meeting with an educational advisor to hear about all my available options. It was also an opportunity to see the campus and talk to some students who are doing the same course as I am interested in. Hearing the high prices students need to pay for an MA made me even more supportive of all the protests taking place these days in Israel.
This week in Ulpan was very good as I started teaching one student from Holland. He is a charming man and certainly the first who has ever told me that (in his opinion), Hebrew is a simple language. He saw that I was a little perplexed by this (never have I heard this before) he said: "Try to learn Dutch and you will understand what a complicated language is…" So now we know that Hebrew is easier than Dutch.
Today is Thursday and I am going to do my first on-line lesson (via Skype) with a student from the UK who sounds so nice in the e-mails we have sent each other so far. I am excited.
Tomorrow it is Friday and I am really excited for Shabbat this week since a good friend of mine is coming over for the whole weekend. In a few months she will be getting married and these are our last months together as single friends.
Wishing you all Shabat shalom!
Saray Pentzak
Ulpan Aviv - Teacher
This week in Ulpan was very good as I started teaching one student from Holland. He is a charming man and certainly the first who has ever told me that (in his opinion), Hebrew is a simple language. He saw that I was a little perplexed by this (never have I heard this before) he said: "Try to learn Dutch and you will understand what a complicated language is…" So now we know that Hebrew is easier than Dutch.
Today is Thursday and I am going to do my first on-line lesson (via Skype) with a student from the UK who sounds so nice in the e-mails we have sent each other so far. I am excited.
Tomorrow it is Friday and I am really excited for Shabbat this week since a good friend of mine is coming over for the whole weekend. In a few months she will be getting married and these are our last months together as single friends.
Wishing you all Shabat shalom!
Saray Pentzak
Ulpan Aviv - Teacher
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