Israel’s Absorption Ministry is in the process of launching a television station dedicated solely to teaching Hebrew to new immigrants – a move unprecedented in any other country.
Director-General of the Absorption Ministry Mirla Gal spoke with IsraelNationalRadio’s Yishai Fleisher and Eli Stutz on Wednesday about the new station and several other new Absorption Ministry initiatives.
“When Tzipi Livni took office as Minister of Immigrant Absorption, one of the first issues she dealt with was increasing the knowledge of Hebrew,” said Gal. “One of the first issues she dealt with was the fact that many new immigrants lack the time and resources to take full advantage of the Ulpan [intensive Hebrew courses] offered by the Ministry – or do not attend long enough to improve their Hebrew substantially.”
According to Gal, the new TV station would aim to make Hebrew study more accessible, convenient and sustainable. “People watch television, it’s always in the background and is available 24 hours a day,” she said. “Even when it’s raining you don’t have to go anywhere –people can just flip a button and learn Hebrew through the dynamic, modern program we will offer.”
The programming will include lessons on Jewish and Israeli culture, and news broadcasts using simple Hebrew will be broadcast periodically. Interactive features such as crossword puzzles and logic games that can be filled out using special remote controls are also going to be included.
Most of the actual programming will be in simplified Hebrew, with some language-specific shows offered. Critical technical instructions and scheduling announcements will be offered in Amharic (Ethiopian), English, French, Russian and Spanish.
Gal said that the concept of using the TV to teach Hebrew is not a new one, it is just being expanded upon due to its success. On government-sponsored educational television there is already a program called Chataf Patach [a reference to a common Hebrew vowel] – aired every Sunday at 2:50 PM. The show, also a project of the Absorption Ministry, is geared toward new immigrant children ages six to nine.
“The Absorption Ministry has shifted priorities,” Gal said, “and is taking several steps to use new technology to teach Hebrew in a way that fits the pace and schedule of the new immigrant. In the very near future, we will have computer centers where Hebrew will be taught using computers, and we are currently developing Hebrew-learning programs which will be made available online through the Absorption Ministry’s web site.”
Negotiations are still underway with cable and satellite television companies, though the proposed Hebrew-learning channel does not yet have a name. Gal said that the Ministry welcomes submissions by new immigrants suggesting names for the new channel. IsraelNationalRadio’s Yishai Fleisher suggested “Hebrew-Vision,” or “Ivritavizia” – in Hebrew. (The Hebrew word for the Hebrew language is ivrit and for television, is televizia.)
Director-General of the Absorption Ministry Mirla Gal spoke with IsraelNationalRadio’s Yishai Fleisher and Eli Stutz on Wednesday about the new station and several other new Absorption Ministry initiatives.
“When Tzipi Livni took office as Minister of Immigrant Absorption, one of the first issues she dealt with was increasing the knowledge of Hebrew,” said Gal. “One of the first issues she dealt with was the fact that many new immigrants lack the time and resources to take full advantage of the Ulpan [intensive Hebrew courses] offered by the Ministry – or do not attend long enough to improve their Hebrew substantially.”
According to Gal, the new TV station would aim to make Hebrew study more accessible, convenient and sustainable. “People watch television, it’s always in the background and is available 24 hours a day,” she said. “Even when it’s raining you don’t have to go anywhere –people can just flip a button and learn Hebrew through the dynamic, modern program we will offer.”
The programming will include lessons on Jewish and Israeli culture, and news broadcasts using simple Hebrew will be broadcast periodically. Interactive features such as crossword puzzles and logic games that can be filled out using special remote controls are also going to be included.
Most of the actual programming will be in simplified Hebrew, with some language-specific shows offered. Critical technical instructions and scheduling announcements will be offered in Amharic (Ethiopian), English, French, Russian and Spanish.
Gal said that the concept of using the TV to teach Hebrew is not a new one, it is just being expanded upon due to its success. On government-sponsored educational television there is already a program called Chataf Patach [a reference to a common Hebrew vowel] – aired every Sunday at 2:50 PM. The show, also a project of the Absorption Ministry, is geared toward new immigrant children ages six to nine.
“The Absorption Ministry has shifted priorities,” Gal said, “and is taking several steps to use new technology to teach Hebrew in a way that fits the pace and schedule of the new immigrant. In the very near future, we will have computer centers where Hebrew will be taught using computers, and we are currently developing Hebrew-learning programs which will be made available online through the Absorption Ministry’s web site.”
Negotiations are still underway with cable and satellite television companies, though the proposed Hebrew-learning channel does not yet have a name. Gal said that the Ministry welcomes submissions by new immigrants suggesting names for the new channel. IsraelNationalRadio’s Yishai Fleisher suggested “Hebrew-Vision,” or “Ivritavizia” – in Hebrew. (The Hebrew word for the Hebrew language is ivrit and for television, is televizia.)