Learning Arabic and Hebrew
Our community grew out of our own personal need to start talking.
We had all studied Arabic and Hebrew in different frameworks. We knew what it was like to learn in a classroom, complete a course with honors - and still falter when we tried to speak.
That’s why we believe that language is best learned outside of the classroom, in real human interactions that allow you to hear rhythm, pronunciation, culture, nuance.
Come practice with us!
The Spoken Jerusalemite community offers diverse opportunities to practice Hebrew and Arabic in an egalitarian, all-female space where we all teach and learn, stammer and stumble together, gain confidence and get to know the culture and society of the women we are talking with.
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Come learn with us!
Our courses include:
Spoken Arabic for beginners | Hebrew for academic purposes |
Hebrew for the job market | Hebrew for professional and personal development
We built our course offerings based on our own extensive personal experience with language-study programs, and our years of hearing from community members about their needs.
We created the ideal courses that we once wanted, but could not find: courses intended to take you out of the classroom as quickly as possible, from the study phase to practicing and speaking in the real world.
Our instructors are trained, experienced professionals who teach their mother tongue. As members of our community, they also speak the students’ language at a high level, have a deep knowledge of the other society and its culture, understand the obstacles that learners face and know how to create a suitable and supportive learning environment.
We do not teach reading and writing; our students learn how to converse and communicate, while also getting to know the society and culture behind the language. Students and graduates of our courses are welcome to join our learning community, to practice their new language with native speakers, gain confidence and advance quickly - all while making friends and having fun.
* All courses are adapted in content and level to the target audience and the group’s needs.
Hebrew for Professional and Personal Development
Bushra, east Jerusalem
“Because this is a short course, I was expecting it to be light and easy, but it really exceeded all my expectations. Our teacher was very caring and helpful, encouraging each woman in the group to speak. The group itself was very pleasant to be in, so much so that we were sad to say goodbye when the course ended. I came to the course because I was afraid to speak in Hebrew and make mistakes. But in the course I was encouraged to speak, make mistakes, and learn from them - just not to let fear stop me from talking. I learned so much, and I can’t wait for future courses.”
What our students say…
Spoken Arabic for Beginners
Ada, west Jerusalem
“I really enjoyed the course, the method of teaching, the teacher and my classmates. I was surprised to discover that a short course could give me enough confidence to start communicating in Arabic. I was also invited to the community’s joint Iftar meal during Ramadan, which was a fun opportunity to meet new people and start using my Arabic sentences, even when I stumbled. I’m so glad to be part of this community, and so grateful for the opportunity.”
Hebrew for the Job Market
Jamana, East jerusalem
“Even though I have a graduate degree from the Hebrew University and my Hebrew is considered good, I wasn’t really able to talk before. The course gave me an opportunity to push past the fear and practice. I also learned about my rights, how to write a clear, professional résumé and how to prepare for a job interview, which really helped when I looked for a job. The instructors were extremely supportive, during the course and afterwards. Thank you!”
