Monday, October 31, 2005
How AbbaGav Learned Hebrew
Now that I've lived in Israel long enough to have forgotten where the turn signal in an automobile is located, I thought it might be worthwhile to share with you some of the tips and tricks I've used in picking up my vast and comprehensive smattering of the local language. So I've compiled a pie chart showing the breakdown of all my sources of modern Hebrew knowledge.
Please note: the pie is not drawn to scale. In reality, it and my entire knowledge of Hebrew would fit inside a pie this big:
.
But as any Israeli economist will tell you -- at least an economist associated with the government -- it's not the size of the pie, but how you slice it, and how well you lick the knife clean after each slice.
On that note, here's my Hebrew pie.
Now let's carve up that pie a little and take a look at the various sources I've used to reach this level of what I like to call Hebrew fluency. Starting with the most helpful sources of day-to-day Hebrew in my life, and working down from there:
Until next time, Shalom, Mazel Tov and Hasta La Vista from Israel.
Technorati Tags: blog, hebrew, language, acquisition
If you really, really liked this -- or even really, really hated it -- there's lots more:
Please note: the pie is not drawn to scale. In reality, it and my entire knowledge of Hebrew would fit inside a pie this big:
.
But as any Israeli economist will tell you -- at least an economist associated with the government -- it's not the size of the pie, but how you slice it, and how well you lick the knife clean after each slice.
On that note, here's my Hebrew pie.
Now let's carve up that pie a little and take a look at the various sources I've used to reach this level of what I like to call Hebrew fluency. Starting with the most helpful sources of day-to-day Hebrew in my life, and working down from there:- A-15%: Hebrew subtitles of American movies (would work better if they would just slow them down a notch or three)
- B-13%: Taxi drivers (but since I only go to work and back I've only learned the same words over and over -- nevertheless, this just proves how critical repetition is to language acquision)
- C-11%: My kids' teachers (would be more if my kids weren't always unnecessarily translating for me even though I don't really need or ask for their help very much if at all)
- D-10%: Wrong numbers on my home phone (at least I think they were wrong numbers -- I don't know anyone named Meezeh)
- F- 8%: Wrong numbers on my work phone (at least I hope they were wrong numbers)
- E- 9%: Wrong numbers on my cell phone (well, actually my cell phone doesn't really work that well anymore so this one has really dropped off a lot lately)
- G- 7%: Dentists and Barbers (someone approaching your head with sharp metal instruments provides great incentive to learn a few key words and phrases like 'No' and 'Stop' and 'Is your shoe untied?')
- H- 6%: Security Guards at schools, grocery stores, malls and airports (that's where I learned 'tik' means backpack, very handy word around security guards)
- I- 5%: Non-Hebrew speaking tourists (words like Please, Thank You, and You're Welcome are an important part of any Hebrew speaker's linguistic arsenal, although some might debate this point)
- J- 4%: My neighbor's dog (barks only in Hebrew)
- K- 3.5%: Labels, tags and washing instructions on my clothing (although I've taken to washing everything in cold, just to be safe)
- L- 3%: Hebrew signs that say something like "do not enter: biohazard", "hazard: poison" and "armed security, do not cross line" (strictly speaking, I don't really read all these signs word for word; instead, I mostly just avoid all yellow and red signs)
- M- 2%: right half of the menu at the pizza restaurant (very important to learn how to keep mushrooms off the pizza)
- N- 1.5%: Hebrew speaking characters in some of my worst dreams (I'm not actually sure that the Hebrew is 100% correct but it's probably pretty close)
- O- 1%: Billboards (even though they usually go by so fast I only have time for the little fragments of English)
- P-0.93%: Public address speakers at airport and train stations (yeah, as if I could understand that even if it was in English!)
- Q-0.05%: My mortgage agreement (just kind of skimmed it, figured it would be ok)
- R-0.02%: My children (they don't like it when I "speak Hebrew")
Until next time, Shalom, Mazel Tov and Hasta La Vista from Israel.
Technorati Tags: blog, hebrew, language, acquisition
