The ultimate goal
The Hebrew language is a necessary tool for functioning in the academic and occupational forums. Mastery of the Hebrew language, discourse and communication skills, self-confidence, vocabulary and familiarity with discourse structures, constitute a significant barrier for Arab-Bedouin youth in the Negev.
The program was established to allow Tamar Center programs participants a customized framework for learning Hebrew as a second language.
Objective
- Cultivation of students’ self-efficacy regarding their Hebrew language abilities – namely, fluent and properly structured speech, reading, writing, and comprehension
- Improving conversational skills.
- Improvement of writing skills
- Improving reading skills.
- Enrichment in a varied array of fields and subjects with focus on expanding vocabulary.
Goal
- Well-established and strong perception of the students’ language abilities.
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Ability to procure spontaneous conversation in group discussions or with “speaking partners”. Having the ability to give a presentation in Hebrew before the class, or a group of people. Finally, students prepare video clips featuring discussions in Hebrew.
- Students ability to write a short essay
- Students are exposed to a wide variety of different texts and build a strong basis for their reading abilities.
- Familiarity with different and varied areas of knowledge, exposing students to new words and new fields.
Methods
“The most effective kind of education is that a child should play amongst lovely things.” -Plato.
The program is based on the Joy of Learning theory and using experiential teaching and play as optimal motives for student development and promotion of spontaneous learning.
Students simply enjoy themselves, and have fun together while playing games and participating in activities that will encourage natural discourse and language use.
The sessions are organized so that all students are exposed to activities, songs, short texts and educational tasks that stimulate the natural desire to learn and discover. The aim is to provide students with the motivation to continue learning independently, in their own free time; to create the positive impact that will influence them to continue reading, listening to music, playing with friends and even creating videos in Hebrew. This all reverts back to one of the basic principles of the joy of learning: when students take pleasure in education, it is a natural motivator for independent learning and the awakening of the basic instinct of curiosity.
Students’ Testimonials
Ella Asa , Student
“When I started Tamar Center’s Talk It Out project, I was looking forward to the beginning of the school year to meet the students. Still, it meant meeting 13 new people, trying to get to”
Marim Alnsasra , Kuseife
“I’m participating in the Talk it Out program with a university student named Ella. In the first meeting of the program, I [surprisingly] felt very comfortable, even though I did not expect to feel so . ”