Speaking in Tongues

Sharing Saturday

As I move to the end of my second week on a work trip in Israel, I am flummoxed by the fact that, despite the reality that I don't speak a word of Hebrew, I am losing my English facility as well. As I tripped through the souk today, buying fruits and vegetables and flowers for my hosts (as well as a killer cup of fresh pomegranate juice) I felt like I was speaking Hebrew with the vendors, and even understanding a little of what they were saying. In truth I wasn't, but it still felt good to be in the flow just a little.

But every time I tried to talk with my friend, I found myself lost.I couldn't think of the right turn of phrase, the right word, the right idiom.The cacophony of all the Hebrew hitting my head on one side, and the continuing English conversations with my friends and colleagues (often with heavy Hebrew and sometimes Arabic accents) on the other side, boil together to create a vacuum somewhere in my brain. I wonder if everyone who lives in two languages experiences this same phenomenon.

Despite my lack of Hebrew, my voice has taken on the sing-songy quality that many Anglo Hebrew speakers have. It sounds pretentious to my ears, since I haven't earned the right to it by learning Hebrew. But it's almost as if it channels directly into my brain and comes out in my voice when I am speaking with others who have the same inflections. I am quietly pleased with the sound, as it makes me feel like I am part of that culture here. But I also know that I will go home, my voice will ululate for a couple more days, and then the reality of being back in Maryland will take over and all my international flavor will disappear, the only reminder being all the Israeli trinkets and pottery in my house and a small nameplate in Hebrew that sits on my floor, waiting to be hung on the front door.

I would really like to learn Hebrew. However, I think the likelihood is slim, given my history with languages.I studied Spanish in high school and French in college. I lived and studied in France for three months on a term abroad, staying with a French family who spoke no English at all. And while I could read and write well enough to pass my classes, I was hopeless when it came to conversation in French. I remember sitting at my French family's dinner table, and my French father was trying to explain the word "brouillard." It took 10 minutes and enormous frustration as he tried every explanation (in French) that he could find. I grew more and more embarrassed as he became more and more agitated. Finally, he gave up and uttered the very first English word I had heard him speak my entire three months living with them. "Fog." I was defeated.

Hebrew is a much larger language mountain to scale. First you have to learn the alphabet. Then you have to learn the genders. Then the grammar. Then the cursive letters, which are different from the block letters. And finally, you must contend with the fact that when you first learn elementary Hebrew, there are vowel marks, but as you progress, they disappear from the page. Never mind the rapid fire conversation challenge.

But after this trip, my 10th to Israel, I am determined to go back and try to learn Hebrew. I tease the Hebrew-speaking friends with whom I am staying that when they come back home next summer, we are starting up an ulpan in their home, an intensive Hebrew language learning center. That would probably put a kink in all of our morning routines, trying to get the kids off to school. However, there are teachers who will Skype with you every morning over a cup of coffee and teach you a language. Since immersion is the only way to learn, short of moving to Israel, this sounds like a great way to attempt this challenge.

I want to come back on my next trip to Israel triumphant, speaking at least basic Hebrew. I want to understand the vendor when he tells me how much something costs. I want to be able to understand the Hebrew asides that my colleagues revert to even when they are speaking English on my account. And I want to be able to earn my right to the sing song inflections that I am bringing back to America on a plane tomorrow night.

Comments

[Carol]

I have an unopened box set of Rosetta Stone-Hebrew Level 1 & 2 that I will loan (give?) you. After my own K-12 after-school Hebrew School, 9 summers at a Hebrew speaking overnight camp, 10 trips to Israel, 3 children at a Jewish Day School K-12, 4 years of Ulpan at the JCC, countless times of eavesdropping on conversations between my Israeli friends - I am still frustrated and disappointed at my pathetic lack of ability to speak Hebrew. Even once this language is mastered by non-native speakers, the natives speak as fast as they live their lives. (I'm sure they think we mumble and speak English too fast, too.) And each time I travel to Israel, I return with new determination to learn the language "for the next time." So good luck to you. I hope you succeed where others have failed! Call me for the Rosetta Stone. Love reading your posts.

[Sarah]

Have you seen 'English Hebrew by Subject' an amazing new book for learning Hebrew vocab? Also, free Hebrew learning resources - through mailing list for www.engheb.com?

[Leora]

That is so great that you want to learn Hebrew! Read children's books. You might even be able to find some at your library.

I found your blog because one of you (Katherine) is going to be on #smallbizchat - correct? That is SO cool.

I think we may share a mutual friend on Facebook.