Beginner I Yiddish (Sunday Morning)

Tuition: $450 | YIVO members: $350**
Students: $225 (Must register with valid university email address)

This is a live, online course held weekly on Zoom. Enrollment will be capped at about 15 students. All course details (Zoom link, syllabus, handouts, assignments, etc.) will be posted to Canvas. Students will be granted access to the class on Canvas after registering for the class here on the YIVO website. This class will be conducted in Yiddish and English.

Instructor: Daniel Birnbaum

Who should take this course?
This course is appropriate for those who are new to Yiddish or would like a review.

What topics will this class cover?
The focus of this course is primarily the acquisition of Yiddish language skills. Students will develop the ability to comprehend basic Yiddish and to begin to express themselves both in speech and in writing. Students will become familiarized with the fundamentals of Yiddish grammar and will learn vocabulary for introductions, family relations, hobbies, shopping, weather, and work and home life. In addition, this course will begin to explore the rich world of Yiddish culture and history.

Is knowledge of the Yiddish alphabet required?
No, knowledge of the Yiddish alphabet is not required. However, students who have no prior experience with reading and writing the Yiddish or Hebrew alphabets are highly encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Yiddish alphabet before class, as the course will move at a fast pace. The tools and videos provided here will be helpful in getting a handle on reading and writing the alef-beys, and are designed for independent use.

Course Materials:
The instructor will provide all course materials digitally throughout the class on Canvas. The course will use a variety of learning materials and methods, including Fun onheyb (a contemporary textbook written by the instructor), a series of PowerPoint presentations, and audio recordings.

Daniel Birnbaum has been teaching Yiddish to students from Israel and around the world since 2007. Daniel holds a B.A. in Liberal Arts from Oberlin College an M.A. in Comparative Literature from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His M.A. thesis on S.Y. Abramovich (Mendele Mocher Sforim) under the guidance of Prof. Avrom Novershtern won an award of distinction in Yiddish scholarship. Daniel currently teaches classes at Tel Aviv University, Beth Sholem Aleychem and YIVO. Daniel has developed an original Yiddish textbook for first and second year students, as well as an online Yiddish curriculum. Over the years, he has connected with hundreds of students who seek an access point to Yiddish language and culture and he delights in providing an opening to the richness of that tradition for people from a variety of backgrounds.

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