Honey Badger Hebrew 101
Ani! Ata! Ani! Ata!
It is settled. I have decided that after 4+ years of living in Israel that I am going to make an effort to learn Hebrew.
I’ve been to a little ulpan here and there, bought books and software, have heard the techniques of others, but I am blazing a new path, my own path, and….maybe it will be successful.
What prompted this? Why, after years of “caveman Hebrew” should I change?
I have to give the credit to Zahi Amor, my always helpful, wise and insightful friend and computer man. I don’t recall what he said, but it planted this plan-of-action in my noodle, and I am grateful. (Thank you to all the others who nudged me to learn, but I guess the time wasn’t right yet.)
My philosophy on learning Hebrew is based on the famous Honey Badger – just get in there and do it, plow forward and don’t worry about looking stupid , setbacks or bee stings. (I have found that living in Israel for four years with being able to hold a basic conversation looks plenty stupid already – it really can’t get worse.)
First lesson from the Honey Badger – don’t give up!
I am not sure if the approach has been used before, but after much thinking (read “stalling”), it seems to make perfect sense. I will learn Hebrew like a child would as it develops. Little children have basic, unsophisticated lives based on needs, wants, coming, going, etc, and an ever expanding vocabulary based on experiences.
Additionally, I am totally scrapping the ever-intimidating, and totally bogging, gender issues – it’s masculine all the way (for now). We can sort out the fine points of gender, past/present/future along with all the other nit-picky dik-duk rules later.
Additionally, I am going to document the lessons/process and provide it for others to learn from – assuming it’s successful. (Any tips on a good format?) It’s not going to be fancy or sophisticated, no special software or sound clips – just straight forward Honey Badger Hebrew, starting ach’shaaaaaavvvvvvvv!
The method you describe is language “acquisition” rather than “learning.” A good ulpan should already be using this method. A child acquires language based on having needs met. Learning is meta-cognitive–learning grammar and memorizing vocabulary. Much less effective initially but great after you can have an intelligible conversation.
Best of luck.
I am very interested in learning about your progress on this endeavor because I’ve been here 5+ years and like you have been in and out of ulpanim and still have gan-aged children laugh at me when I try to compose a sentence :-(!
If and when we speak on the phone we should only speak in Hebrew.
Putting together Honey Badger Hebrew 3 Lesson will start to push me beyond my comfort zone. This is where I need to keep pushing – and hopefully, dragging others along too.
Thank you for comments.