Information Technology in Education Committee
Course Development Grant
Application for the 2013-14 academic year
Michal Ayalon
Language and Culture Studies
Michal.ayalon@trincoll.edu
Course title: Hebrew 101/102, 201/202, 301/302
Offered every year for majors in Jewish Studies and minors in
Hebrew. Meets language requirement.
Average enrollment per year: 30 students
Background
Most Hebrew verbs have a three-letter root. It is customary to refer
to the root of the verb by the three Hebrew letters: ‫ל‬.‫ע‬.‫פ‬. The
pattern by which these roots are conjugated determines the
meaning of the sentence and whether it is active, passive, or
reflexive. Mastering these patterns is key to knowing Hebrew.
The Hebrew language has seven forms of verbs called “binyanim”
The 1st 2nd and 3 verb patterns contain mainly active verbs.
The 5th 6th verb patterns contain only passive verbs.
The 4th verb pattern contains active, passive and reflexive verbs.
The 7th verb pattern is generally the passive form of the 1st verb
pattern. Each verb is conjugated differently in the present, past and
future tenses and by gender and singular/plural forms.
Hebrew textbooks only provide examples of verb conjugation
patterns and leave students guessing when to use them with given
roots. The use of handouts of grammar patterns has its limitations
as well. Handouts are limited to 12 verbs per page. In previous
years I made handouts of diagrams of each pattern but students
found it difficult to use and to keep track of the growing list of
verbs. Students who took middle and advanced Hebrew had to yet
again add new conjugation patterns as they were learning new
verbs – that meant adding more loose pages. Existing Hebrew
grammar websites are of limited help as well, since they are geared
toward vocabulary learning and not toward identifying verb
patterns.
Proposal
I would like to build a web site where I can create a bank of verbs
by pattern on line and make it accessible and user friendly to
students. For example: When students click on the first pattern (or
binyan) it will give them the following: (1) The “formula” for how
to conjugate, (2) the conjugation of the three tenses, and (3) the
conjugation of the irregular verbs in the given pattern.
This will help streamline the verb patterns for all three levels of
Hebrew classes and enable to create space for unlimited collection
of Hebrew verbs. Furthermore, students will be able to do their
homework assignments on line and not depend on hard copies.
Grant request: $1000
The grant will be used to pay for faculty time to input a large
selection of verbs using Mellel (Hebrew software) and to work
with IT to identify and web app that will support Hebrew and
provide easy access to students.