Intermediate I Yiddish (Sunday)

Class starts Oct 15 10:00am-12:00pm

Tuition: $480 | YIVO members: $375**
Students: $240 (Must register with valid university email address)

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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. This class will be 2 hours long with a 10-minute break incorporated in the middle.

Instructor: Philip Schwartz

Who should take this course?
This course is for those who have previously taken three semesters of Yiddish. It is appropriate for those who took Beginner IV Yiddish in Spring 2023.

What topics will this class cover?
Building upon prior skills, this course will further develop speaking, writing, reading, and listening comprehension in Yiddish. As far as grammar, we will review the declension of articles and adjectives. Moreover, we will look at word order in Yiddish sentences and introduce the comparative and superlative of adjectives and adverbs as well as the conditional. Grammatical topics covered in this course will roughly correspond to chapters 12–14 in Sheva Zucker’s Yiddish: An Introduction to the Language, Literature & Culture, Volume II, and chapters 25–27 in Uriel Weinreich’s College Yiddish. In addition to exercises from different textbooks and self-prepared material, the teacher will also make use of folk songs and excerpts from Yiddish literature.

Is knowledge of the Yiddish alphabet required?
Yes, knowledge of the Yiddish alphabet is required.

Course Materials:
The instructor will provide all course materials digitally throughout the class on Canvas. Students may also purchase hard copies of College Yiddish (Purchase) and Yiddish, Vol. II (Purchase).

Questions? Read our 2023 Fall Classes FAQ.

Philip Schwartz grew up in Germany and has also lived in Ukraine, Israel, Poland, and Sweden. He holds BA and MA degrees in Jewish studies, history, and Slavic studies. Currently, he teaches Yiddish at different Polish and American institutions and writes for contemporary Yiddish publications such as Forverts, Afn Shvel, Yidish-branzhe, and Yidishland.


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