Dos and Don'ts for Teaching Hebrew to New Readers

Learning to read is no easy task and it can certainly be very daunting for a beginner. It takes time, effort, and a lot of guidance in order to actually be successful at it. Sometimes, when teaching a Hebrew beginner how to read, it is easy to make mistakes that impede their ability to learn. Below are some simple Dos and Don'ts to aid in the process.

Do reward every small success. Learning to read does not happen all at once and it is the small victories that lead to the final goal. A good way is to earn stickers that can be exchanged for prizes. Verbal praise is oftentimes just as potent a reward as anything else, so make sure to let the beginner know when they are doing a good job.

DON'T belittle them, insinuate they are doing poorly, or lower their self-esteem. Negative comments can slow the learning process by making the learner feel like they will never be able to learn, like they are incompetent, or make them resent learning to read. Similarly, bullying will not make them learn any faster nor is it an effective teaching method.

DO have patience, even if it means going over the same book like Hebrew step by step three, four, or five times. The beginner may grasp some things right away while struggling over others. It is important to recognize the areas that they are having the most difficulty with and spend more time on those. Always be available when help is needed.

DON'T rush through the lessons expecting them to be able to keep up the pace. People learn at different speeds. Learning is not a race.. If the learning becomes too rushed, the beginner may feel overwhelmed and start confusing things. Without time to go back over what is still clear, there will be no real progress. A solid foundation, even if it takes a while to build, makes the rest of the learning process easier.

DO encourage them to study on their own. It is not fair to expect them to do all the work, but part of it must come from their desire to learn to read. Encourage them to read on their own or in their spare time to practice what they know. Let them know that if there is something they are confused on in this time that they can ask.

Just remember that the key to learning to read is persistence. Do a little every day. In time, there will be noticeable progress.