Remember the old Carnegie Hall joke? Question: How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Answer: Practice, practice, practice.

Learning Hebrew is the same thing.

Hebrew is your ticket to navigating life in Israel with confidence. Sure, it might feel daunting at first, but as they say, “Practice makes passable.”

Yes, you heard right. Passable, not perfect. In fact, if your Hebrew is less than perfect, don’t be frustrated. Learning the language is not an academic discipline. You’re not being graded for your performance (unless you’re enrolled in a university ulpan, or Hebrew language course). Siddur proficiency and learning the weekly parsha aren’t enough, either. Learning a language is a skill, and the way to hone that skill is to practice—reading, listening, and speaking.

There are so many ways to sharpen your Hebrew skills. Dive into the world of Israeli TV shows. (News shows and soap operas are the best!) Listen to the radio. These are great for tuning your ear to the rhythm of the language. Pick up a simple Hebrew newspaper or subscribe to a “word-a-day” listserv to build your vocabulary bit by bit. These are great supplements, but the golden rule is: You need to speak Hebrew to learn Hebrew.

That’s where ulpan comes in.

An ulpan can be one of the best ways to start, but not all ulpanim are created equal. Look for one that offers a class big enough to expose you to a diverse group of people, yet small enough to let everyone actively participate. Many government ulpanim are affordable and subsidized based on size, however, be sure to ask whether they emphasize conversation practice. A private ulpan, like Ulpan La-Inyan, offers private lesson packages and group sessions with the opportunity to speak as well as listen. (Ulpan La-Inyan also offers you a special discount on ulpan classes when you mention the coupon code PAVEWAY200.)

The bottom line? Use every chance to speak, whether it’s with your classmates in ulpan, your neighbor, or the cashier at your local market. Your skill with Hebrew grows with every word you say, so keep practicing. Don’t be surprised if, after a few weeks, you’re speaking—maybe even thinking—in Hebrew.

Olim Paveway’s Olim Toolbox is a regular series offering timely tips for anyone moving to Israel. Join our live Zoom chats, Sundays at 2 p.m., at https://tinyurl.com/2xkewrd4 and join our Olim Toolbox WhatsApp at https://chat.whatsapp.com/Ic8dNfdNlspGAPtmcCKtbf for more tips.

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