There's more to NETA than a state-of-the-art Hebrew language curriculum for secondary Jewish day school students. Now, after three years of writing, evaluating and refining teaching materials—used in more than 30 schools and by more than 6500 students in North America and Australia—NETA is collaborating with Hebrew College to provide teacher training as well.

The College's new Certificate in Hebrew Language Education will prepare and qualify highly proficient Hebrew speakers to teach Hebrew in the middle and secondary day school setting. Commencing with a four-week course this summer at Hebrew College, August 1–26, the program will continue with a 40-hour practicum during the 2004–2005 school year and conclude with a two-week summer course in 2005.

"We've seen wonderful things happen in NETA classrooms, but the curriculum, as it should, requires preparation and support for Hebrew teachers," says Naomi Stillman, associate director of NETA. "It doesn't walk into the classroom on its own two legs."

The program will be open to individuals who wish to make a career of teaching Hebrew, are fluent in Hebrew and have backgrounds in Jewish studies. The two summer seminars, part of Hebrew College's Eli and Bessie Cohen Summer Institutes, will focus on educational approaches and linguistics—how they apply to second language acquisition and Hebrew language, in particular. During the intermediate school year, participating teachers will work closely with mentors.

"On completion of the program, we expect teachers to be qualified for positions at any middle or high school Hebrew language program in the country," says Dr. Harvey Shapiro, dean of the Shoolman Graduate School of Jewish Education.

In addition to the new certificate program, the 2004 Summer Institutes will include a ten-day introductory seminar, June 23–July 1, to prepare teachers new to NETA for teaching the NETA curriculum. This seminar will include an overview of the newly written NETA mekhinah materials—designed to train teachers whose students need help reaching the NETA entry skill level—and will repeat at regional NETA sites throughout the year, in Florida, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, San Diego and Washington, D.C.

NETA is guided by Hebrew educational specialist Hilla Kobliner of Hebrew University of Jerusalem, funded by a grant from The AVI CHAI Foundation and administered by Hebrew College. For more information about NETA or the certificate program, please contact Naomi Stillman, 617-559-8664, nstillman@hebrewcollege.edu.

Photo by Pat O'Connor

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