INTERMEDIATE YIDDISH I

This course is a continuation of Elementary Yiddish II. In addition to expanding the command of the language that has been spoken by the Ashkenazi Jews for more than a millennium, the course continues to explore the rich world of Yiddish literature, language and culture in a fun way. In the course of the two semesters, we will review and expand grammar and focus on improving speaking, reading, listening and writing skills, mainly through encounters with primary texts of modern Yiddish literature. Supplementary texts may be selected based on students’ interests and may include historical pedagogical materials, past and present newspaper articles, polemic, poetry, historical and scholarly articles. We will also venture outside the classroom to explore the Yiddish world today: through field trips to Yiddish theater, Yiddish speaking neighborhoods, Yiddish organizations, such as YIVO, and so on. We will apply our reading and translating skills to contribute to the Mapping Yiddish New York online project, and will also have Yiddish speaking guests. At the end of the two-semester course, you will be able to converse in Yiddish on a variety of everyday topics and read most Yiddish literary and non-literary texts. Welcome back to Yiddishland!