Q: Who is the program for?
A: Chalav u'Dvash is intended for three to six year olds who are taking their first steps in Hebrew. Using a variety of developmentally appropriate activities and materials, teaching aids the program creates a fascinating and inviting learning environment which engages all the senses, stimulates the child’s imagination and fosters a love of the Hebrew language.
Q: Is Chalav u' Dvash a Hebrew immersion program?
A: In a Chalav u’Dvash classroom, Hebrew is taught only in Hebrew - Ivrit be Ivrit. However, it is not a daily block of hours taught in Hebrew. Research shows that children's success in reading and writing (a mother tongue or second language) is based on well developed and rich conversational language. Therefore, the program focuses on oral language through systematic, spiral instruction and is based on approximately one and half hours of Hebrew a week - usually, but not always - taught in several 25-30 minute sessions. More time spent on Hebrew each week will enable the children to advance at a more rapid pace.
Q: Does the program teach reading and writing in Hebrew?
A: No. Formal instruction of reading and writing is not part of Chalav u'Dvash.
A solid foundation is laid for reading and writing Hebrew in the future through:
- games that use right to left direction (Hebrew is written from right to left)
- systematic exposure to the written words in Hebrew on the illustrated cards,
flash cards and books included in the program kit
- story books and activities that focus on listening comprehension
- games, songs and rhymes which emphasize the phonology (sound) and morphology (form) of the Hebrew language
Q: How many times a week do you have to teach the program?
A: The program was designed around the provision of one and half hours of Hebrew a week taught in several 25-30 minute sessions. More time spent on Hebrew each week enables the children to advance at a more rapid pace. There is no question that several times a week allows the children to remember what has been learned more easily and provides more opportunities to use Hebrew. However, we have been surprised that children retain some Hebrew even if they are exposed to it once a week. Over the last few years we have learned from the field about different models for using the program including parents and children together for an hour a week with material to use at home and Chalav u'Dvash day camp where Hebrew is part of every day. We even have one school that teaches Chalav u'Dvash for half an hour a week (because that is all the time the school can allot to the program) and the teacher puts all kinds of activities on the school's intranet so that the children can practice with their families at home.
Q: Who is the Chalav u'Dvash teacher - the children's regular teacher or a specialist?
A: Different schools find different solutions depending on the availability of a Hebrew speaking teacher. In most of the schools where the children's regular teacher speaks Hebrew she teaches the program to her class. The advantage of this is that Hebrew can be more easily integrated into the rest of the school day and connected to other things the children are learning. In other schools, one teacher is trained and she teaches Hebrew to all of the classes. We even have a few schools in the same geographical area who have hired a specialist teacher together and she teaches at all the schools.
Q: What are the contents of the program?
A: One of the most unique aspects of Chalav u'Dvash is that it focuses on conversational Hebrew, teaching the language by using it in everyday situations rather than teaching topics or themes. The contents of the program derive from the children’s everyday life and are therefore more likely to become part of the child’s everyday vocabulary. This is how children naturally acquire language. Because the festivals and Bible stories are so rich in possibilities for conversations with young children, we recommend that the Judaic studies be taught in the children's first language. This allows the teacher to progress according to the children's pace and not be concerned with covering a certain amount of material by the time a particular holiday comes around. Instructions are provided on how to incorporate holiday vocabulary into Chalav u'Davsh sessions, so that the holiday will also be present in the Hebrew language component of the curriculum.
Q: What is included in the kit?
A: The kit includes many of the materials the teacher needs to implement the program. We encourage both teachers and children to create their own materials as well.
Kit contents:
• Bentzi the Hebrew speaking turtle puppet from Israel.
• A User's Guide and five Teacher's Guides that provide detailed instructions for every lesson and activity suggested.
• CDs with original music, rhythmic activities and practice songs set to familiar melodies.
• Story books that accompany the material in each guide (provided in two sizes for whole group and individual use).
• Illustrated cards used for a variety of games and activities (provided in two sizes).
• Additional materials including posters and games that promote learning in an active and playful manner and facilitate review of what has already been learned.
• A CD containing the graphic images used in the program to enable the creation of new materials.