1 4OT502: INTRODUCTION TO HEBREW Course Syllabus Reformed Theological Seminary, Atlanta Instructor: John J. Yeo, Ph.D. Fall 2008 Mobile Ph. #: (404)775-4346 Thursdays, 6:00 – 9:00 PM September 04 – December 11 Course Description: This course introduces basic elements of the Hebrew language. Lectures and small group sessions cover the Hebrew alphabet, pronunciation, and elementary grammatical structures. 3 credit hours. No prerequisites. I. PURPOSE OF THE COURSE • The purpose of this first Hebrew module is the acquisition of the rudimentary elements of Hebrew grammar for the preparation of the broader hermeneutical task of translating and interpreting the Hebrew Bible. • Because Biblical Hebrew is indispensable to the study of the Old Testament with greater depth and accuracy, this course will serve to bring the student closer to that goal. OBJECTIVES: The successful student will have: 1) Become thoroughly acquainted with the essential material found in the first portion (i.e., chapters 1-18) of Gary D. Pratico & Miles V. Van Pelt’s Basics of Biblical Hebrew (Second Edition; Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2007). 2) Become familiar with the basic elements of Hebrew “morphology” (forms of Biblical Hebrew words including parts of speech [noun, verb, etc.] and word inflection [masculine, feminine, singular, plural, etc.) and “syntax” (i.e., the grammatical rules) of Hebrew nouns, verbs, adjectives, conjunctions, numbers, and prepositions. 3) Acquired the skills necessary to correctly analyze (parse) and define a large portion of frequently occurring vocabulary words (occurring 49 times or more) and verbal forms found in the Hebrew Bible. 4) The ability to translate basic Hebrew texts from the Hebrew Bible into modern English. II. COURSE SCHEDULE September 04- Syllabus Review and Course Requirements Chapter 1: The Hebrew Alphabet, pp. 1-7 Workbook Assignment: pp. 1-6 September 11- Quiz #1 Chapter 2: The Hebrew Vowels, pp. 8-17 Workbook Assignment: pp. 7-92 September 18- Quiz #2 Chapter 3: Syllabification and Pronunciation, pp. 18-27 Workbook Assignment: pp. 11-13 Chapters 1-3 Assessment and Review September 25- Quiz #3 Chapter 4: Hebrew Nouns, pp. 28-39 Workbook Assignment: pp. 16-19 Chapter 5: Definite Article and Conjunction Waw, pp. 40-49 Workbook Assignment: pp. 21-23 October 2- Quiz #4 Chapter 6: Hebrew Prepositions, pp. 50-59 Workbook Assignment: pp. 25-28 Chapter 7: Hebrew Adjectives, pp. 60-69 Workbook Assignment: pp. 29-33 October 9- Quiz #5 Chapter 8: Hebrew Pronouns, 70-79 Workbook Assignment: pp. 35-38 Chapter 9: Hebrew Pronominal Suffixes, pp. 80-94 Workbook Assignment: pp. 39-48 October 16- Quiz #6 Chapter 10: Hebrew Construct Chain, pp. 95-112 Workbook Assignment: pp. 49-56 Chapter 11: Hebrew Numbers, pp. 113-121 Workbook Assignment: pp. 57-58 Mid-Term Examination Review October 23- Mid-Term Examination: Chs. 1-11 (2 hours) October 30- Quiz #7 Chapter 12: Introduction to Hebrew Verbs, pp. 122-138 Workbook Assignment: pp. 59-66 Chapter 13: Qal Perfect- Strong Verbs, pp. 139-150 Workbook Assignment: pp. 67-72 November 6- Quiz #8 Chapter 14: Qal Perfect- Weak Verbs, pp. 151-165 Workbook Assignment: pp. 73-88 Chapter 15: Qal Imperfect- Strong Verbs, pp. 166-175 Workbook Assignment: pp. 89-943 November 13- Quiz #9 Chapter 16: Qal Imperfect- Weak Verbs, pp. 176-194 Workbook Assignment: pp. 95-124 November 20- Quiz #10 Chapter 17: Waw Consecutive, pp. 195-208 Workbook Assignment: pp. 125-134 November 27- Happy Thanksgiving, No Class December 04- Chapter 18: Qal Imperative, Cohortative, and Jussive, pp. 209-223 Workbook Assignment: pp. 135-148 Final Examination Review December 11- Final Exam: Chs. 12-18 (2 hours) III. ASSIGNMENTS A. Practice Assignments in Basics of Biblical Hebrew a. Study and reread the material covered in the assigned chapters. b. Answer and write out all answers in the Workbook. There are two reasons for this: 1) language acquisition requires much patience and practice, and 2) all practice assignments will be accounted for either in quizzes or on midterm and final exams, respectively. c. Study and memorize the assigned vocabulary words as well as the diagnostic tools for each of the verbal paradigms. B. Quizzes a. There will be ten quizzes. b. The majority of them will be based on the following: 1) vocabulary, 2) verbal forms, 3) the assigned Workbook translations, and 4) in-class preparation. Your lowest quiz score will be dropped. c. Each quiz is worth 10 points and is equivalent to 50% of the course grade. C. Examinations a. There will be a mid-term and a final exam. All exams are cumulative; therefore, each exam will cover what has been learned thus far during the entire semester. b. Each exam is worth 50 points and is equivalent to 25% of the course grade. D. Attendance a. Due to the nature of learning any language, consistency and repetition are important. Weekly attendance, therefore, is highly encouraged.4 b. Although attendance will not be figured into the final course grade, your presence will be required in order to take the weekly quizzes and exams. c. Please notify the instructor prior to the scheduled class session if you will not be present. Quizzes and exams will not be “made up” without a valid excuse and prior notification. E. Disclaimer This syllabus reflects the specific objectives and instructional format/content of 4OT:502: Introduction to Hebrew. However, the instructor reserves the right to modify any portion of this syllabus for the good of the course as may appear necessary during the semester. IV. GRADING A. Scale. The standard RTS grading scale will be used. A (97-100) A- (94-96) B+ (91-93) B (88-90) B- (86-87) C+ (83-85) C (80-82) C- (78-79) D+ (75-77) D (72-74) D- (70-71) F (below 70) B. Basis for computation Midterm Examination 25% Final Examination 25% + Quizzes 50% Total 100% V. BOOK LIST Required Resources • Pratico, Gary & Miles V. Van Pelt. Basics of Biblical Hebrew: Grammar. Second Edition. Grand