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NEW SUMMER SESSIONS
The Workers Circle is proud to be one of the largest providers of Yiddish language classes in the world. Our classes are designed for every age and skill level, from absolute beginner to total maven.
This summer, all our courses will be held online via Zoom.
Please note that more classes may be added. For details on course offerings, please contact Kolya Borodulin, the Workers Circle Director of Yiddish Programming, NBorodulin@circle.org or 212.889.6800 ext. 806.
The non-member registration rates are $160 for classes that meet once a week, and $320 for classes that meet twice a week. Workers Circle members receive a discount on class registration. If you are not a member of the Workers Circle but would like to become one, click here.
Please note that all class times are in Eastern Standard Time (EST).
NO REFUND AFTER THE 2nd CLASS SESSION!
Please note the registration rate does NOT include course books. Click here to purchase books, and if you have any questions please contact books@circle.org.
BEGINNER CLASSES
Registration is closed for this class
Beginners Yiddish Literacy (A) with Kolya Borodulin
Mondays 6:30 – 8:00 pm: June 29, July 6, 13, 20, 27
Course Goals: Learn common Yiddish words and how to read them in print.
Course Tools: Short Yiddish texts and poems.
Additional Info: Previous knowledge of the Alef-Beys is not required.
Registration is closed for this class
Beginners Yiddish Literacy (B) with Kolya Borodulin
Tuesdays 1:00 – 2:30 pm: June 30, July 7, 14, 21, 28
Course Goals: Learn common Yiddish words and how to read them in print and script.
Course Tools: Teacher created materials which follow the alef-beys lessons in the first 5 units of Yiddish: An Introduction to the Language, Literature & Culture, Vol. I by Sheva Zucker.
Additional Info: Previous knowledge of the Alef-Beys is not required.
Registration is closed for this class
Beginner Conversation with Alexandra Polyan
Tuesdays 1:00 – 2:30 pm: June 30, July 7, 14, 21, 28
Course Goals: Build skills in speaking and listening comprehension to become conversational in Yiddish.
Course Tools: Students own materials on topics of greetings, family history, food, etc.
Additional Info: Previous knowledge of the Alef-Beys is not required.
Registration is closed for this class
Beginner Conversation II with Alexandra Polyan (continuation of Spring 2020)
Mondays 1:00 – 2:30 pm: June 29, July 6, 13, 20, 27
Course Goals: Improve skills in speaking and listening comprehension, to be able to tell stories, including learning past tense, verbal prefixes, comparatives and superlatives, and telling time.
Course Tools: Colloquial Yiddish by Lily Kahn, folk songs and own materials on topics of professions, body parts, house, furniture, animals, nature.
Additional Info: Previous knowledge of the Alef-Beys is not required.
Beginners I with Yankl-Peretz Blum
Tuesdays 1:30 – 3:00 pm: June 30, July 7, 14, 21, 28
Course Goals: Learn common Yiddish words and gain familiarity with the Yiddish writing system.
Course Tools: The interactive learning website YiddishPOP.
Additional Info: Previous knowledge of the Alef-Beys is not required.
Registration is closed for this class
Beginner I (Intensive) with Mikhl Yashinsky
Monday and Wednesday, 6:30 – 8:00 pm: July 1, 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27, Aug. 3, 5
Course Goals: This intensive beginner’s Yiddish course uses the communicative approach to language learning, designed to get students speaking freely as they discover the Yiddish language and culture for themselves.
Course Tools: In Eynem, by Asya Vaisman Schulman, Jordan Brown, and Mikhl Yashinsky, a new multimedia textbook which uses art, film, and music as well as the text.
Additional Info: No knowledge of Yiddish or the Yiddish alphabet is required.
Registration is closed for this class
Beginner I (Intensive) with Eve Jochnowitz
Tuesday and Thursday 1:00-2:30 pm: June 30, July 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, Aug. 4, 6
Course Goals: This intensive beginner’s Yiddish course is the equivalent of a 10-week semester of Yiddish. It will meet twice a week for 5 weeks, completing a chapter of the textbook every week. The focus of the course is conversation.
Course Tools: Yiddish: An Introduction to the Language, Literature & Culture, Vol. I by Sheva Zucker.
Additional Info: Previous knowledge of the Alef-Beys is not required.
Registration is closed for this class
Beginners II with Miriam Koral (continuation of Spring 2020 semester)
Mondays 6:30 – 8:00 pm: June 29, July 6, 13, 20, 27
Course Goals: Continue building skills in reading, writing, conversational skills, and Yiddish grammar.
Course Tools: Yiddish: An Introduction to the Language, Literature & Culture, Vol. I by Sheva Zucker (from Unit 9) plus songs and poetry handouts.
Additional Info: Basic reading, writing and conjugation in the present and past tense is required.
Beginner II with Eve Jochnowitz
Tuesdays 3:00 – 4:30 pm: June 30, July 7, 14, 21, 28
Course Goals: Practice using the Yiddish alphabet in basic reading and writing. Continue learning conversational skills and grammar.
Course Tools: Yiddish: An Introduction to the Language, Literature & Culture, Vol. I by Sheva Zucker (Starting from Units 5), songs and specialized handouts.
Additional Info: Previous knowledge of the Alef-Beys is required.
Beginners III with Miriam Koral (continuation of spring 2020 semester)
Wednesdays 1:30 – 3:00 pm: July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Course Goals: Continue building skills in reading, writing, conversational skills, and Yiddish grammar with emphasis on Yiddish literature.
Course Tools: Yiddish: An Introduction to the Language, Literature & Culture, Vol. I by Sheva Zucker (from Unit 10) plus songs and poetry handouts.
Additional Info: Basic reading, writing and conjugation in the present and past tense is required.
Advanced Beginners Conversation with Natalia Krynicka
Mondays 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm: June 29, July 6, 13, 20, 27
Course Goals: A cycle of simple Yiddish conversation classes on different subjects (how to introduce yourself, useful expressions, everyday life, work, hobbies, etc.).
Course Tools: Readings in transliteration provided by the instructor.
Additional Info: Previous knowledge of the Alef-Beys is required.
INTERMEDIATE CLASSES
Intermediate Grammar with Isaac Bleaman
Tuesdays 6:30 – 8:00 pm: June 30, July 7, 14, 21, 28
Course Goals: To build on the grammatical knowledge acquired during a first-year Yiddish course, developing more advanced speaking, reading, writing, and listening skills. In this mini-course, we will focus on particular grammatical constructions that students may have encountered before but not yet learned formally or systematically.
Course Tools: Excerpts from intermediate and advanced textbooks (e.g., David Goldberg's Yidish af yidish) which will be distributed to students in PDF format. We will hone these grammatical constructions in written exercises and in conversation.
Additional Info: This class is taught entirely in Yiddish.
Intermediate I-II Conversation with Natalia Krynicka
Thursdays: 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm: July 2, 9, 16, 23, Aug. 6
Course Goals: A cycle of Yiddish conversation classes on different subjects (everyday life, leisure activities, travels, modern technologies, etc.).
Course Tools: Readings in transliteration provided by the instructor.
Additional Info: For students who have a working knowledge of Yiddish or who have completed the Beginners courses.
Registration is closed for this class
Intermediate III with Eve Jochnowitz
Thursdays 3:00 – 4:30 pm: July 2, 9, 16, 23, Aug. 6
Course Goals: Build skills in basic comprehension, reading, writing, speaking, and grammar.
Course Tools: Yiddish: An Introduction to the Language, Literature & Culture, Vol. II by Sheva Zucker (starting with Unit 13), supplementary basic reading texts and songs.
Additional Info: Course is conducted almost entirely in Yiddish.
Intermediate-Advanced Conversation with Eve Jochnowitz
Mondays and Wednesdays 2:00 – 3:30 pm: June 29, July 1, 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27, Aug. 3
Course Goals: Study the life and culture of the Yiddish-speaking world while building skills in speaking and listening comprehension.
Course Tools: Readings in transliteration provided by the instructor.
Additional Info: Course is conducted almost entirely in Yiddish.
ADVANCED CLASSES
Registration is closed for this class
Advanced with Gennady Estraikh: Hersh Smolar: A Polish Personage on the Soviet Jewish Scene
Sundays 10:00 – 11:30 am: June 28, July 5, 12, 19, 26
Course Goals: The course focuses on the years 1939-1968, when Smolar lived in the Soviet Union or in Soviet-aligned Poland and played an important role in the collaboration between Polish Yiddish and Soviet Yiddish writers.
Course Tools: Vu bistu khaver Sidorov (1975) and Oyf der letster pozitsye, mit der letster hofenung (1982) by Hersh Smolar.
Additional Info: This course will be taught entirely in Yiddish.
Registration is closed for this class
Advanced with Leyzer Burko: An Introduction to Yiddish Etymology
Sundays 11:00 am – 12:30 pm: June 28, July 5, 12, 19, 26
Course Goals: In this course we will separate the science from the bobe-mayses, and discuss the origins of Yiddish words and the language itself.
Course Tools: History of the Yiddish Language by Max Weinreich.
Additional Info: This course will be taught entirely in Yiddish. No special knowledge of linguistics will be necessary.
Advanced with Leyzer Burko: The Old Yiddish Dybbuk
Sundays 2:00 – 3:30 pm: June 28, July 5, 12, 19, 26
Course Goals: This mini-course will examine a fantastic case of dybbuk possession (of a man!) recorded in Old Yiddish in 1696. Students will learn about the history of dybbukim, and also become familiar with some of the differences between our Eastern Yiddish and the older Western variety.
Course Tools: Tse tame by Dr. Sara Zfatman, a meticulous and voluminous edition of dybbuk texts.
Additional Info: This course will be taught entirely in Yiddish. Knowledge of German and/or Hebrew are helpful, but not required.
Advanced Conversation with Yankl Peretz Blum
Tuesdays 11:30 am – 1:00 pm June 30, July 7, 14, 21, 28
Course Goals: To enrich one's language through an exploration of Yiddish vocabulary, idioms, and proverbs.
Course Tools: Materials provided by the instructor.
Additional Info: Taught entirely in Yiddish.
Registration is closed for this class
Advanced with Yitskhok Niborski: I.L. Peretz Short Stories
Wednesday 1:00 – 2:30 pm: July 1, 8, 15, 22, Aug. 5
Course Goals: To deep dive into a number of rarely read I.L. Peretz short stories, concentrating on vocabulary, idioms and other unusual use of language, the historical framework, the underlying Yiddish ideology, and the unique characteristics of his work.
Course Tools: I.L. Peretz’s short stories.
Additional Info: This course is taught entirely in Yiddish.
Advanced with Dov-Ber Kerler: NUDNIK: The career of a modern Yiddish character as an appellation of opprobrium, derision and humor
Wednesdays 2:30 – 4:00 pm: July 1, 8, 15, 22, Aug. 5
Course Goals: To explore the history of the word nudnik, from its Polish roots to current use; looking at its origins, use in 19th century and modern Yiddish literary sources, Nudnik as a negative “social construct” and its race and gender aspects, and its rise to prominence in modern Yiddish culture and contemporary Hasidic Yiddish.
Course Tools: Nudnikes, Dem Tunkeler’s classic "treatise" on the archetypal nudnik. Participants will also be asked to do some directed research of primary sources accessible or traceable on assorted online resource platforms.
Additional Info: The course will be conducted entirely in Yiddish.
Advanced Grammar with Isaac Bleaman: Seminar in Yiddish Phonology
Thursdays 1:00 – 2:30 pm: July 2, 9, 16, 23, Aug. 6
Course Goals: To acquaint students with one area of the grammar that is often overlooked in Yiddish courses: phonology, i.e., the sound system of Yiddish and pronunciation. We will cover general phonological concepts and show how they are applied in Yiddish.
Course Tools: Handouts prepared by the instructor, including pronunciation exercises based on Yiddish texts and audiobooks.
Additional info: This class is taught entirely in Yiddish.
Advanced with Eugene Orenstein: Lamed Shapiro, The Master of the Yiddish Short Story
Thursdays: 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm: June 25, July 2, 9, 16, 23
Course Goals: To explore the works of Lamed Shapiro (1878-1948), one of the most influential modern Yiddish writers; a pioneer of Impressionism in Yiddish literature who perfected the craft of Yiddish prose writing.
Course Tools: Four key texts from Lamed Shapiro.
Additional Info: This course will be taught entirely in Yiddish.
Advanced with Avrom Lichtenbaum: Mesholim
Thursday 6:30 – 8:00 pm: July 2, 9, 16, 23, Aug. 6
Course Goals: To explore the fables and parables important to modern Yiddish literature. Fables and parables were very important in the modern Yiddish school, just as they were medium for the sages of the Torah and Talmud, as they treated difficult questions with folklore, humor, and intelligence.
Course Tools: In this course we will read fables from Rabbi Israel Bal Shem Tov; the Dubner Maggid; Shlomo Ettinger; Yehoash, Eliezer Shteynbarg; Peretz Miransky; and others
Additional Info: Course is conducted entirely in Yiddish.
NEW
Yiddish Translation with Sheva Zucker
Tuesdays 7:00 – 8:30 pm: June 30, July 7, 14, 21, 28
Course Goals: Are you working on a Yiddish to English or English to Yiddish translation? This class will help your translation sound natural and be accurate to the original. Students will get feedback on their translations from a renowned Yiddish expert teacher, editor, and translator, as well as from their fellow classmates.
Course Tools: Student’s own work.
Additional Info: Class maximum is 10 people. Discussion will be primarily in English, but knowledge of Yiddish is required.
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