48
Hebrew
UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI DI NAPOLI "L'ORIENTALE"
Overview
Date/time interval
Syllabus
Course Objectives
MODERN HEBREW LANGUAGE
OBJECTIVES AND EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
The course aims to progressively and practically develop students’ competence in modern Hebrew as spoken in Israel. By the end of the three-year programme, students will be able to understand and use modern Hebrew both orally and in writing, adapting their language to a variety of everyday and complex communicative situations.
They will master fundamental grammatical structures, progressively expand their vocabulary, and comprehend and produce increasingly complex texts, from basic dialogues to advanced written materials. They will also be able to translate literary and non-literary texts from Hebrew with accuracy and contextual awareness.
APPLIED KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
The course develops over three years with a gradual progression:
- by the end of the first year, students will master basic grammar and a survival vocabulary for elementary communication;
- by the end of the second year, they will be able to engage in more structured conversations and understand intermediate-level written texts;
- by the end of the third year, they will be able to communicate fluently in complex contexts, read advanced texts, and accurately translate literary or specialised materials.
ADDITIONAL EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
– Independent judgment: students will be able to critically assess the linguistic and stylistic appropriateness of written and spoken texts, selecting the most suitable communicative strategies for each context.
– Communication skills: students will develop the ability to express themselves clearly and effectively in Hebrew, both in oral and written form, in formal and informal situations.
– Learning skills: students will be able to continue learning the language independently, using lexicographic, grammatical and digital tools, as well as through exposure to authentic materials.
MODERN HEBREW LITERATURE
OBJECTIVES AND EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
The course is designed to provide a solid knowledge of the history of modern Hebrew literature and to develop students’ ability to critically read literary texts. By the end of the course, students will be able to identify the main periods, authors, and themes of modern Hebrew literature, and apply appropriate methods for close reading and textual interpretation.
APPLIED KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Students will be able to identify narrative strategies, points of view, recurring motifs and formal features, and explain how these elements contribute to meaning. They will acquire the ability to critically analyse texts and formulate original, well-argued interpretations. The analytical skills acquired will be transferable to the study of other literatures and cultural contexts.
ADDITIONAL EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
– Independent judgment: students will develop the ability to formulate independent critical judgements on the texts studied, assessing their literary, cultural and ideological significance.
– Communication skills: students will be able to discuss literary texts and issues in a clear, well-structured and relevant manner, both orally and in writing.
– Learning skills: students will be able to approach new texts and critical contexts independently, expanding their knowledge and competence through individual study and engagement with secondary sources.
Course Prerequisites
None
Teaching Methods
LANGUAGE
Years I–II
In line with a language-teaching approach that prioritises practical learning and assimilation over the memorisation of rules, classes will be based on contemporary Hebrew texts and audio recordings, as well as on model conversational situations. These will serve as starting points for the acquisition of new language skills.
While the course encourages comprehension and expression through a concrete and intuitive approach, systematic explanations of grammatical structures and theoretical insights will not be neglected.
Students will be continually encouraged to interact in Hebrew with both the instructor and their peers. This invitation to participate should not be perceived as a form of assessment, but rather as ongoing practice aimed at enhancing comprehension and stimulating active language production.
Year III
Third-year classes will be based on authentic Hebrew materials drawn from a range of genres (literature, journalism, essays), which will be read, analysed, and translated, as well as audiovisual content such as songs, videos, and film excerpts.
In addition to advanced grammatical structures, particular attention will be devoted to the practice of translation, guiding students towards stylistically accurate and context-sensitive renderings. Students will also occasionally present their own translations, which will be corrected and discussed in class.
LITERATURE
Part of the course will consist of lecture-based sessions focused on the presentation of general concepts and issues related to the topics covered in the syllabus. During these lectures, the instructor will provide a comprehensive overview and offer bibliographic references for both foundational study and optional further reading.
This will be complemented by practice-based sessions entirely dedicated to the critical analysis of literary texts. Through the presentation of works, close reading of selected passages, exploration of formal structures, identification of motifs, and thematic analysis, students will be given the opportunity to develop critical reading skills.
Group work and open discussion may also play a role during this phase. Students will be encouraged to participate actively, sharing their own interpretations. This participation is not to be understood as formal assessment, but rather as regular practice aimed at cultivating independent critical thinking and deeper textual understanding.
Assessment Methods
LANGUAGE
The assessment consists of a written examination and an oral examination. Passing the written component is a prerequisite for admission to the oral.
The written examination for the first and second year includes exercises with Hebrew sentences to be completed and the translation of sentences from Italian into Hebrew, at a level appropriate to the student’s progress.
The third-year written examination consists of the translation of a literary passage from Hebrew into Italian and/or a short written composition in Hebrew on an assigned topic. The use of a dictionary is permitted during the third-year written examination.
The oral examination includes: a conversation in Hebrew corresponding to the expected level of the course year; reading aloud of one or more passages selected by the instructor from the material covered in class or of comparable difficulty; translation of the passages read; and, where required, identification of grammatical forms.
Examination language: Hebrew
Assessment criteria: accuracy of spoken Hebrew; fluency of reading; comprehension (written and oral); correct use of metalinguistic terminology.
LITERATURE
The examination is oral.
In addition to discussing general concepts and course topics, the student will present a detailed analysis of the assigned literary works. Participation in any individual or group work assigned during the course will be positively considered as part of the final evaluation.
Examination language: Italian
Assessment criteria: knowledge of the topics covered in class or in the critical literature; knowledge of the assigned works; ability to carry out critical reading and apply textual analysis techniques; clarity of expression and command of academic language.
Texts
LANGUAGE
- Chayat, Shlomit, et al. Ivrit min ha-hatchalah. Vol. 1 & 2. Yerushalayim: Academon, 2007.
- Durand, Olivier & Dario Burgaretta. Corso di ebraico contemporaneo. Milano: Hoepli, 2013.
- Etzion, Giore. The Routledge introductory course in Modern Hebrew. Second edition. London: Routledge, 2019.
LITERATURE
Reference
- Gershon Shaked. Modern Hebrew Fiction. New Milford, CT: The Toby Press, 2000.
Literary works
The students of the first year will choose two texts from the following list (from the origins to the New Wave):
- Agnon, Shmuel Yosef. Only Yesterday.
- Amichai, Yehuda. Battle for the Hill (short story).
- Kaniuk, Yoram. Adam Resurrected.
- Megged, Aharon. The Name (short story).
- Oz, Amos. My Michael.
- Oz, Amos. Till Death Do Us Part (short story).
- Shamir, Moshe. Next to Kin (short story).
- Vogel, David. Married Life.
- Yehoshua, Abraham B. The Lover.
- Yehoshua, Abraham B. The Death of the Old Man (short story).
- Yehoshua, Abraham B. The Last Commander (short story).
- Yizhar, S. The Prisoner (short story).
The students of the second year will choose two texts from the following list (From the 1970s to today):
- Amir, Eli. Scapegoat.
- Castel‑Bloom, Orly. Human Parts.
- Chen, Roy. The Great Noise (unpublished in English).
- Gavron, Assaf. Hydromania (unpublished in English).
- Grossman, David. See Under: Love.
- Kashua, Sayyed. Dancing Arabs.
- Keret, Etgar. Kneller’s Happy Campers (short story).
- Michael, Sami. A Trumpet in the Wadi.
- Oz, Amos. A Tale of Love and Darkness.
- Rabinyan, Dorit. Persian Brides.
- Shabtai, Yaakov. Past Continuous.
- Shalev, Meir. Esau.
- Yehoshua, Abraham B. Mr Mani.
Contents
LANGUAGE
Year I
1. Alphabet and pronunciation
2. Reading, writing, transliteration
3. Nominal sentence
4. Construct state
5. Inflection of nouns, pronouns, and adjectives
6. Numerals
7. Prepositions and adverbs
8. Comparative and superlative
9. Verb forms and tenses (present, past, infinitive)
10. Common expressions
Year II
1. Verb forms and tenses (future, imperative)
2. Relative, subordinate, causal, final, and concessive clauses
3. Conditional sentences
4. Advanced forms and structures
5. Idiomatic expressions and slang
Year III
1. Advanced grammatical structures
2. Advanced vocabulary and slang
3. Literary translation
LITERATURE
Year I
This course offers an introduction to the history of modern Hebrew literature from the mid-nineteenth century to the 1960s, with particular emphasis on prose fiction. Literary trends and the works of representative authors from different generations are presented within the context of Jewish history, from the Haskalah to the early decades of the State of Israel, highlighting the connection between literature and the construction of national identity.
Year II
The course focuses on Israeli literature after the New Wave of the 1960s. Against the backdrop of major social transformations over the past fifty years, the syllabus explores the emergence of marginalised experiences and new voices from cultural minorities.
Course Language
Italian