| I'm currently studying at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Unfortunately, in Jerusalem almost everyone speaks english very well. Sometimes if you try to speak in Hebrew and people if they hear the slightest accent, start speaking to you in english. Plus, many of them are anxious to practice their english, making it even harder. It's also a very Anglophone area...many people american or canadian immigrants.
I got up to level dalet hebrew (lower advanced) and then was so frustrated with the program I decided not to take hebrew this semester. I do admit, however, that my listening comprehension is about 100% better and my reading and writing aren't bad either..something that i do lack in, however, is speaking ability because i'm not allowed to speak in hebrew it's beginning to seem!
I also thought that i'd start picking up some arabic living in East Jerusalem and all, but apparently it's not working much.
A friend of mine from UCLA got up to advanced level hebrew and yet placed in israel into the intermediate level. I'm pretty sure when i get back to school, even though i'm def not fluent, that i'll get placed out of Advanced level even though i've only taken up to the lower advanced...
I agree with the others..wehn you choose a study abroad program, go somewhere that's not so international...so you can really learn the language. |