Mastering Biblical Hebrew is a highly innovative pedagogical textbook that engages the interest of students by teaching Biblical Hebrew as a living language. Hand eacute;land egrave;ne Dallaire is internationally recognised as a leading scholar of Biblical Hebrew with many years of experience in teaching the language. Here she offers us the fruits of her scholarly knowledge and teaching skills. *
GEOFFREY KHAN, Regius Professor of Hebrew, Cambridge University * Mastering Biblical Hebrew makes living language learning accessible for a new generation of students. Bringing three decades of classroom experience, Hand eacute;land egrave;ne Dallaire offers this scholarly and creative textbook with a strong focus on the Hebrew Bible. The many practical exercises will be a pleasure to teach and learn. *
JILL FIRTH, Lecturer in Hebrew and Old Testament, Ridley College * Combining concise grammatical explanations with numerous exercises, this SLA-inspired textbook is designed to be useful both for classrooms and personal study. The numerous exercises balance reading aloud, grammar analysis, creative writing, and translation into and out of Hebrew, incorporating real biblical passages from the very beginning. *
KATHRYN MEDILL, Associate Teaching Professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Near Eastern Studies, University of Washington * Dallaire's new grammar will be a gift to those seeking to learn Hebrew. She masterfully weaves together the best practices of second language acquisition (SLA) with much of the traditional terminology associated with learning Hebrew. With the increase in research showing the effectiveness of 'living language' methods, this textbook is a welcome addition to the field. Dallaire does not jettison technical aspects of the Hebrew language (dagesh lene vs. dagesh forte; Masoretic accents; weak roots as early as chapter 4), but rather provides engaging resources (exercises, videos, audio files, etc.) to help students learn those technicalities faster and retain them longer. Whether you are a self-paced learner or a professor in higher education, your time in this grammar will be a worthwhile endeavor. *
ADAM HOWELL, Associate Professor of Old Testament Interpretation, Boyce College * Dr. Dallaire has devoted a lifetime to teaching the language of Biblical Hebrew. She has a deep insight and understanding of this ancient language, the texts written, and the best way for students to learn and master Hebrew. It is exciting to see the work of this master at last available. For the most efficient and most enjoyable experience in learning Hebrew, this is the grammar to use. *
RICHARD S. HESS, Distinguished Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages, Denver Seminary * Dr. Helene Dallaire's Mastering Biblical Hebrew revolutionizes ancient language learning through immersive, interactive methods. Treating Hebrew as living speech, students learn by listening and speaking--making the process intuitive, enjoyable, and far more effective than traditional approaches. The effort is richly rewarded: deeper, lasting fluency in the language God chose to reveal himself to the world. Highly recommended! *
ANDRÉ VILLENEUVE, Associate Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Languages, Sacred Heart Major Seminary * Hand eacute;land egrave;ne Dallaire's Mastering Biblical Hebrew embodies decades of effective teaching. Its presentation of Biblical Hebrew grammar is clear, engaging, and pedagogically informed. In a market saturated with teaching grammars, this resource stands out as a trustworthy, go-to textbook appreciated by both students and instructors. *
BENJAMIN J. NOONAN, Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew, Columbia International University * So many Hebrew grammars work on variations of the same pedagogical model. But this is something genuinely new, encouraging students through its living language approach not only to learn basic translations but to appreciate how the language works. The basics are all still covered but are now integrated into a model that genuinely helps students work toward mastering the language. *
DAVID G. FIRTH, Lecturer in Old Testament, Trinity College, Bristol * This new textbook is a wonderful and welcome resource for learning Biblical Hebrew. By drawing on techniques from second language acquisition pedagogy, Dallaire incorporates creative activities into each chapter, making learning Hebrew interactive, accessible, dynamic, and fun. Through this approach, Dallaire lays a strong foundation for life-long engagement with the Hebrew Scriptures. *
REBECCA G. S. IDESTROM, Professor of Old Testament, Tyndale University * With Mastering Biblical Hebrew, Helene Dallaire invites students (and the professors who lead them) on this innovative journey of biblical language acquisition into a language that breathes, speaks, and works its way down into our bones. More than rote memorization, this textbook facilitates an engaging and holistic mastery of Hebrew. *
REBECCA W. POE HAYS, Associate Professor of Christian Scriptures, George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University *