Introduction to Yiddish Language and Culture

3 units

This course is an introduction to the Yiddish language and Ashkenazic culture. Through the acquisition of basic skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing you will learn to communicate in Yiddish. By the end of the semester, you should be able to comprehend simple conversations and stories, read and understand short texts, engage in brief conversation on everyday topics, and compose short texts on familiar topics using the grammatical structures and vocabulary you have learned. In addition, you will learn about Ashkenazic culture in Europe and North America and its deep relationship to the Yiddish language. No prior knowledge of the language is expected.