Language 'Speed Dating' Attracts Jewish, Palestinian Students
2021-11-04
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs in Jerusalem are learning Hebrew and Arabic from each other modeled on the idea of speed dating.
2About 20 students meet weekly to learn each other's language.
3They are guided by cards with simple situations written out designed to start a conversation.
4Each student has a partner. When a whistle sounds every 20 minutes, the students change partners.
5The meetings help the Palestinians improve their Hebrew language skills required for dealing with Israeli officials.
6And the Jews gain a better understanding of Arabic.
7Most Palestinians in Jerusalem live in the city's east, an area captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war.
8Only basic Hebrew is studied in East Jerusalem schools.
9That makes it difficult for Palestinians to reach a very high skill level in the language.
10"And it's the same for Israelis - if they do study Arabic, it's an Arabic you can't use," said Maya Giz.
11She is a Hebrew teacher and spoke of the classical, and not commonly spoken, version of Arabic.
12Giz started the project in 2019 with Sahar Mukhemar, a Palestinian sports instructor and a former student of hers.
13She says the language exercises are a "crossing of a mental border" between the two peoples.
14She said Palestinians and Israelis taking part in the program share "the same embarrassment of talking and ... (can) break the barrier of fear together."
15Jamila Khouri, a Palestinian, said learning Hebrew could help her and others "merge well in the community and find a job opportunity in a good field."
16Tensions in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict sometimes end in violence.
17Eli Benita, a Jewish member of the group, said the language learning showed the possibilities of coexistence between Jews and Arabs in Jerusalem.
18"I see that this is the only way to reach some kind of a peaceful routine of life here in this region we live in," he said.
19I'm Jonathan Evans.
1Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs in Jerusalem are learning Hebrew and Arabic from each other modeled on the idea of speed dating. 2About 20 students meet weekly to learn each other's language. They are guided by cards with simple situations written out designed to start a conversation. 3Each student has a partner. When a whistle sounds every 20 minutes, the students change partners. 4The meetings help the Palestinians improve their Hebrew language skills required for dealing with Israeli officials. And the Jews gain a better understanding of Arabic. 5Most Palestinians in Jerusalem live in the city's east, an area captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war. Only basic Hebrew is studied in East Jerusalem schools. That makes it difficult for Palestinians to reach a very high skill level in the language. 6"And it's the same for Israelis - if they do study Arabic, it's an Arabic you can't use," said Maya Giz. 7She is a Hebrew teacher and spoke of the classical, and not commonly spoken, version of Arabic. 8Giz started the project in 2019 with Sahar Mukhemar, a Palestinian sports instructor and a former student of hers. She says the language exercises are a "crossing of a mental border" between the two peoples. 9She said Palestinians and Israelis taking part in the program share "the same embarrassment of talking and ... (can) break the barrier of fear together." 10Jamila Khouri, a Palestinian, said learning Hebrew could help her and others "merge well in the community and find a job opportunity in a good field." 11Tensions in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict sometimes end in violence. Eli Benita, a Jewish member of the group, said the language learning showed the possibilities of coexistence between Jews and Arabs in Jerusalem. 12"I see that this is the only way to reach some kind of a peaceful routine of life here in this region we live in," he said. 13I'm Jonathan Evans. 14Rinat Harash reported on this story for the Reuters news service. Jonathan Evans adapted this story for Learning English. Susan Shand was the editor. 15_____________________________________ 16Words in This Story 17speed dating - n. an event at which each participant converses individually with all the prospective partners for a few minutes in order to select those with whom dates are desired 18whistle - n. a small device that makes a very high and loud sound when a person blows air through it 19embarrassment - n. something or someone that causes a person or group to look or feel foolish 20merge - v. to become joined or united 21routine - n. a regular way of doing things in a particular order 22region - n. a part of a country, of the world, etc., that is different or separate from other parts in some way