The Biblical Language Center

Now accepting registration for the 2008 Hebrew Ulpan and Greek Schole summer programs.

Living Koiné Greek 2a now available.  Please see the Online Orders page to order.

Photos from past summer's Bibilcal Hebrew Ulpans

Welcome to the home page of the Biblical Language Center and the Summer Biblical Hebrew Ulpan. We offer Hebrew and other courses in biblical languages and culture. The Biblical Language Center trains people from around the world to read and enjoy the Hebrew Bible and Greek New Testament in the original languages.

The courses are ulpans (language learning classes). They use living language methods in teaching Biblical Hebrew, Koine Greek and Classical Greek. The language skills in the courses are matched with cultural, geographical and historical information. This provides training in close reading of the texts. It turns out that the most efficient methods for learning a language are also the most enjoyable.

The courses are ideal for those who plan to work with Bible translation projects, for those who would pursue academic and professional training programs and for teaching careers at all levels. On the other hand, many of the students are simply interested in the languages and texts without any professional goals. They are equally welcome. All of the students are able to share the same adventures of discovery. See further, under the menu "Courses" and "Summer Biblical Hebrew Ulpan" or "Koiné Greek Summer Scholé"

Welcome!

This summer you can come and learn Hebrew or Greek in the Land where the Bible was born with teacher Dr. Randall Buth and his associates in the Biblical Language Center. The courses are six-week language immersion experiences set in the Judean Hills, just west of Jerusalem, at Kibbutz Tzuba. This is "the ulpan" that uses Biblical Hebrew to teach Biblical Hebrew and to enable maximally efficient learning. Ancient Greek is taught in Ancient Greek, with a first century, Koine focus. Students begin to 'internalize' the languages in ways that cannot be done through traditional techniques that only talk about the language within another language.

What makes these courses so efficient? They are fun and in the language. The first week begins with immersion methodology. Students learn the language through physical activities in the language and with live language interaction. Throughout the course the classrooms are filled with 80-100% of the time in the language being studied, which provides for continual usage and varied repetition of the language within meaningful and comprehensible contexts. For homework the student reviews the day's activities and prepares texts through CD recordings. Two teachers per class add to the effectiveness and to the atmosphere. . . . See further, under the menu "Courses" and "Summer Biblical Hebrew Ulpan" and "Koiné Greek Summer Scholé" [links to sumbibheb_html and the greek_schole_2007]

Our mailing address and email:

Randall Buth, Ph.D.
Director, Biblical Language Center,
PO Box 82340
90805 Mevasseret Zion
Israel
info@biblicalulpan.org