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DR103J: HEBREW OF THE BIBLE 1 (2023-2024)

Last modified: 01 Aug 2023 11:46


Course Overview

In this course you will explore the fundamentals of the Hebrew language of the Jewish Bible / (Christian) Old Testament. You will learn how to read the Hebrew Bible aloud, how to follow its text when it is recited, and how to translate simple biblical passages on your own. The study of grammar will be facilitated by language immersion - you will learn Hebrew in Hebrew.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 1
Term First Term Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr. Jakub Zbrzezny

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • One of Certificate In Theology or () or Diploma In Theology

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

This course will introduce students to the Hebrew language of the Jewish Bible / (Christian) Old Testament according to that text on which modern translations are commonly based: the Tiberian Masoretic Text.

The course aims at enabling students to read aloud the vocalised text of the Tiberian Masoretic Hebrew Bible in its received pronunciation with moderate fluency, to follow its text when it is recited in a ritual context, and to translate biblical prose texts and poetry, which are lexically, morphologically, and syntactically simple, with a dictionary and reference grammar and without teacher’s assistance.

The course will integrate the study of grammar with linguistic immersion. Thus, students will receive part of their learning with Hebrew as both the language of instruction and target language. This will enable them to use the language actively for training purposes, both in speech and writing (typing). These productive skills will facilitate students’ acquisition of the passive knowledge of Hebrew.


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Language Exercise

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 50
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback

Form: There will be 10 written (typed) language exercises, which count towards the grade. Starting from the second teaching week, for each teaching week students will submit one language exercise. Submissions are due by Monday 10:00 p.m., British time, of the subsequent week.

Marking: For each language exercise students can gain 10 marks. In total, students can gain 100 marks, which constitute 50% of the total assessment (100 marks = coursework; 50 marks = oral exam; 50 marks = written exam; 200 marks in total).

Feedback: Written feedback is provided by Wednesday 10:00 p.m., British time, of the submission week.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualAnalyseThe student is able to analyse modern English translation of simple prose texts and poetry from the Hebrew Bible in relation to their Vorlage.
FactualUnderstandThe student is able to read vocalised passages of the Hebrew Bible aloud and to follow its recitation.
ProceduralAnalyseThe student is able to create their own English translation of simple prose texts and poetry from the Hebrew Bible

Oral Exam

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 25
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback

Online exam

Form: Reading an unseen vocalised passage from the Hebrew Bible aloud. The oral exam is recorded for the exclusive use of the internal and external examiners and the administration of DHPA. The student will access on UoA internal electronic form (e.g. Microsoft Forms) with an unseen vocalised passage from the Hebrew Bible which will be available to them for a very brief period of time (e.g. 15 mins). During that time, the student will record their reading of the passage and they will upload the recording through the electronic form.

Marking: For the oral exam students can get 50 marks, which constitute 25% of the total assessment (100 marks = coursework; 50 marks = oral exam; 50 marks = written exam; 200 marks in total).

Feedback: written (with references to the recording)

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
FactualUnderstandThe student is able to read vocalised passages of the Hebrew Bible aloud and to follow its recitation.

Exam

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 25
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback

Online exam.

Form: Translation of an unseen passage from the Hebrew Bible with a dictionary and a reference grammar. The student will access an UoA internal electronic form (e.g. Microsoft Forms) with an unseen text in Biblical Hebrew (pre-prepared by the examiner), which will be displayed sentence by sentence for a given amount of time (e.g. 2 mins). The student will be submitting their translation of each sentence. 

Marking: For the written exam students can get 50 marks, which constitute 25% of the total assessment (100 marks = coursework; 50 marks = oral exam; 50 marks = written exam; 200 marks in total).

Feedback: written.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ProceduralAnalyseThe student is able to create their own English translation of simple prose texts and poetry from the Hebrew Bible

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Exam

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 75
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback

The written, online exam combines the assessment of material covered by language exercises (100 marks) with translation of an unseen passage in the Biblical Hebrew with a dictionary and a reference grammar (50 marks). The student will access an UoA internal electronic form (e.g. Microsoft Forms) with an unseen text in Biblical Hebrew (pre-prepared by the examiner), which will be displayed sentence by sentence for a given amount of time (e.g. 2 mins). The student will submit their translation of each sentence. 

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Oral Exam

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 25
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Online exam

The student will access an UoA internal electronic form (e.g. Microsoft Forms) with an unseen vocalised passage from the Hebrew Bible which will be available to them for a very brief period of time (e.g. 15 mins). During that time, the student will record their reading of the passage and they will upload the recording through the electronic form.

Feedback: written

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ProceduralAnalyseThe student is able to create their own English translation of simple prose texts and poetry from the Hebrew Bible
FactualUnderstandThe student is able to read vocalised passages of the Hebrew Bible aloud and to follow its recitation.
ConceptualAnalyseThe student is able to analyse modern English translation of simple prose texts and poetry from the Hebrew Bible in relation to their Vorlage.

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