Hebrew is at the heart of our school. As students continue to grow in their Jewish education, Hebrew language becomes an integral part of their Jewish identity.

Research shows that learning a second language, enhances intellectual growth, enriches a child’s mental development, and improves children’s understanding of their native language. But Hebrew,  is much more than a foreign language. It is the language in which Jews communicated with each other for thousands of years, between communities around the world and across generations.

At CTA, learning Hebrew Language, both modern and classical,  has the added benefits of connecting our students to the Jewish People across time and space, fostering a connection with the Land and State of Israel, and enhancing Jewish Identity.

While students are exposed to classical Hebrew in their Judaic Studies classes, our Hebrew Language classes focus on modern Hebrew. Our Hebrew program cultivates growth among our students towards comfort and proficiency in the areas of reading fluency and comprehension, writing, grammar, listening comprehension and speaking with the modern day-to-day Hebrew language. We are proud that many of our students choose to continue their studies in Israel, and most of our High School graduates earn foreign language credits in college in the US.

Lower School students participate in age-appropriate Hebrew classes 3 or 4 times a week. Instruction in the Lower School prioritizes comfort among students with Hebrew through exposure from native Hebrew teachers. Our teachers use a variety of authentic printed and online materials, including several textbooks,  the online Ivrit B’Click – published by MaTaCh (The Center or Educational Technology) in Israel, and Hebrew newspapers published for foreign students.

Our program includes experiential units and lessons in which teachers are using technology, dramatization, research, games, presentations, interviews, songs, music, art, and more to engage students in hands-on projects and use all aspect of the language at their level. We emphasize modern Hebrew language skills relevant to daily life: Hebrew dialogues, reading and writing, vocabulary, speaking and listening skills with grammatical concepts weaved in, as well as a connection to the State of Israel and modern Israeli culture.

Our goal is to prepare Lower School student to integrate into our more intense Upper School Hebrew curriculum Bishvil HaIvrit (by by MaTaCh , The Center for Educational Technology in Israel).

All Students who transfer in with some Hebrew are assessed and placed in the appropriate class. If students have no Hebrew or need any support to catch up with class level, we enroll them in the following programs:

Lower School students receive individualized and small group support in our Hebrew Learning Center, with a Hebrew Teacher. The Hebrew Learning Center also serves any student that needs additional support during the year.

Upper School students who don’t have any Hebrew background are automatically enrolled in our Bishvil HaIvrit mechinah (preparatory) or Introduction to Hebrew classes,  based on their level, where they receive individualized attention in small groups with a Hebrew teacher.

The goal of the support program is to prepare students to enter a class with their peers.