Language ‘Speed Dating’ Attracts Jewish, Palestinian Students

 

Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs in Jerusalem are learning Hebrew and Arabic from each other modeled on the idea of speed dating.

About 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.

Each student has a partner. When a whistle sounds every 20 minutes, the students change partners.

The meetings help the Palestinians improve their Hebrew language skills required for dealing¹ with Israeli officials. And the Jews gain a better understanding of Arabic.

Most 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.

"And it's the same for Israelis - if they do study Arabic, it's an Arabic you can't use," said Maya Giz.

She is a Hebrew teacher and spoke² of the classical, and not commonly spoken, version of Arabic.

Giz started the project in 2019 with Sahar Mukhemar, a Palestinian sports instructor³ and a former student of hers. She says the language exercises are a "crossing of a mental border" between the two peoples.

She said Palestinians and Israelis taking part in the program share "the same embarrassment⁴ of talking and ... (can) break the barrier of fear together."

Jamila Khouri, a Palestinian, said learning Hebrew could help her and others "merge⁵ well in the community and find a job opportunity in a good field."

Tensions 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.

"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.

Words in This Story

speed dating – n. an event at which each participant converses⁶ individually with all the prospective⁷ partners for a few minutes in order to select those with whom dates are desired

whistle – n. a small device that makes a very high and loud sound when a person blows air through it

embarrassment – n. something or someone that causes a person or group to look or feel foolish

merge – v. to become joined or united

routine – n. a regular way of doing things in a particular order

region - n. a part of a country, of the world, etc., that is different or separate from other parts in some way

1 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

2 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

3 instructor   

n.指导者，教员，教练

参考例句：

• The college jumped him from instructor to full professor.大学突然把他从讲师提升为正教授。
• The skiing instructor was a tall,sunburnt man.滑雪教练是一个高高个子晒得黑黑的男子。

4 embarrassment   

n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫

参考例句：

• She could have died away with embarrassment.她窘迫得要死。
• Coughing at a concert can be a real embarrassment.在音乐会上咳嗽真会使人难堪。

5 merge   

v.(使)结合，(使)合并，(使)合为一体

参考例句：

• I can merge my two small businesses into a large one.我可以将我的两家小商店合并为一家大商行。
• The directors have decided to merge the two small firms together.董事们已决定把这两家小商号归并起来。

6 converses   

v.交谈，谈话( converse的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• We now shall derive the converses of these propositions. 现在我们来推导这些命题的逆命题。 来自辞典例句
• No man knows Hell like him who converses most in Heaven. 在天堂里谈话最多的人对地狱最了解。 来自辞典例句

7 prospective   

adj.预期的，未来的，前瞻性的

参考例句：

• The story should act as a warning to other prospective buyers.这篇报道应该对其他潜在的购买者起到警示作用。
• They have all these great activities for prospective freshmen.这会举办各种各样的活动来招待未来的新人。