Bringing Hebrew to Life: New Illustrated Readers by Dr. Jesse Scheumann
October 4, 2024 2024-10-04 12:30Bringing Hebrew to Life: New Illustrated Readers by Dr. Jesse Scheumann
Bringing Hebrew to Life: New Illustrated Readers by Dr. Jesse Scheumann
The study of Biblical Hebrew has just become more accessible and engaging, thanks to Dr. Jesse Scheumann’s latest publication: Illustrated Graded Reader for Biblical Hebrew: Volumes I and II. These two volumes will revolutionize how students approach the language by combining incremental learning with visually rich stories, beautifully illustrated by his wife, Merissa.
A Step-by-Step Journey to Fluency
Each volume features eight illustrated stories that gradually increase in length and complexity, allowing students to deepen their knowledge at a comfortable pace. Across both readers, 144 linked Hebrew audio and video recordings provide additional support, including puppet reenactments, story narrations, and teaching sessions. These multimedia resources offer valuable input to help learners internalize the language. Comprehensive translation and grammatical notes are also included to ensure full comprehension and confidence as students progress.
Shaped by Years of Experience
Reflecting on the journey, Dr. Scheumann shared, “I am thrilled to announce the publication of this two-volume illustrated Hebrew reader. This project has been in the works for ten years, and it never would have taken its current form without coming to Sattler College six years ago. The stories went through three separate revisions based on my experience teaching students through the years.”
A Collaborative Effort with Sattler Students
Dozens of Sattler College students played a hands-on role in creating these volumes, bringing realism and humor to the illustrations by posing for pictures and acting out scenes. “We truly could not have done it without them, and the result is richer for us with all of the memories that fed into it,” Dr. Scheumann reflected.
Two students in particular played prominent roles in this collaboration. “Brevon Miller (Barukh), a former student of mine, was a tremendous partner in creating all of the puppet videos,” Dr. Scheumann noted. “Sattler College gave us unlimited access to their recording studio, and they paid Brevon work-study hours to record with me and to do all of the editing work.”
Another student, Maykel Saad, recorded audio for the first twelve stories, lending an authentic voice to the project. “His first language is Egyptian Arabic, so every phoneme of Biblical Hebrew foreign to English is native to him,” Dr. Scheumann remarked.
Dedication to Sattler Students
The Illustrated Graded Reader is dedicated to the students of Sattler College, whose contributions were essential in bringing the project to life:
“To the students of Sattler College:
We endeavored to do this for all of you,
and we accomplished it with many of you.”
Praise from the Academic Community
The Illustrated Graded Reader for Biblical Hebrew has already received accolades from Hebrew instructors around the world. Robert D. Holmstedt, Professor of Hebrew Bible and West Semitic Languages at the University of Toronto, praised it as “an amazing pedagogical tool” that introduces a visual graded approach to learning: “The illustrations are colorful, elegant, and engaging without being distracting. It’s simply a beautiful teaching tool that I look forward to using with students.”
Other educators echo this sentiment. Kevin Chau, Senior Lecturer of Hebrew at the University of the Free State, South Africa, noted that the Scheumanns’ work thoughtfully integrates visual, audio, and performative modes of learning, accommodating various learning styles and making sure every student can succeed.
A Resource for Every Student
Whether you are just beginning your journey with Biblical Hebrew or looking to strengthen your existing skills, Illustrated Graded Reader for Biblical Hebrew: Volumes I and II provide a unique, story-driven approach to language learning. With each story building on the previous one, and the inclusion of audio and visual resources, these books set a new standard for how Biblical Hebrew can be both taught and experienced. For future Sattler students, these volumes will make learning Biblical Hebrew even more engaging and memorable.
You can learn more or order your copies on Amazon or directly from GlossaHouse:
Discover how these resources can transform your study of Biblical Hebrew and enrich the learning experience at Sattler College!