[B-Greek] Oral Language Initiative

R Yochanan Bitan Buth ybitan at mscc.huji.ac.il
Wed Apr 14 08:45:37 EDT 2004


>> I recommend common-sense from what we know works in testable
>> languages in order to measure if we are making the right kind of
>> progress in biblical languages. A student who spends 4 years in college
>> and 3-4 years in seminary, or perhaps another 3-6 years in grad
>> school should aim at nothing less than a fluent control of Greek and
>> Hebrew, except that I feel that the educational structures that exist do
>> not move in such a direction.
>
>If I understand this correctly, we should look to proven techniques in
>modern language teaching to support Greek pedagogy. Is this the thrust of
>the the SBL "Oral Language Initiative"?
>
>Warren Fulton
>Vienna

Yes, partly. I would hope so. As an academic forum it would include
discussions and evaluations of pedagogy from modern languages, as well as
discussions about what oral approaches can or can't work or could be
misleading, etc. A strengthened vision and direction should result. My
feeling is that without discussion, without a forum, without some attempts
at demonstrations, a restoration of oral fluency to ancient Greek pedagogy
and biblical studies won't happen, and if it doesn't happen the field
remains with a lid on it. 

I see it as sign of vitality for the next generation. 
WS E'FH O DIDA'SKALOS, 
"OU CREI'AN E'XOUSIN OI ISCU'ONTES IATROU~ 
ALL' OI KAKW~S E'XONTES" 
E'GWGE, KOPIW~N W~N KAI PEFORTISME'NOS, 
QE'LW ANA'PAUSIN MOI KAI TOI~S ME'LLOUSI MAQHTAI~S.

ERRWSQE

Randall Buth, PhD
Director, Biblical Language Center
www.biblicalulpan.org
and Director, Biblical Studies in Israel
Rothberg International School
Hebrew University
ybitan at mscc.huji.ac.il






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