FAQ: 2024 Spring Classes

Are these classes completely online?

YIVO is committed to making Yiddish accessible to students around the globe, and as such, the majority of our courses are held entirely online. However, we are pleased to offer three in-person courses in spring 2024: Beginner I Yiddish (In-person), Beginner II Yiddish (In-person), and Beginner III Yiddish (In-person). All course details (Zoom link [if applicable], syllabus, handouts, assignments, etc.) will be posted to the website Canvas. You will be granted access to the class on Canvas after registering for the class on the YIVO website.

Do I need to know how to use Zoom for online classes?

Yes. All of YIVO’s online spring classes will be conducted over Zoom. You should familiarize yourself with Zoom before the class begins.

Where are in-person classes held?

In-person classes will be held at the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research in New York City, located in the Center for Jewish History at 15 West 16th Street. Visiting information can be found here.

Are the spring classes self-paced? Can I take classes asynchronously?

No, the spring classes are not self-paced and may not be taken asynchronously. YIVO’s spring classes will be conducted live. If you are interested in taking a course on your own time, please register for a class in the Shine Online Educational Series.

Are classes capped at a certain number of students?

Yes. Classes will be capped at about 15 students to maintain an intimate classroom environment.

What happens if the class fills up?

If the class is full, please add yourself to the waitlist form linked on the class’s page. If a space in the desired course becomes available, you will be contacted about registration.

Can I take these classes if I don’t live in New York, or the United States? What if I live in a different time zone?

Yes! We welcome learners from all over the world for our online classes. However, please note that these classes will be conducted live. Before registering, please check to see at what time the class will meet in your time zone to see if the class time is appropriate and fits your schedule.

Are class sessions recorded in case I must miss a session?

Yes, class sessions for online classes are recorded. You will have access to the recordings for the duration of the semester. The recordings are available so you may watch a session you were absent for or re-watch a session you were present for to fully grasp the content. Recordings are not a substitute for attending class live; barring emergencies, you are expected to promptly attend each class session. Beginner I Yiddish (In-person), Beginner II Yiddish (In-person), and Beginner III Yiddish (In-person) will not be recorded.

Can I drop a class and get a refund?

We hope that everyone registering for our spring online classes is seriously committed to embarking on the full course of study. Barring emergencies, students are expected to promptly attend every session. In the unusual case that one begins the class and decides to drop it, one may only get a full refund by emailing info@yivo.org before the start of the second session of class. There will be no refunds to students in a class once the second session of class has begun.

If it is too late to request a refund, can I put my spring tuition towards a future semester course?

No, YIVO does not allow students to transfer their spring tuition towards a future semester course. However, students are welcome to request to transfer to another course during the spring 2024 semester if there is still space available. There is no deadline for switching courses within the same semester.

What textbook will I need? How can I get it?

Course materials are listed on each class’s registration page: yivo.org/Classes. You should order any listed textbook(s) before class begins.

How will I access my courses and materials?

All of your course links, materials, homework, and syllabi will be made available through Canvas. Canvas acts as a class folder that contains all the important information for your course, and allows your instructors to communicate with you efficiently. If you do not already have a Canvas account, please wait to receive a Course Invitation from YIVO upon successful enrollment in a course. You may only access YIVO’s Canvas pages through a course invitation email.

What types of classes is YIVO offering this spring?

This spring, YIVO is offering six categories of classes:

1.    Once-a-Week Yiddish
2.    Twice-a-Week Yiddish
3.    Conversational Yiddish
4.    Reading Yiddish
5.    Seminars and Electives (in English)
6.    Seminars and Electives (in Yiddish)

What are the Once-a-Week Yiddish classes?

These courses are held live weekly for 12 weeks (12 total sessions, 1.5 hours each). These classes focus on listening, speaking, reading, and writing in Yiddish. Prerequisites or expected level of familiarity with Yiddish are specified for each course. Enrollment is capped at about 15 students per class. All course details (Zoom link [if applicable], syllabus, handouts, etc.) will be posted to Canvas. All once-a-week Yiddish classes, except for Beginner I Yiddish (In-person), Beginner II Yiddish (In-person), and Beginner III Yiddish (In-person), will be conducted on Zoom. This spring, YIVO is offering ten levels of once-a-week Yiddish.

What are the Twice-a-Week Yiddish classes?

These courses are held live, twice weekly on Zoom for 12 weeks (24 total sessions, 1.5 hours each). These classes focus on listening, speaking, reading, and writing in Yiddish. By meeting twice per week, these courses will aim to cover two semesters’ worth of material. A total beginner, for example, would enroll in Intensive Beginner I&II Yiddish and complete the equivalent of one semester of once-per-week classes of Beginner I Yiddish and one semester of once-per-week classes of Beginner II Yiddish. The twice-a-week Yiddish classes are excellent for students serious about beginning or continuing their study of Yiddish. Prerequisites or expected level of familiarity with Yiddish is specified for each course. Enrollment is capped at about 15 students per class. All course details (Zoom link, syllabus, handouts, etc.) will be posted to Canvas. This spring, YIVO is offering seven levels of twice-a-week Yiddish.

What are the Conversational Yiddish classes?

YIVO’s conversational Yiddish classes are held live, weekly on Zoom for 10 weeks (10 total sessions, 1.5 hours each). These courses focus on listening and speaking in Yiddish, and not on reading or writing in Yiddish. Knowledge of the Yiddish alphabet is not required. All written texts provided will be transliterated into Latin characters. Enrollment is capped at about 15 students per class. All course details (Zoom link, syllabus, handouts, etc.) will be posted to Canvas.

These courses are for heritage learners, namely, students with some previous Yiddish background, whether from their home, neighborhood, school, summer camp, religious practice, and/or participation in Yiddish arts and culture.

What is the Reading Yiddish class?

This course is held live, weekly on Zoom for 14 weeks (14 total sessions, 1 hour and 50 minutes each). This class, which is structured like a university course, focuses on reading and writing in Yiddish, rather than on listening and speaking in Yiddish. Those interested in obtaining Yiddish reading proficiency for academic purposes or archival research are strongly encouraged to enroll in this course. Prerequisites or expected level of familiarity with Yiddish is specified for the course. Enrollment is capped at about 15 students. All course details (Zoom link, syllabus, handouts, etc.) will be posted to Canvas. This spring, YIVO is offering one level of reading Yiddish.

What are the Seminars and Electives (in English)?

These courses are held live, weekly on Zoom for 10 weeks (10 total sessions, 1.5 hours each). Conducted in English, these courses explore topics such as Ashkenazi Jewish history, literature, creative writing, queer theory and gender studies, music, and culture. Classes are open to all learners: scholars and curious beginners alike. Enrollment is capped at about 20 students per class. All course details (Zoom link, syllabus, handouts, etc.) will be posted to Canvas. This spring, YIVO is offering three seminars & electives (in English).

What are the Seminars and Electives (in Yiddish)?

These courses are held live, weekly on Zoom for 10 weeks (10 total sessions, 1.5 hours each). Conducted partly, mainly, or entirely in Yiddish, these courses explore topics such as Ashkenazi Jewish history, literature, creative writing, queer theory and gender studies, music, and culture. Prerequisites or expected level of familiarity with Yiddish is specified for each course. Enrollment is capped at about 15 students per class. All course details (Zoom link, syllabus, handouts, etc.) will be posted to Canvas. This spring, YIVO is offering two seminars & electives (in Yiddish).

Which level of Yiddish should I take?

Prerequisites or expected level of familiarity with Yiddish is specified on each course’s registration page: yivo.org/Classes.

Do I need to speak English?

All of YIVO’s Yiddish classes are designed for English speakers who would like to learn Yiddish. English need not be a student’s native language. However, students should be very comfortable with English.

Do I have to know the alef-beys?

Students in Beginner I Yiddish, Beginner I Reading Yiddish, and Intensive Beginner I&II Yiddish are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the alef-beys before class, but will learn the letters in class. Students in all other Yiddish levels (from Beginner II and up) are expected to already know the alef-beys. Students in any level of Conversational Yiddish for Heritage Learners need not know the alef-beys as all written texts provided will be transliterated into Latin characters.

If I know Hebrew or German and have never taken a Yiddish class before, should I take Beginner I Yiddish or Beginner II Yiddish?

Students who have never taken a Yiddish class before, even if they know Hebrew or German, should take Beginner I Yiddish, Intensive Beginner I&II Yiddish, Beginner I Reading Yiddish, or Beginner Conversational Yiddish for Heritage Learners. The first level of Yiddish is crucial for learning Yiddish grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Knowing languages such as German or Hebrew may be useful for learning Yiddish but is not required or sufficient for learning Yiddish.

Is academic credit available for YIVO’s spring 2024 courses?

Academic credit is not currently available for YIVO’s spring and spring courses. However, we do offer academic credit through Bard College for students taking the YIVO-Bard Winter Program on Ashkenazi Civilization and the Uriel Weinreich Summer Program in Yiddish Language, Literature, and Culture.

How do I qualify for the student tuition price?

To qualify for the student tuition price, please register for the class with a valid university email address.

Is there a discount for seniors?

We do not offer a discount for seniors. We do offer a discounted member price for current YIVO members. 

Will you always have online classes from now on?

We plan to continue to offer online classes each semester.

What’s the difference between YIVO’s spring classes and the Shine Online Educational Series, such as A Seat at the Table: A Journey into Jewish Food?

The spring classes are conducted live at a particular time each week. Students must register in advance, purchase any required textbooks, and attend all live class session sessions. These classes are capped at about 15 students. To register for a spring class, please go to yivo.org/Classes.

There are four classes in YIVO’s Shine Online Educational Series (A Seat at the Table: A Journey into Jewish Food; Oh Mama, I’m in Love! The Story of the Yiddish Stage; Discovering Ashkenaz: Jewish Life in Eastern Europe; and Folksong, Demons, and the Evil Eye: Folklore of Ashkenaz). Each of these courses is free of charge and completely self-paced. Anyone may register for and begin a class at any time. There is no limit to the number of people who may register. After registering for a class, you have access to view it indefinitely. To register for a Shine Online class, please go to yivo.org/Online-Classes.

What if I have a question that isn’t on this list?

Please contact info@yivo.org with any questions.