Beginner I Yiddish (Intersession)
Tuition: $240 | YIVO members: $180**
Students: $120 (Must register with valid university email address)
This is a live, online course held weekly on Zoom. Enrollment will be capped at about 15 students. All course details (Zoom link, syllabus, handouts, assignments, etc.) will be posted to Google Classroom. Students will be granted access to the class on Google Classroom after registering for the class here on the YIVO website. This class will be conducted in Yiddish and English.
Instructor: Philip Schwartz
Who should take this course?
This course is appropriate for those who have completed Beginner I Yiddish (or equivalent coursework) and would like a review before enrolling in Beginner II Yiddish.
What topics will this class cover?
In this class, we will review material covered in Beginner I Yiddish, i.e. the Yiddish alphabet as well as basic grammar and vocabulary. Students will practice communicating in Yiddish and understanding written and spoken texts.
Is knowledge of the Yiddish alphabet required?
Yes, knowledge of the Yiddish alphabet is required.
Course Materials:
This course will use the textbook In eynem: The New Yiddish Textbook, Vol I & II by Asya Vaisman Schulman, Jordan Brown, and Mikhl Yashinsky (Purchase).
Questions? Read our 2026 Summer Classes FAQ.
Philip Schwartz grew up in Germany and has also lived in Ukraine, Israel, Poland, and Sweden. He holds BA and MA degrees in Jewish studies, history, and Slavic studies. Currently, he is a doctoral student in Eastern European History at Heinrich Heine University in Dusseldorf, Germany, and teaches in the university’s Yiddish Studies department as well as different Polish and American institutions. Philip also writes for contemporary Yiddish publications such as Forverts, Afn Shvel, Yidish-branzhe, and Yidishland.
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