[HANASHIR:14404] Re: A slightly different question

[sholom <sholom...>]

> Friends-
> On a related note, the Jewish overnight camp that I am working at this
> summer  has asked for about 90% Hebrew music and 10% English music; the
> music will be  exclusive Jewish music.  The camp is transdenominational.
>
> I personally think that it is better to use more music in English or in
> both  Hebrew and English so that kids can actually understand what
> they're saying.   What are your feelings on this?

My own personal opinion is this:

1.  I think Hebrew songs can be _used_ to teach Hebrew.

2.  Sometimes it is "good enough" that the kids understand the general
message of the song.  (Lots of people sing, e.g., Hine Ma Tov or Hava
Negila without knowing the translation).

3.  And most importantly -- I think we do our kids a great disservice, a
*huge* dissservice, when we underestimate their capacity for learning
things, including learning things in another language.  It is well known
that children in particular are able to learn other languages much easier
than adults.

My five year old daughter learned the names of the 12 tribes, in birth
order, from a song (set to the tune of Yankee Doodle).  (And then I
learned it from her!)

When she was six she learned the names of all 54 parshas, in order, from a
song.  (I'm _still_ unable to do this -- I have no idea how _she_ was able
to do this!  It wasn't particularly hard for her -- and she is an average
student).

She's now eight years old, and I'm working hard to keep up with her.

Don't underestimate the capacity of kids' learning!!

-- Sholom





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