Your Companion for Biblical Hebrew Study

Professor Donald Parry (Hebrew Bible and Dead Sea Scrolls) ran a quick Google search in 2007 that revealed a major gap in Hebrew language learning. Parry was looking for an online tool that would help his Biblical Hebrew students practice using verbs, but all he could find was a single tool that included only 32 verbs, an amount Parry says students can master in just 10 minutes. Dissatisfied with the options available to his students to gain additional practice, he was inspired to create his own tool, now known as the Biblical Hebrew Learning Suite. The resource has since evolved to support thousands of students at BYU and beyond in every stage of their Hebrew journey.

Looking to address the gap in resources for his students, Parry teamed up with BYUs Office of Digital Humanities, who assisted him in developing a custom tool for study. His expertise in Biblical Hebrew paired with the offices resources for instructional design led to the creation of the Biblical Hebrew Learning Suite.

Lauryn Wilde, programmer in the Research Technology Group at the Office of Digital Humanities, is part of the team that helped Parry with designing a user-friendly interface. She says the learning suites interactive features create an engaging way for students to study the language. Additionally, because it draws from the most accurate translations of Hebrew, the suite ensures that students are studying with the best data available. The purpose of the suite, she says, is to be an aid to students who want to learn.

The learning suite is comprised of several elements, all geared towards helping students master Biblical Hebrew. One of the most defining features is the verb parsing elementthe very type of tool that inspired the project in the first place. The suite allows students to practice thousands of verbs, an amount that far exceeds the limits of the online tool Parry found in 2007.

In addition, the learning suite helps students grasp the basics of the language, strengthening their vocabulary and grammar while providing exercises to practice. Recordings by native Hebrew speakers help students refine their pronunciation, and an interactive edition of the Hebrew Bible allows them to apply their learning to the text. Alongside the Bible, a frequency dictionary lists words that are most frequently used so students can focus on vocabulary that matters. Parry says that by learning the five most frequent words, students can already recognize about a third of the entire Bible. Together, these features offer a way for students to gain understanding and expertise in the language.

The Biblical Hebrew Learning Suite can help students at any point of their language learning journey. Whether a beginner student is just barely getting acclimated to vocabulary or an advanced student needs a quick refresher on grammar, the tool is designed to meet learners where they are.

The learning suite makes a noticeable difference for students who practice with it. The students doing well in the class are the ones spending time using it outside of class, says Erik Palmer (Ancient Near Eastern Studies, History 26), one of Parrys research assistants. When used alongside class instruction, the suite compliments what students learn, which Palmer says is the way to really gain expertise in Biblical Hebrew. Whitney Pickrel (Ancient Near Eastern Studies 27), another of Parrys research assistants, agrees. She says the suite really broadens students ability to interact with Hebrew outside of just what we can fit into a chapters length.

While the learning suite provides an opportunity for students to practice on their own time, Palmer says it has fostered collaboration among students, who often work through the suites exercises together. By their final year, almost every student uses it in their studies regularly.

Another unique element of the Biblical Hebrew Learning Suite is that its available to all. Its not just BYU students who have this privilege, but anyone in the world, says Palmer. Hundreds of students outside BYU are currently enrolled in an online version of Parrys class, where they, too, can study with the learning suite. And because the suite has no expiration date, students can continue to use it for years to come as they progress in their Hebrew journey.

As the number of users increases, Parry continues to seek ways to improve the learning suite and make it accessible for all. Parry is one of the leading Hebrew scholars, Wilde says, and he has put so much time and effort into making this resource. Pickrel adds, Its constantly in development, and its getting better and better.

Learn more about the Biblical Hebrew Learning Suite here.