eTeacher Hebrew Campus Stories

 The emphasis at eTeacher is not only studying the language but the learning experience itself and the special connection to Israel and its teachers.
Below is a collection of personal stories, as told by eTeacher teachers and students. 

Teacher: Nechama Hashiloni, Student: Sophia Trouwborst (Canada, Vanvouver B.C)

When I emailed my teacher Nechama Hashiloni from Hebrewonline that I was going to volunteer with www.sar-el.org see under Feature Articles, by Sophia Trouwborst. Nechama lost no time to invite me. She picked me up at the Care Home Mishan in Beersheva where I was volunteering. I had the choice of where to go. Since I had seen a lot of Israel already I told her that I would like to see the old city of Avdat. Nechama's husband Asher was so kind to drive us to the top and picked us up at the bottom while we were admiring what once (May be 3000 years ago) had been a wonderful spice route city.
We had a great time looking at the old place where they made their wine and the left overs from churches and buildings with arches. Also Ein Avdat at the bottom by Sde Boker, there were may be 20 school kids taking mud baths with all their clothes on. They looked like they came from another planet. We could see that it had been raining the week before. We ate at a goat cheese corn place. A little restaurant with a view and 2 tents which looked like Bedouin tents. They sat on the ground with carpets and a black frayed top. It looked very cozy though. While my friends enjoyed their goat cheese I had some nice apple pie and peppermint tea. It was in the middle of no where. We saw a sign and followed a small sand path. I find it always interesting to see something different. Without Nechama I would have never been there. It's needless to say that my time has been well spent and I will look back at it with pleasure. How wonderful that a teacher I only met by computer actually became my friend. We enjoy emailing each other too. Thank you so much again Nechama. You are a wonderful teacher and friend.
Sophia Trouwborst from Vancouver, B.C. Canada 

Teacher: Nurit Barzel , Student: Sonia Valnezin (Belgium)

Photos May 12, 2007.Sonia, from Belgium, who studied in the exceptional class (33AL) and her teacher Nurit (who just participated this last weekend in a marathon of tours organized by Yad Ben Tzvi) at the market of Jerusalem's Old City: "In accordance with the revered conversational tradition at eTeacher, we are chatting over hummus and salad, water and coffee. Sonia arrived with a friend for the week and is returning to Belgium tomorrow. Besides the exciting meeting between Sonia, my husband and myself, we went over all the vocabulary words studied in class throughout our conversation.
A productive meeting indeed!!!"

Teacher: Eti Basson, Student: Morris Segel (Australia)

August-September 2006
When I told Morris that my family and I were planning a trip to Australia, he immediately offered to host us in his home in Sydney. I happily accepted his offer, and we stayed with him for 5 days. Our stay with Morris and his family was very moving. Morris and his wife did everything to make us feel at home.
After several months, Morris and his wife came to Israel for a visit, and we met over breakfast on the beach in Herzliya. It was warm and pleasant - like hanging out with old friends.
When they heard I gave birth to my son, Ori, they called to congratulate me, and sent presents in the mail all the way from Australia to Haifa, which I greatly appreciated.
These days I'm still tutoring Morris in Hebrew, and we are both immensely enjoying the lessons. Morris is highly motivated to learn Hebrew and his progress is evident from lesson to lesson. 

Teacher: Nurit Aviv Student: Karen Doyle

Your news letters are excellent - so informative.

I visited Israel May this year, what a wonderful country - the best in the world - so majestic.
I am learning Hebrew with Nurit Aviv, whom I met with over a couple of days in Haifa.
Also met her two lovely  daughters, Sheni and Chen.
Had a super time, not only is Nurit a great teacher and person but also an excellent cook - loved the Israeli food.
Looking forward to my next visit to Israel.
 
Karen Doyle, Western Australia  
 

Teacher: Barzel Nurit Student: Rice Georgina (USA, Florida)  

Shalom,
Georgina, form class 22, visited me on Shavuot. She came with 3 of her grandchildren. It was wonderful to finally meet her. It felt like we've known each other for years...
Nurit.

Teacher: Sari Sternberg ,Student: Sidsel Wold (Norway)  

Sidsel Wold was a private student of mine who arrived in Israel to cover the war as part of her job as a radio and television reporter in Norway. Over the course of the war, she visited all of northern Israel's communities, met with civilians in shelters under fire and essentially experienced the war from up close.
I met with her on the last day of the war on August 13th. On the morning of that day, she notified me that she would arrive in Haifa that evening from up north so we could meet. At that point I didn't know that it would be the "stormiest" day in Haifa of the whole war - and I don't mean the weather: Haifa had no less than 16 air-raid sirens in one day!!!
When she called me that evening, I was really scared to leave the house since I didn't know where the next alert would "catch" me. I debated whether to take the risk and go out in order to meet her, or pass on the opportunity to see her and ensure my safety.
The truth is I was a bit embarrassed since I, the Israeli "experienced in war situations," was afraid of getting hurt, while she had come unprepared, from a peaceful country, and yet was not deterred. Ultimately I decided to get over my fear and meet with her.
I left my house and headed for the hotel she was staying in, which overlooks the Haifa bay. When we met, we shared an emotional embrace and both decided to remain in the hotel. The only people in the hotel were soldiers and foreign press agents who camped out there in order to capture shots of all the missiles being dropped on Haifa.
Sidsel suggested we sit outside (albeit in the proximity of a bomb shelter), at the entrance to the hotel on the promenade, with a spectacular view of Haifa, but not a soul in sight. People were hiding out in their homes after a difficult day of running to the shelters. It was deadly silent. There were no cars on the road and people could not be seen in the streets. I will never forget the anomalous, surreal experience of the two of us, alone, sitting and looking out onto the pastoral landscape, drinking coffee and chatting.
Most of our meeting she told me about her experiences encountering the war from up close – what she saw, heard and felt in all the places she had visited.
This was an especially moving encounter, not only because it was our first time meeting face to face, but of course because of the unique circumstances under which we met.

Teacher: Leah Ahskenazy Hertz Student: Cathy Schechter (USA, Texas) 

Cathy Schechter has publicized her experiences visiting me at my kibbutz in Israel on her blog. She describes her reflection on what she saw on our changing kibbutz.
http://cathy-sabbatical.blogspot.com/  

Teacher: Hagit Man ,Student: Judith Golden (USA, Illinois)

Hi Tali,
I wanted to share an exciting experience with you that I had in my advanced class today. We discussed Israel’s Independence Day, and the national anthem, I asked if anyone is familiar with Hatikvah. I asked Judith if she wanted to sing Hatikvah with me. She began singing in an amazing voice. Her singing was beautiful and moving.
Afterwards I wrote her an email regarding the assignment she sent me and told her again how moved I was by her singing.
In her response she thanked me for the opportunity to rehearse, as tomorrow she was to lead the singing of Hatikvah in her synagogue and that she often sings in Hebrew, etc.
It was a meaningful experience for me.
Shabbat Shalom,
Hagit.

Teacher: Malka Kotzer Student: Lisa M. Fields 

Shalom Malka,
I wanted to let you know how excited I was the other day. I was driving along and a car ahead of me had a bumper sticker that was printed in Hebrew. A Hebrew bumper sticker is extremely rare where I live. I could read the first word of the sticker - ani!! I was so excited that my youngest daughter, who was home for the weekend from college, laughed at me. In truth, she was impressed, because the first words out of her mouth when we arrived home was - "Mom can read Hebrew!" 
I just wanted you to know how much Victor and I are enjoying the classes.
Have a great week!
Lehitra'ot, 
Lisa