Register For an Online Course

Registration for winter courses is now full. Our next In eynem online courses will be offered in fall 2024. Join our email list to be notified about future courses.
 

Lomir zikh lernen in eynem—let’s learn together! 

Learn Yiddish in an online course for beginners using the Yiddish Book Center’s award-winning, multimedia textbook, In eynem. Classes are held twice a week over Zoom, and students connect and submit homework using Google Classroom. 

About In eynem Yiddish Courses

Our courses use a research-backed method called the communicative approach, centered on the idea that successful language learning should prioritize communicating and interpreting real meaning, similarly to how humans learn their first language. Using real-life situations and authentic materials, students in our courses focus on engaging directly with Yiddish, rather than learning about Yiddish.  

Our small, student-centered classes facilitate a uniquely collaborative and dynamic environment. Teachers ensure that students are able to understand the language used in class by means of gestures, miming, and visual aids, and that they are compelled to understand by encouraging conversations about topics that are important to each student, thus increasing motivation and lowering any anxiety about language-learning. Each course level builds on previous knowledge and corresponds to units of In eynem: The New Yiddish Textbook, which was authored by Asya Vaisman Schulman and has been adopted by numerous universities and organizations, both in the US and internationally.  
 

Course Expectations

Before signing up, make sure you can: 

"The course surpassed all my expectations. It really was a pleasure and an exceptional educational experience for me."

--In eynem student

• Commit to participating in all class sessions and spending 60-90 minutes on homework per class
• Get a copy of In eynem: The New Yiddish Textbook (available here) 
• Familiarize yourself with the Yiddish alphabet before the course begins (or take our alphabet course)

• Review previous units of the textbook before the course begins, if in a continuing level 

• Have a computer with a camera and microphone, headphones, Internet access, and proficiency with Zoom 

• Create a free Google account (or use an existing one) to access Google Classroom 

See our Frequently Asked Questions for more information.
 

Winter 2024 Courses
 

Courses fill quickly, so early registration is encouraged. Not sure which course is right for you? Our registration form asks about your language background, and we review your answers to ensure you are placed in the right level. You can also email [email protected] with questions before registering.

You can join or renew your Yiddish Book Center membership before registering. The required textbook is sold separately at $100 in our online store.

Cancellation Policy: For twelve-week courses, cancellations by January 17 will be refunded, minus a $30 administration fee. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide refunds for cancellations after January 17.

Unfortunately, we cannot provide refunds for cancellations for the Yiddish alphabet course.

Yiddish Alphabet Course

Dates and times: January 3, 4, 10, and 11 from 6:00-7:30pm ET
Instructor: Moishele Alfonso

Practice your alef-beys in an intensive four-day online course taught by Moishele Alfonso. This course will focus on reading and pronunciation of the printed Yiddish alphabet, with an introduction to handwriting. Optional homework exercises will be provided.

Cost: $100 for Yiddish Book Center members; $175 for nonmembers

Beginner 2

Beginner 2 will cover Unit 2 (In klas) continued, and Unit 3 (Es blaybt in der mishpokhe) from In eynem: The New Yiddish Textbook.

Who should take this course?
This course is designed for students who took the Beginner 1 online course in the fall of 2023, or have studied equivalent material (Chapters 1-6 of In Eynem: The New Yiddish Textbook).

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to: 

• Compare and contrast
• Give commands
• Ask and answer questions about your family
• Discuss professions
• Describe a person's physical appearance
• Talk about activities you like and dislike

Grammar: Imperative; adjective endings; the accusative case; lib hobn (to like)
Culture: Folksongs; poems; film clips; archival images

Beginner 2: Section 1

Winter 2024 Schedule: Mondays and Wednesdays, 6pm–7:30pm ET
Orientation for new students: January 17 at 11:30am ET
January 22, 24, 29, 31
February 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28
March 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, 27
April 1, 3, 8, 10

Cost: $700 for members; $775 for nonmembers.

Instructor: This course is taught by Sasha Berenstein, a Yiddish teacher, klezmer musician, and LGBTQ+ inclusivity activist. She has led workshops for inclusivity in Yiddish pedagogy, while also centering accessibility and identity in Yiddish language instruction. Learn more about Sasha here.

Beginner 2: Section 2
 

Winter 2024 Schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6pm–7:30pm ET
Orientation for new students: January 17 at 11:30am ET
January 23, 25, 30
February 1, 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27, 29
March 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28
April 2, 4, 9, 11

Cost: $700 for members; $775 for nonmembers.

Instructor: This course is taught by Moishele Alfonso, an alum of the Yiddish Book Center's Yiddish Pedagogy Fellowship and Practicum. Moishele has taught in the Center's Yiddish language programs for adults and college students, both online and in person. Learn more about Moishele here.