Hebrew is a Near Eastern language-the language of Judaism-with an alphabet that is written from right to left. Along with Arabic, Hebrew is one of the two official languages in Israel, and is spoken by 4.6 million people around the world. If you major in Hebrew you’ll, of course, master the reading, speaking, and writing of the language. You’ll also be introduced to Hebrew literature, including the bestselling book of all time, the Bible. Why major in a foreign language? There are many good reasons. For one, by studying foreign language rules, your understanding and usage of English will grow stronger and more effective. Also, studying a foreign language is a great way to immerse yourself in another culture, opening up doorways all around the world for travel, business, and friendships. While majoring in Hebrew, expect to take courses in History, Religion, and Jewish Studies. You may want to concentrate on a specific area-indeed, many colleges may require you to do so. Possible concentrations include Biblical Studies, Classical Jewish Literature, and Hebrew Literature. An appreciation for many Liberal Arts disciplines is definitely necessary if you plan to major in Hebrew.

Preparation

The more foreign languages you know, the easier it is to pick up another one, so take advantage of whatever your high school offers, be it French, Spanish, German, etc. And since Hebrew is a multi-disciplinary field, you’ll benefit from English, History, and religion classes.