Ulpan
{{Short description|Institute or school for the intensive study of Hebrew}}
{{for-multi|the Scottish Gaelic education method|Ùlpan|the Welsh language education method|Wlpan}}
File:Ulpan 1955.jpg, 1955]]
{{Aliyah}}
An ulpan ({{langx|he|אולפן}}), plural ulpanim, is an institute or school for the intensive study of Hebrew. Ulpan is a Hebrew word meaning "studio", "teaching", or "instruction".
The ulpan is designed to teach adult immigrants to Israel the basic language skills of conversation, writing, and comprehension. Most ulpanim also provide instruction in the fundamentals of the culture of Israel, history, and geography. The primary purpose of the ulpan is to help new citizens to be integrated as quickly and as easily as possible into the social, cultural, and economic life of their new country.
History
The concept of the ulpan was initiated soon after the creation of Israel in 1948. The new country was faced with a massive influx of new immigrants, refugees from war-torn Europe, oppressed and disadvantaged communities from Africa and the Middle East, and others from all parts of the world. Their language and culture varied widely. The ulpan was created to help them learn the Hebrew language and assimilate into the culture.
Ulpan Etzion in Jerusalem's Baka neighborhood was established in 1949 by Mordechai Kamerat as a model for Hebrew language education used across Israel. It was a residential facility for single olim between the ages 21 and 35 holding a bachelor's degree. Staff and students said that the atmosphere of the campus, its central location, and the high quality of teaching, made it a sought-after destination.{{cite web|url=http://www.jpost.com/Local-Israel/In-Jerusalem/Closure-of-Bakas-Ulpan-Etzions-spells-end-of-an-era|title=Closure of Baka's Ulpan Etzion's spells end of an era|website=jpost.com|date=11 December 2008 |access-date=16 April 2018|archive-date=21 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180721104401/https://www.jpost.com/Local-Israel/In-Jerusalem/Closure-of-Bakas-Ulpan-Etzions-spells-end-of-an-era|url-status=live}} One of Ulpan Etzion's notable alumni was Israeli satirist Ephraim Kishon. News anchor Haim Yavin taught there.{{cite web|url=http://www1.jafi.org.il/papers/2001/march/jpmar29.htm|title=Absorbing culture|website=www1.jafi.org.il|access-date=16 April 2018|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231319/http://www1.jafi.org.il/papers/2001/march/jpmar29.htm|url-status=live}}
The institution of the ulpan continues to serve immigrants today. There are numerous private facilities but the majority are run by the Jewish Agency, municipalities, kibbutzim, and the universities. Ulpanim used to be free to new immigrants ({{lang|he-Latn|olim}}) to Israel. Nowadays the cost can vary depending on the type and length of the course. Since the establishment of the first ulpan in Jerusalem in 1949, more than 1.3 million new immigrants have graduated from ulpanim.{{cite web |url=http://www.israelforus.com/info_ulpan.html |title=What is Ulpan |website=www.israelforus.com |access-date=16 April 2018 |archive-date=10 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410080218/http://israelforus.com/info_ulpan.html |url-status=live }}
File:Flickr - Government Press Office (GPO) - Vietnamese following the Hebrew teacher in the Ulpan at the Absorption Center in Afula.jpg in Afula, 1979]]
The ulpan framework has been adopted by other nations attempting to revive their own declining or lost languages. Wales, Scotland, and Norway have used the ulpan model for native-language instruction. Certain language courses in Wales and Scotland have even retained the name ulpan (spelled {{lang|cy|wlpan}} in Welsh and {{lang|gd|ùlpan}} in Scottish Gaelic).{{cite web |url=http://www.bangor.ac.uk/ll/wfa/wlpan.php.en |title=Lifelong Learning at Bangor University |publisher= Bangor University |access-date=16 April 2018 |archive-date=17 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121117063559/http://www.bangor.ac.uk/ll/wfa/wlpan.php.en |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.ulpan.co.uk/u/ |title=Ulpan in Gaelic |website=ulpan.co.uk |access-date=16 April 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724111104/http://www.ulpan.co.uk/u/ |archive-date=24 July 2012 }} The Sámi people of Norway sent a delegation to Israel in 2012 in order to experience Israel's ulpan program and apply its methods toward the preservation of its own threatened linguistic heritage.{{cite news |last=Cheslow |first=Daniella |title=Nordic people see hope of preserving culture, language in Hebrew revival |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/art/lifestyle/2012/03/12/334277/Nordic-people.htm|access-date=12 March 2012 |newspaper=The China Post |date=12 March 2012 |agency=Associated Press |location=Jerusalem |archive-date=28 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228051322/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/art/lifestyle/2012/03/12/334277/Nordic-people.htm |url-status=live }}
Kibbutz ulpan
A number of kibbutzim across Israel also offer ulpan courses. The course typically lasts 5 months and the Ulpanists will usually work part-time on the kibbutz (either 4 hours a day or 8 hours every other day, depending on the kibbutz) in addition to their studies.
Participants have the option of choosing kibbutz ulpan programs either on religious kibbutzim in the Religious Kibbutz Movement (HaKibbutz HaDati) or on secular kibbutzim.
Criticism
A government study in 2007 has shown that even after five months of intensive Hebrew study at ulpan, 60% of new immigrants over the age of 30 cannot read, write or speak Hebrew at a minimum level. The situation amongst the Russian immigrant population is even direr with 70% of immigrants not being able to understand the Hebrew television news.{{cite web|url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/813198.html|title=haaretz.com - Most ulpan graduates over 30 are unable to read or write Hebrew fluently|website=haaretz.com|access-date=16 April 2018|archive-date=29 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100129160031/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/813198.html|url-status=live}}
As a result of the study, the Knesset has set up an interministerial committee to study the situation and make recommendations to improve and change the ulpan system. Several alternative teaching systems are being considered for use in the ulpan framework.[http://212.143.66.228/protocols/data/rtf/alia/2006-12-26.rtf Inter-ministerial committee discusses the crisis in the ulpan system (in Hebrew)]{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no}}
See also
- Culture of Israel
- Education in Israel
- Jewish Agency for Israel
- Wlpan (intensive Welsh language course, inspired by ulpan)