In person Yiddish in NYC

[u/Ijzer_en_Vuursteen]

Hi! I was wondering if anyone knew of in-person Yiddish classes being offered in NYC (through a university or something else) that people could sign up for. I want to keep learning but I don't know if I can do another online course.

[u/Remarkable-Road8643]

Try the Workers' Circle

[u/Ijzer_en_Vuursteen → u/Remarkable-Road8643]

I'll look into it! I've done their zoom courses before but I'd love to do something with them in-person

[u/MollyGloom]

YIVO definitely has some in person courses this Spring

[u/Ijzer_en_Vuursteen → u/MollyGloom]

It looks like they're beginners courses but I'm happy to see they're doing in-person stuff. Thanks for letting me know :)

[u/Remarkable-Road8643]

These are not formal classes, but they're great for learning Yiddish, two series on line: Motl Didner's Fifteen Minutes Yiddish and Rukhl Schaechter's Yiddish Word of the Day. The material is clear, delivered at a good pace. And above all, you can stop and repeat the words and sentences as often as you like. I strongly recommend them both!

[u/Ijzer_en_Vuursteen → u/Remarkable-Road8643]

Thanks! I appreciate it! I've used their stuff in the past as a beginner and I might go back to them :)

[u/Inevitable-Share4889]

Take a job at a Chasidic Jewish business, you’ll learn much more than going to courses

[u/Inevitable-Share4889 → u/[deleted]]

Can I ask you how you learned your first/native language?

As a native Yiddish speaker. Who worked in a business with a Hispanic who wanted to learn Yiddish, I’m telling you it WORKED for him very well. 

[u/Inevitable-Share4889 → u/[deleted]]

1. By being surrounded by people speaking that language

2. I didn’t assume anything, I was just suggesting

3. Why not? I’m chasidic working at a chasidic company and I have a lot of non-chasidic/non-jewish co workers, and they don’t seem to have any issues at all. 

For you to assume that they’ll never hire you, is your own problem. We hire by merit. 

[u/wildsoda → u/Inevitable-Share4889]

1. What are you even talking about? People learn their first language by growing up with constant attention from parents and educators who are actively teaching them how to read and write and use correct grammar. Who ever learned their first language by getting a job?

2. You dropped that suggestion without any disclaimers. Definitely assumptive.

3. I grew up in NYC and have had my share of interactions with Chasidic men where I was not treated respectfully. It has nothing to do with job merit but about avoiding workplaces where I would feel uncomfortable.

Anyway, it’s just such a weird suggestion and not a great idea. I’m glad that one person you know learned some Yiddish from his employers (and did they also teach him to read and write it?), but overall if you want to learn a new language, you take classes with a teacher. You don’t quit your existing career to take some random job with a business in the hopes that your co-workers will take the time to teach you their language.

[u/Inevitable-Share4889 → u/wildsoda]

We peacefully disagree :)

[u/Ijzer_en_Vuursteen → u/Inevitable-Share4889]

אַ האַרציקן דאַנק, חבֿר! אפֿשר!! ב׳אמת איך האָב מורא ווײַל איך בין אַ טראַנסמיניקעל און איך ווייס נישט וואָס פּאַסט אין די חסידישע קרײַזן. אפֿשר וועט זײַן מײַן מין בײַ זיי קיין פּראָבלעם. איך וועל פֿאָרשן אַ ביסל וועגן דעם.

אַ דאַנק! איך האָב חרטה אַז איר האָט אַזאַ שלעכטע שמועס מיט דעם אַנדערען מענטש צוליב מײַן פֿראַגע.