Study Languages Outside of University Settings
Princeton Student Finds Unconventional Path to Study Yiddish
For a Princeton student with a keen interest in Eastern European Jewish history, the pursuit of Yiddish language studies proved to be an unconventional yet fulfilling journey.
Rafi Lehmann, a student at Princeton University, discovered that Yiddish, a German-Hebrew-Slavic hybrid language primarily spoken by ultra-Orthodox Hasidic Jews today, is not offered at the institution. However, Lehmann was undeterred and embarked on a mission to find resources that would facilitate his language learning and research.
Lehmann's quest led him to external, intensive, and online Yiddish programs. One such resource is the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research in New York, which offers robust Yiddish classes, including intensive summer programs that have grown significantly in recent years and support learners worldwide through online and in-person options.
Online Yiddish courses have become widely available and accessible, especially since the pandemic, providing students outside of universities with Yiddish offerings an opportunity to engage in language study remotely. Attending specialized events and lectures at Jewish research centers such as the Center for Jewish History and participating in programming at places like YIVO can also expose students to Yiddish language resources and scholarship.
Princeton’s own Judaic Studies research guides point to extensive archival materials, including Yiddish materials, which can be accessed for research purposes. However, language acquisition likely needs to be pursued outside campus.
In addition to online programs, Lehmann also considered study-abroad or year-long immersive programs in Israel or other Jewish cultural centers, which often integrate Hebrew and Yiddish language study with historical and cultural context.
Lehmann's determination was rewarded when he secured funding from three departments for a weekly Skype tutor for the semester. This allowed him to take a language at another university during the semester, ensuring he could make progress in his language studies despite the lack of Yiddish courses at Princeton.
If resources aren’t readily available at Princeton, faculty can help locate them. Lehmann learned that at Princeton, where there's a will, there's a way. For non-Anglophone historical research, proficiency in the region's language is essential for original scholarship. If a faculty member speaks the desired language, it is possible to design a reading course for full class credit.
The Reading Courses website provides more information about designing a reading course. Lehmann, being interested in a language not offered at Princeton University, Yiddish, found this to be a valuable resource in his pursuit of knowledge.
In conclusion, for a student like Lehmann, the pursuit of a language not offered at their university can be challenging, but with determination and resourcefulness, it is possible to find the necessary resources for language study and research. Summer immersion programs exist for many languages, and funding opportunities can be found on the SAFE’s website, making the journey towards language proficiency more accessible than ever.
Independent work and lifelong learning led Princeton student Rafi Lehmann to pursue Yiddish, a language not offered at his university, through external, intensive, and online programs. His journey, filled with perseverance, showcased the importance of education-and-self-development and constant learning, even in the absence of traditional resources.
