12-14-02 - 2:09 p.m.

Somebody told me today that only two people took the Hebrew competency test this summer, and they both failed it, so I'm not sure what to expect on Monday. It wouldn't be the first time I failed a Hebrew test, but it sure would be inconvenient because then I'd have to sign up for it again. I guess the next one is in January, since that's when the guy who told me is taking it. That would be better than having to wait till next year, especially since I'm trying to graduate in May.

It's amazing to me that Hebrew is so much harder than anything else I've done in school. Exponentially, it feels like. I'm sure part of it's the language itself, but I also think the way they teach it here makes it hard. My brother started Hebrew this semester, and that's what he thinks, too. If anyone's thinking of learning Hebrew, I recommend Basics of Biblical Hebrew by Gary D. Pratico and Miles V. Van Pelt. It's laid out very clearly. For some reason that's not the textbook they're using here. I'm reading it this weekend to review.