PHD: Book 3

The first chapter of Book 3 guides the learner through an intensive review of the previously learned letters in three levels, from basic to more complex, to ensure mastery and to foster confidence. The second chapter introduces the consonant sound in the middle of the word, called sh’va. Chapters three through six introduce the rest of the vowels, one vowel per chapter, cumulatively building on the learner’s new knowledge while teaching the new components. In these chapters students learn to distinguish between the vowels through very specific activities designed to train the eye to search for the vowel and to associate it with the correct vowel sound. They also acquire some basic vocabulary, including colors, numbers, days of the weeks, and holidays.

The PHD is a simple yet extremely effective system with which students of all ages can learn how to both read and write in Hebrew. Sara Rosen, a veteran Hebrew teacher of more than 30 years, drew on all her teaching experience to create the PHD. The program is divided into three books in which the letters and vowels are introduced sequentially and in increasing degrees of complexity according to their sound and shape. To ensure the learner is never overwhelmed, we only introduce one letter or vowel at a time.

The first two books introduce the Hebrew letters, how they sound with (and without) one basic sound: ah, and how they are written. As students read more accurately and their skills are reinforced and become more fluid, the remainder of the vowels are then introduced in the third book. This approach enables students to read phonetically almost any text in either classical or modern Hebrew.