Bramson ORT's E-Learning Center Helps Yeshiva Children Excel in Hebrew Conversation
As the world leader in using technology for education, ORT has combined technology with its holistic approach to teaching into the Bramson ORT E-Learning Center, an after school program for yeshiva children from Brooklyn and Queens. Hebrew is strongly incorporated into the Bramson ORT E-Learning Center so that the children can make the jump from reading and writing Hebrew to using it in conversation.
Bramson ORT College, where the E-Learning Center is hosted, is supported by American ORT. The after-school program is a unique way of providing children from 7-18 with individualized attention so they can meet the educational requirements of their schools, said Nurit Sharon, the program director. Holistic teaching addresses each child's social, emotional and cultural needs as well as their individual learning style.
“Many kids come to us with inactive Hebrew, that is, they can read and write but they can't speak or use it in active conversation. When they come to us, we make their Hebrew come alive by immersing them in conversation,” said Sharon, a professional psychologist, trained teacher and guidance counselor who has worked in schools in Israel and London.
Using the latest software, the after school program uses technology to teach conversational Hebrew. Taking examples from daily life like the Jewish holidays or the section of Talmud the children are currently studying in school, the tutors use immersion learning so the children end up with an active and thorough Hebrew vocabulary. The technology savvy program has played host to a Hebrew class given via satellite from Israel and students partake in occasional lessons delivered over the Internet.
The E-Learning Center also stresses math because it helps build a child's cognitive skills, said Sharon. “Children must understand math completely, especially word problems, because without it they can't progress in sciences like biology, chemistry and physics, all of which are dependent on math.”
“This program is a gym for the mind,” says Nurit, “When a parent wants to enroll their child in our program, we meet with them to lay out a customized program that will best fit their child's abilities much like a personal trainer would do when assisting new clients at their gym.”
And students are not limited to Hebrew. They are tutored in subjects they need to succeed in school, such as math, biology and even the SAT's.
One parent said “I was thrilled to discover the ORT E-Learning Center. Once I met Nurit, I became hooked and I bring my children to the school at every free opportunity. They have excellent teachers, different from the schools where there are big classes and not enough individualized attention. Here the teachers have more patience and the children come away from the lessons truly knowing their stuff. The school even discovered that one of my children had dyslexia.”
The program strives to make the kids enjoy what they are learning. The Bramson ORT E-Learning Center gives children who have trouble keeping up academically or socially a boost that allows them to compete with their classmates. Here students do not need to deal with the traditional stumbling blocks of a traditional classroom. Nor are they intimidated or distracted by classmates.
During every visit the children will participate in three to four different activities, each for a short period of time that retains their attention. For example, a student might work on biology with their tutor for half an hour, and then spend some time on one of the learning center's computer programs before returning to study Hebrew with a tutor.
Bramson ORT also provides a cultural understanding of the social, cultural and religious background of the students as Jews, thus providing a comfortable atmosphere for learning and improved academic performance. Tutors work with the children in groups of three or four and cover a range of subjects that include writing, science, Hebrew and math. The Bramson ORT E-Learning Center gives children who have trouble keeping up academically or socially a boost that allows them to compete with their classmates. Tutors will not move on unless they are sure the child understands the subject matter.
The program's latest venture is The Classical Essay Workshop. With a section on writing added to the SAT examination in recent years, developing writing skills has never been more crucial to academic success. The workshop will place emphasis on speed and confidence for writing timed essays. In addition to the writing workshop, the Bramson ORT E-Learning Center prepares children for all types of standardized tests, including the PSAT, ACT and BJE (high-school entrance test) examinations. Students practice with simulated tests and develop a feel for the types of questions that will be asked. When studying math, the children are taught estimating skills so that their mind will quickly come up with a ballpark figure of what the answer will be.
The Bramson ORT E-Learning Center incorporates the “scaffolding” method pioneered by Leb Vygotzsky. The scaffolding method requires the teacher to provide students the opportunity to extend their current skills and knowledge by engaging their interest, simplifying tasks so they are manageable and motivating students to pursue the instructional goal. Teacher must minimize each student's frustration and also be aware of discrepancies between a student's efforts and the solution.
For more information about the Bramson ORT E-Learning Center, or to enroll, call Nurit Sharon at 718.259.5300 or at 201.349.6655.
Founded as a non-profit organization in 1922, American ORT supports a global network of schools and training programs that boasts more than 3 million graduates to date, and educates 300,000 students in 60 countries annually. The cutting edge education acquired at ORT schools, colleges and international programs provides marketable skills that empower students to attain successful careers, become community leaders and live with dignity. For more information about American ORT, visit www.aort.org or call 800.364.9678.
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