Most private ulpans (and even some public ones) don’t bother with final exams. So why does UAB insist on them? Here’s something most Hebrew teachers won’t tell you.
“Why do we even need an exam?” “Can’t we just learn for fun?” “Tests aren’t for me!” These are just some of the comments we hear at UAB year after year. And sure, our ulpan is for adults—people who are long past their school years. So why do we insist on oral and written exams for every course, from A1 to H1?
First of all, self-assessment. When you take a language course, you either start from scratch or come in with some knowledge. After ten weeks, the exam acts like a mirror—it shows you what you’ve learned and what still needs work, both in speaking and writing. It also helps us, as teachers, see where each student struggles the most.
Now let’s be real—without an exam, most of us adults simply won’t bother studying consistently. We won’t memorize vocabulary, we won’t review texts, and we certainly won’t sit down to properly learn verb conjugations and grammar rules. The exam forces you to tie up loose ends, go over the material, and, most importantly, realize that you can speak, read, and write in Hebrew.
Yes, some people panic at the thought of exams—especially those who grew up in North America—but we’re not backing down. Exams will continue to be held at UAB in the final week of every course, and every student who passes will receive a certificate with written and oral scores—a well-earned recognition of their achievement.
And if your ulpan or private tutor doesn’t test you in speaking and writing, let’s be honest—you’ll probably never see your true progress. Good luck to all our students during exam week!
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