Looking for software that teaches elementary to intermediate conversational Hebrew? ? SMP teamed up with Hebrew instructor, Monica Devens and University of Washington professor of Hebrew, Naomi Sokoloff to produce this fun, exciting CD-ROM that teaches the language of everyday conversation.

Travel through Jerusalem. Arrive in Israel at the airport, catch a taxi and "take out" your map to explore many fun locales including the Western Wall, the Ben Yehuda Market, a street cafe, or visit a friend's house - even take the bus, and more! Exciting adventures await you at each locale. Buy fruit at the market; order the local cuisine; even join a Barmitsfa. The dialogue is practical, useful conversation of every day interaction. The sights and sounds of the city come alive. Its like really being there!

The destinations and people are beautiful, hand-painted representations of Jerusalem! Converse with up to three people at each locale. Over 400 lines of professionally-recorded dialogue. Background sound gives you the feeling of actually being there.

Male or Female?: Before embarking on your journey, you may choose which gender you would like to be considered as. Hebrew, unlike English, makes a distinction in the language between male and female. The interaction between you and the characters will be according to the gender that you choose. Later, you may choose the opposite gender to compare responses. An excellent way to learn!

Observe or Play?: Next you will be asked whether or not you would like to Observe or Play. If you select Observe you will observe the conversation and practice with the aid of subtitles. Select Play and you will interact in the conversation without subtitles. This is a great way to practice listening comprehension. Anyone can learn with Speak Hebrew!

• Glossary: View a glossary of all vocabulary in the conversations.
  
• Notes: Here we have information on Hebrew and Jewish languages as well as many other useful hints.
  
• Appendices: The alphabet, lists of adjectives, foods, market items, telling time, nouns, verbs and conjugations, and much more.
  

Hebrew has nine simple and three compound vowel signs, dots and dashes appearing above, below and next to the consonantal letters. In contemporary Israel, Hebrew most often does not make use of these traditional vowel notations (niqud). While they do appear in prayerbooks, in children's literature, and in poetry, most books, newspapers, magazines, signs, personal correspondence, and other writing omit them. Thus, the prayers from the scene at the Wall do include niqud, while the dialogues in Speak Hebrew! appear without vowel notation so that the player will more quickly become comfortable with the standard form of writing modern Hebrew.