Program FAQ

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Summer Program

Will the 2024 Summer Program be offered in-person or online?

The 2024 Summer Program will include both an in-person and online option, and participants will select to attend either in-person or online. For those attending in-person, the grammar, literature, and conversation classes will take place entirely in-person; seminars and electives may be offered only online, and additional activities may be offered in-person.

For participants who select the online option, the program will be conducted entirely online over Zoom. Students and instructors will use the website Canvas to access class handouts and submit assignments.

Do I need to know how to use Zoom?

Yes. For participants attending the 2024 Summer Program in-person, some optional components may take place online over Zoom. For those attending the program online, the courses and activities will be conducted entirely online over Zoom. You should familiarize yourself with Zoom before the program begins.

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Can I attend the Summer Program asynchronously?

No, the Summer Program courses and events will be held live, either in-person or over Zoom. Students are expected to attend the core required classes (grammar, literature, and conversation) of the program in real time.

Can I take these classes if I don’t live in New York, or the United States? What if I live in a different time zone?

Yes! We welcome learners from all over for the annual Summer Program. However, please note that the classes will be conducted live. If you have concerns regarding your compatibility with the Summer Program class times, please contact Ben Kaplan. All classes and activities, regardless of whether they are in-person or online, will be conducted between 9:50am-5:30pm Eastern time.

If I am an international student, do I need a visa to attend the 2024 Summer Program?

If you are an international student applying to the program in-person, you will need to apply for a J-1 visa to attend the program. The visa process begins after a student is accepted to the program, and more information about J-1 visas can be found here. International students attending the program online do not need a visa. Applicants from outside the United States are encouraged to apply to the Summer Program, whether they are interested in attending the program in-person or online.

I’m interested in attending the 2024 Summer Program in-person. What COVID protocols are in place?

Masks are optional in the Center for Jewish History (15 W 16th Street), where YIVO is headquartered and where the program’s in-person activities will be conducted. Summer Program participants who do not feel well are advised to wear a mask, test for COVID, inform Summer Program staff, and seek medical attention if necessary.

I’m a beginning student. Do I need to know the Yiddish alphabet already?

The majority of our Summer Program students arrive with some experience of the Hebrew alphabet, which makes learning Yiddish orthography easier. For students totally new to both the Hebrew and Yiddish alef-beys, we will hold a workshop from June 17-21, 2024. Beginner students with no prior knowledge of Yiddish alphabet are highly encouraged to attend.

I’m a complete beginner. Will this program move too fast for me?

Not to worry! Teaching faculty are generous with their time and available to give feedback outside of class. Our Academic Director will also be a point of contact for any concerns related to language learning.

I’m an advanced student. Will I have opportunities for faculty mentorship, my own projects, and/or reading Yiddish books outside of class?

Faculty can help students plan their learning goals for the summer and help mentor individual projects.

Students should be warned that the Summer Program is intensive, and usually precludes outside academic projects or part-time jobs. However, if you have a specific research project using YIVO library or archival materials that you hope to work on during the summer, contact us for further details. Many, though not all, of YIVO’s archival materials are available digitally and may be accessed remotely.

I’m an older/ younger student. Will I feel out of place among a lot of 20- and 30-something graduate students?

We don’t think so! We’re proud that YIVO’s education programs attract a diverse mix of ages and backgrounds. That said, many of our students are working on their M.A.s or Ph.D.s. We try to create an environment where everyone feels comfortable learning, regardless of their background.

I’m taking the program for university credit. How do I get an official transcript? 

Students can participate in the Summer Program for four university credits. Official transcripts are issued by Bard College. For students attempting to transfer credit, please facilitate communication between your home institution and the Bard College registrar. Visit the Bard registrar’s office website for instructions on obtaining a transcript.

What costs are associated with the program? 

*Total program cost per student is $10,300. All students accepted into the Summer Program receive a $7,200 scholarship, which reduces the maximum tuition responsibility of any student to $3,100. Students may be eligible for additional tuition waivers ranging from $775 to $3,100.