As a Hebrew teacher, one of the questions I get asked most often is, “Should I go to an Ulpan, or is it better to take private lessons?”.
The answer isn’t black and white, but from my experience, I have one piece of advice that might help you figure this out.

An Ulpan is a fantastic framework for beginners. It creates order and provides a strong, systematic foundation for reading, writing, and getting familiar with basic verbs. On the other hand, the stage where I highly recommend taking private lessons is when you want to gain confidence and improve your speaking fluency.

(By the way, I also teach beginners in private lessons, but in those cases, we work according to an organized Ulpan curriculum to build that essential foundation).

To help clear things up, here are the main advantages of each option:

Why learn at an Ulpan?

1. A safe space of shared struggle: There is something very comforting in knowing that “we’re all in the same boat.” Realizing that everyone around you is learning, making mistakes, and facing the same language challenges can reduce stress and create a supportive community feel.
2. Structured foundation building: An Ulpan offers a structured curriculum that takes you step-by-step into the language, which is incredibly helpful for those who need a clear framework at the beginning.
3. A binding framework: Studying at an Ulpan requires a commitment to fixed days and hours, usually at an intensive pace. This framework “forces” you to persevere and establish a learning routine.
4. Accessible cost: Since it is group learning, the price per hour at an Ulpan will generally be significantly cheaper than a private lesson.

Why take private lessons?

1. Full airtime (the stage is all yours): In an Ulpan, there are quite a few students, and sometimes the more dominant ones can take over the conversation. To develop fluency, you actually need to speak. In a private lesson, you can’t “hide”—maximum time is dedicated solely to your speaking practice.
2. An intimate lab without social pressure: Many adults are afraid of making mistakes, getting stuck, or stuttering in front of a whole group. A private teacher provides a safe, intimate space where it’s perfectly fine to try and make mistakes without any “stage fright.”
3. Precise and personal feedback: In a full class, it’s hard for a teacher to catch and correct every little mistake of every student. In a private lesson, the attention is entirely on you. We can identify specific patterns in your mistakes (like masculine/feminine or prepositions) and correct them immediately.
4. Flexibility and personalized content: In a private lesson, you don’t have to stick to a textbook. We can tailor the learning to your pace, your busy schedule, and your personal interests—whether that means learning through songs, exploring Israeli culture, or focusing on everyday, spoken Hebrew.

So, to sum it up, which one is right for you?

The right choice depends on where you are in your Hebrew. There is also no contradiction between the two; some students choose to combine both worlds. They study at an Ulpan to get the foundation and the social experience, and take private lessons to practice speaking, review what they learned in Ulpan, and build confidence for real-world conversations.

What do you think?

And if you are interested in hearing more about my private lessons, you can click here.