Your homework: Cambridge Latin Course online activities. Your defence against Lingua Latina, and your guard against that withering stare.
Anyway, you don't have to look far for a heckload of resources.
Ladies, I want you to make your own animations. In Latin.
Really, it's endless out there. Non sum pisces.
Saturday 6 October 2012
Monday 12 March 2012
English
This week you'll be surrounded by native speakers of your mother tongue, and your first language, English.
You may hear subtle difference between those people who speak English as a first language or a second language. Two speakers who converse with English as a second language might not pick up as many.
Listen carefully to the varieties of sound you hear spoken to you and around you. What differences can you hear? Accent? Pronunciation of particular words? The choice of words? Grammar? Do you hear people switch, as they talk, between English and another language?
It's useful for us to have the language so widely spoken, but does that contribute to us being monolingual? Most people in the world are multilingual.
What are your thoughts on English as a global language?
You may hear subtle difference between those people who speak English as a first language or a second language. Two speakers who converse with English as a second language might not pick up as many.
Listen carefully to the varieties of sound you hear spoken to you and around you. What differences can you hear? Accent? Pronunciation of particular words? The choice of words? Grammar? Do you hear people switch, as they talk, between English and another language?
It's useful for us to have the language so widely spoken, but does that contribute to us being monolingual? Most people in the world are multilingual.
What are your thoughts on English as a global language?
Monday 5 March 2012
Girl/boy talk
Listen around you this week. Listen to boy-boy talk; girl-boy talk; girl-girl talk.
Listen not for the content, but for the following: interruptions (accepted or declined?); back channel noises (supportive or not?); voice pitch (sounds high or low?).
After listening, would you say that males and females talk in the same ways, or different?
Listen not for the content, but for the following: interruptions (accepted or declined?); back channel noises (supportive or not?); voice pitch (sounds high or low?).
After listening, would you say that males and females talk in the same ways, or different?
Monday 27 February 2012
Shona
Find out where the Shona language is spoken. Look on a map to check the location of countries in Africa.
So, learn some words in Shona! Can you find poshi, piri, tatu, na, shanu, tanhatu... zana?
Zimbabwe Kid has put out many videos to help you speak Shona. He'd like to teach you some basic courtesies. Can you say thank you?
And the Shona language in song.
So, learn some words in Shona! Can you find poshi, piri, tatu, na, shanu, tanhatu... zana?
Zimbabwe Kid has put out many videos to help you speak Shona. He'd like to teach you some basic courtesies. Can you say thank you?
And the Shona language in song.
Monday 20 February 2012
Afrikaans
Find out something about Afrikaans.
Listen to a few words here.
And listen to Steve Hofmeyr, popular singer in Afrikaans.
Feel the shape your lips and tongue have to make to form some Afrikaans sounds. Then ask papa about fricative, plosives, and nasal stops.
Some words sound familiar, as if they share a history with English. What do you think? And what about the spread of Afrikaans around the world? Would you consider it a worldwide language?
Listen to a few words here.
And listen to Steve Hofmeyr, popular singer in Afrikaans.
Feel the shape your lips and tongue have to make to form some Afrikaans sounds. Then ask papa about fricative, plosives, and nasal stops.
Some words sound familiar, as if they share a history with English. What do you think? And what about the spread of Afrikaans around the world? Would you consider it a worldwide language?
Monday 13 February 2012
Idioms
Who asked, What's an idiom?
It's a commonly used expression that you shouldn't take literally; it's usually short, but the speaker may expect it to convey a great deal. A person can use this quick way to suggest circumstance, emotion, reaction, or indicate their attitude to another person or event.
People who are learning English as a Second Language probably find idiomatic expressions great fun. Go to Learn English Idioms on Youtube and see what sense you can make from them!
Invent one too. Then see if you can introduce it into your home ed group.
It's a commonly used expression that you shouldn't take literally; it's usually short, but the speaker may expect it to convey a great deal. A person can use this quick way to suggest circumstance, emotion, reaction, or indicate their attitude to another person or event.
People who are learning English as a Second Language probably find idiomatic expressions great fun. Go to Learn English Idioms on Youtube and see what sense you can make from them!
Invent one too. Then see if you can introduce it into your home ed group.
Saturday 4 February 2012
Tagalog
Tagalog is one of many languages spoken in the Philippines. Learn one or two phrases before you go!
I don't speak Tagalog: Hindi ako nag-sas-alita ng Tagalog
Find out how to say:
Please repeat
Excuse me
I'm sorry
Thank you
Watch these videos to help: Tagalog 101 and Be polite in Tagalog.
I don't speak Tagalog: Hindi ako nag-sas-alita ng Tagalog
Find out how to say:
Please repeat
Excuse me
I'm sorry
Thank you
Watch these videos to help: Tagalog 101 and Be polite in Tagalog.
Monday 30 January 2012
Romansch
Visit Peas in a Pod this week for an excellent guided tour around Switzerland, Austria and Liechenstein.
Learn some Romansch by clicking on the video. (Shall we count yodelling, too?)
Thank you Peas in a Pod!
Learn some Romansch by clicking on the video. (Shall we count yodelling, too?)
Thank you Peas in a Pod!
Monday 23 January 2012
Accent and dialect
Visit this British Library site and click around to read information on accents and dialects. Let's talk about the variations we hear.
I grew up in a community that encouraged me to think of local accents as socially inferior, and that the best thing to do with a Nott'mshire way of talking was to drop it, as quick as possible. If you wanted to impress anyone out of your clan you should never greet them with ey up me duck.
RP, on the other hand, was presented as the most desirable or aspirational sound that automatically was associated with higher social class, prestige, power, and the right to rule.
I think the social hold RP might have had in our culture has declined over the last decades. Now I hear people readily refer to local accents as if they are precious and lovely sounds to hear.
What do you think?
(I laughed, but he misses out East Anglia.)
I grew up in a community that encouraged me to think of local accents as socially inferior, and that the best thing to do with a Nott'mshire way of talking was to drop it, as quick as possible. If you wanted to impress anyone out of your clan you should never greet them with ey up me duck.
RP, on the other hand, was presented as the most desirable or aspirational sound that automatically was associated with higher social class, prestige, power, and the right to rule.
I think the social hold RP might have had in our culture has declined over the last decades. Now I hear people readily refer to local accents as if they are precious and lovely sounds to hear.
What do you think?
(I laughed, but he misses out East Anglia.)
Monday 16 January 2012
British Sign Language
Learn basic phrases here on Youtube; question words; the alphabet.
Can you learn how to say hello and sign your name?
Can you learn how to say hello and sign your name?
Monday 9 January 2012
Hindi
Interesting findings...
1. Hindi is related to English.
2. Proto Indo European was an 'ancestral language group' devised in the 18thC to try and explain the similarities found between English and Hindi.
3. Words in English from Hindi origin listed on Wiki. Which ones do you already know?
4. Find out where the 'Hindi belt' is. Ask your father.
5. It's political. Modern Hindi was created as a national language after Indian independence (1947). But many people in India don't speak it, and there have been active campaigns in the South against its imposition.
6. The mixing of English and Hindi has given rise to Hinglish. (Linguists seem to like naming those.)
Listen to the Hindi alphabet on Youtube.
Visit this site and scroll around; it has some interesting links. I particularly liked this reminder of how absurd can be reality.
Find something from the site that helps you find out about Hindi or India, and share it with me.
Has anyone found out how to say hello?
1. Hindi is related to English.
2. Proto Indo European was an 'ancestral language group' devised in the 18thC to try and explain the similarities found between English and Hindi.
3. Words in English from Hindi origin listed on Wiki. Which ones do you already know?
4. Find out where the 'Hindi belt' is. Ask your father.
5. It's political. Modern Hindi was created as a national language after Indian independence (1947). But many people in India don't speak it, and there have been active campaigns in the South against its imposition.
6. The mixing of English and Hindi has given rise to Hinglish. (Linguists seem to like naming those.)
Listen to the Hindi alphabet on Youtube.
Visit this site and scroll around; it has some interesting links. I particularly liked this reminder of how absurd can be reality.
Find something from the site that helps you find out about Hindi or India, and share it with me.
Has anyone found out how to say hello?
Monday 2 January 2012
Latvian
A great excuse to find out about Latvia. Like we brave home educators need any excuse to find out about anything.
Okay, the recipes didn't wow me, apart from fruit and cream on rye bread.
But you can still find out where it is, discover something to tell papa about the Latvian language, and learn how to say hello. Download the BBC Quick fix language files, listen, and have a go.
Okay, the recipes didn't wow me, apart from fruit and cream on rye bread.
But you can still find out where it is, discover something to tell papa about the Latvian language, and learn how to say hello. Download the BBC Quick fix language files, listen, and have a go.
Monday 26 December 2011
In how many countries...
...is French an official language?
That's not the same question as In how many countries is French spoken?
What does it mean anyway, an official language?
The language map of the world for official languages would look very different from other language maps of the world.
That's not the same question as In how many countries is French spoken?
What does it mean anyway, an official language?
The language map of the world for official languages would look very different from other language maps of the world.
Monday 19 December 2011
Constructed languages
More than you think. Esperanto is one that you might have heard about.
Find out from Zam, the green alien, some advantages of Esperanto. You could learn a few phrases, too.
Saluton! Mi parolas Esperanton!
Hey, you can even insult each other in Esperanto!
Vi odoras kiel krokodilo. Kion vi opinias?
Find out from Zam, the green alien, some advantages of Esperanto. You could learn a few phrases, too.
Saluton! Mi parolas Esperanton!
Hey, you can even insult each other in Esperanto!
Vi odoras kiel krokodilo. Kion vi opinias?
Monday 12 December 2011
Endangered languages
Find out what you can about endangered languages.
What can be done about languages disappearing as the speakers of them die? Should anything be done? Should people accept language loss as an inevitability? It is useful to study or preserve endangered languages in some way, or should linguists focus their interests on currently spoken languages?
One of the more interesting theories is that languages currently spoken on a wider scale - so not thought of as endangered - could quickly become endangered, perhaps within a generation or two, thanks to globalisation interacting with government education policy.
People always get in the way, no matter what policies are implemented. What about the last two speakers of the endangered language who fell out, and are now not talking to each other?
What can be done about languages disappearing as the speakers of them die? Should anything be done? Should people accept language loss as an inevitability? It is useful to study or preserve endangered languages in some way, or should linguists focus their interests on currently spoken languages?
One of the more interesting theories is that languages currently spoken on a wider scale - so not thought of as endangered - could quickly become endangered, perhaps within a generation or two, thanks to globalisation interacting with government education policy.
People always get in the way, no matter what policies are implemented. What about the last two speakers of the endangered language who fell out, and are now not talking to each other?
Monday 5 December 2011
Russian
Okay, I do not recognise the alphabet, I can't reproduce the sounds, and I have no hope of taking myself seriously while I try to acquire either of those skills.
I've never been stopped by the threat of humiliation, so off we go.
Let's make noises with the alphabet sounds at Master Russian (they're optimistic).
Some explanation of the alphabet at the same site.
If you tire of the ads, try words here, at hello-world. Click through to hear the Russian.
A no-frills video, which I found quite helpful.
Over here I learned the Russian for hedgehog. That might come in handy one day.
Should I try and organise a couple of introductory Russian lessons for the home ed group? I see we have a Russian speaker on the island...
While you're learning how to say hello, you can view Russian art at the Gallery.
I've never been stopped by the threat of humiliation, so off we go.
Let's make noises with the alphabet sounds at Master Russian (they're optimistic).
Some explanation of the alphabet at the same site.
If you tire of the ads, try words here, at hello-world. Click through to hear the Russian.
A no-frills video, which I found quite helpful.
Over here I learned the Russian for hedgehog. That might come in handy one day.
Should I try and organise a couple of introductory Russian lessons for the home ed group? I see we have a Russian speaker on the island...
While you're learning how to say hello, you can view Russian art at the Gallery.
Monday 28 November 2011
Monday 21 November 2011
Norwegian
By special request from Shark!
Learn how to say hello! (I got that far!)
Or you could listen to... person making sounds. Or this engaging young woman, who will help us if we need to buy an apple when we arrive in Norway and we cannot see one. Or maybe we will need to point at two mice?
Maybe we can look at the development and language grouping for Norwegian?
(I can barely wait until we get to Swedish. Your father has an O level in that.)
Where oh where is Michel Thomas when you need him?
Learn how to say hello! (I got that far!)
Or you could listen to... person making sounds. Or this engaging young woman, who will help us if we need to buy an apple when we arrive in Norway and we cannot see one. Or maybe we will need to point at two mice?
Maybe we can look at the development and language grouping for Norwegian?
(I can barely wait until we get to Swedish. Your father has an O level in that.)
Where oh where is Michel Thomas when you need him?
Monday 14 November 2011
Latin
When we return to England, we're all joining the Latin group! If you can't remember the few Latin words you've already learned (surely not), try searching online,* or look at Tiger's Minimus mouse book.
I've registered here and will check out this site, learnlatinfree. Would any of you like to sit with me while I go through the first lessons? And let's see if we can find a copy of Ecce Romani.
*Quick and easy expressions here; introduction to the alphabet here; Latin word of the month here (and click on 'other Latin words...); Horrible Histories Evil Emperors Song here (and there's plenty more to watch from them!). And if you watch it, watch it with your mother. I, Claudius. (Then be prepared to find Robert Graves on the bookshelves.)
I've registered here and will check out this site, learnlatinfree. Would any of you like to sit with me while I go through the first lessons? And let's see if we can find a copy of Ecce Romani.
*Quick and easy expressions here; introduction to the alphabet here; Latin word of the month here (and click on 'other Latin words...); Horrible Histories Evil Emperors Song here (and there's plenty more to watch from them!). And if you watch it, watch it with your mother. I, Claudius. (Then be prepared to find Robert Graves on the bookshelves.)
Monday 7 November 2011
Icelandic
Here's a man holding a camera over a whiteboard. But I did learn some Icelandic!
Here he is again. What words did you learn to say?
Find out something about Iceland APART FROM the information about rocks, horses, and how we all want to go there. We know that already.
Here he is again. What words did you learn to say?
Find out something about Iceland APART FROM the information about rocks, horses, and how we all want to go there. We know that already.
Monday 31 October 2011
Monday 24 October 2011
Italian
Pimpa! Dove Pimpa?
Click through resources on YouTube...
... face and body bits here ... grocery shopping here ... colori here ... story here.
For audio, try here. BBC Language Series Italian here.
And of course I have Italian resources on my ipod!
Ah! Who could forget the Italian lessons! The term that Raquel had a breakdown, the boys peed up the walls, and we all got banned.
Click through resources on YouTube...
... face and body bits here ... grocery shopping here ... colori here ... story here.
For audio, try here. BBC Language Series Italian here.
And of course I have Italian resources on my ipod!
Ah! Who could forget the Italian lessons! The term that Raquel had a breakdown, the boys peed up the walls, and we all got banned.
Monday 17 October 2011
Monday 10 October 2011
Arabic
Come and get a sheet of Arabic letters from me.
In what ways are Arabic characters similar or different from Roman script or Chinese script?
Can you draw any of the characters using ink and brush?
There is a pdf here which gives you examples of English and Arabic words.
If anyone wants to listen to any Arabic, I have some beginner lessons on my ipod!
In what ways are Arabic characters similar or different from Roman script or Chinese script?
Can you draw any of the characters using ink and brush?
There is a pdf here which gives you examples of English and Arabic words.
If anyone wants to listen to any Arabic, I have some beginner lessons on my ipod!
Monday 3 October 2011
Writing
Researching the medievals this week, I came across this site.
There are plenty of examples of early writing styles here; this page shows you samples of writing in the 7th to 11th centuries. You can also see text in square and cursive scripts from the Roman period.
Look around the site. Try your calligraphy this week in a style that inspires you.
There are plenty of examples of early writing styles here; this page shows you samples of writing in the 7th to 11th centuries. You can also see text in square and cursive scripts from the Roman period.
Look around the site. Try your calligraphy this week in a style that inspires you.
Monday 26 September 2011
French
There are plenty of web resources around for spoken French.
BBC Language Series: French.
... and I have some Michel Thomas audio lessons on my ipod. If you want to improve, the resources are around you, and they aren't difficult to find.
BBC Language Series: French.
... and I have some Michel Thomas audio lessons on my ipod. If you want to improve, the resources are around you, and they aren't difficult to find.
Monday 19 September 2011
Old English
Watch Eddie Izzard go to buy a brown cow using Old English.
Remember Beowulf? (Now I want to go back to West Stow Anglo Saxon village.)
Remember Beowulf? (Now I want to go back to West Stow Anglo Saxon village.)
Monday 12 September 2011
Greek
Look at the Greek alphabet. Click on the audio files to listen how this alphabet is pronounced.
A few lessons are available from this page. Let me know what you think. Would you like to learn Greek?
BBC Languages Series: 10-part introduction to Greek.
You can do a general search on Ancient Greek mythology, customs, food, society. The web is filled with information.
A few lessons are available from this page. Let me know what you think. Would you like to learn Greek?
BBC Languages Series: 10-part introduction to Greek.
You can do a general search on Ancient Greek mythology, customs, food, society. The web is filled with information.
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