The March 2024 through May 2024 Internet Conversational Garifuna Language Course has begun.
This Eight Week Language Course teaches the Basics of the Garifuna Language so that a person can have a Simple Conversation in the Garifuna Language
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Copyright 2024 by Teofilo Colon Jr for Being Garifuna. All Rights Reserved,
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Planet Earth — The March 2024 through May 2024 Conversational Garifuna Language Course has started. Taught by Milton Guity Sr, this class covers the Basics of the Garifuna Language.
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Upon completion, a student should be able to have a simple conversation in the Garifuna Language. Classes are conducted over Zoom Video Conference Technology.
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Anyone with access to the Internet and a smartphone, desktop computer or tablet can join by downloading the Zoom application.
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This 8 Week Course costs $70 and those interested in joining need to talk to the Teacher, Mr. Milton Guity Sr. He is available on Whatsapp and Facebook. His phone number is (646) 591-7095. Classes take place on Wednesday nights at 7pm, New York Time.
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At this time, two classes have taken place. I will detail what was shared in the class so far for those interested.
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How Many Students Are In The Conversational Garifuna Language Class?
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Right now, there are approximately 16-18 Students in the class with a wide range of backgrounds,life experiences and levels of competency in the Garifuna Language. I’d estimate that half are Beginners, and half the class are a level below Intermediate.
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Some students are new to the class, some are regular returning students and some are students who were a part of the class years ago but whose schedule prevented them from attending the class. Fortunately, their schedule freed them up and enabled them to attend the class, so they are back.
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The students are based in New York City, California, Texas, Florida, Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, Germany, Chicago, Canada, Upstate New York and New Jersey.
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The new students introduced themselves, talked about why they want to learn to speak the Garifuna Language, what they hope to get out of the class and explained why they don’t know how to speak the Garifuna Language.
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Why Learn To Speak The Garifuna Language?
Why Can’t You Speak The Garifuna Language?
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Some have families with children of their own and they want to be able to pass on that aspect of the Garifuna culture to them. .
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Some are embarrassed by not having the ability to speak the Garifuna Language.
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Some understand some of the Garifuna Language and can sing it, but not speak it.
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Some had their parents divorce when the student was a child. Once the divorced parent left the home, the Garifuna Language was not spoken any longer, so there was a loss of familiarity with the Garifuna Language.
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Some students expressed that the elders in their families spoke Garifuna amongst themselves and the children never picked it up as the elders never specifically taught it to them.
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These students explained that many times, the speaking of the Garifuna Language by Elders was a tactic to hide sensitive information as elders speaking the Garifuna Language knew that the children didn’t know the Garifuna Language so they felt comfortable talking about sensitive matters.
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Some students talked about the Garifuna Language being key to reconnecting with the Culture. Hence , their interest in learning to speak the Garifuna Language.
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Some moved from a place with a lot of Garinagu to a place with hardly any. The isolation is hard to take, so they are using the class to relearn the Garifuna Language.
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Some know how to speak a number of languages, and the Garifuna Language is another language they’d like to learn how to speak.
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Some love the Garifuna Culture, and to them, the Garifuna Language is a key component of Garifuna Culture, so they’d like to master such a key aspect of Garifuna Culture.
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As for me, some of what was expressed above applies to me. Also, there is a percussive, rhythmic quality to the Garifuna Language that I find irresistible. Listening to the Garifuna Language spoken correctly gives me an indescribable pleasure.
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When I listen, nod my head or even dance to the best rap music, it’s not just the poetic quality of the best rap that gives me joy, it’s also listening to and appreciating the flow, the cadence of the best rappers that puts me into a joyous frenzy.. A similar pleasure takes place when I hear the Garifuna Language spoken correctly.
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For me, the Garifuna Language represents Home as a state of mind. Home as represented by family, culture, legacy, sanctuary amongst loved ones. It’s tricky to explain, but getting to that place for me will start when I learn to speak the Garifuna Language.
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Introductions are also mixed with Small Talk, where students ask for Translations for specific phrases they are curious to know.
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After that, Each student greets each other and are coached into having a small conversation beyond, “How Are You?”
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Once that is done, the formal lesson takes place, which takes up the rest of the class.
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Garifuna Phrases and/or Garifuna Vocabulary Covered in 2 Classes
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How to say, I am home in the Garifuna Language.
Cultural breakdown of Welcome in the Garifuna Language.
Cultural breakdown of Peace in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, I am very sorry in the Garifuna Language .
How to express Condolences (over someone dying) in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, Who Are You? in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, What’s Your Name? in the Garifuna Language .
How to respond to What’s Your Name? in the Garifuna Language.
How to ask, Where are you From? in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, where you are from in the Garifuna Language.
Historical point, Mr. Milton Guity talked about research he has done where he uncovered a Garifuna person applying for U.S. Citizenship in the early 1900s. He also discovered a Garifuna person entering the United States in 1845. And another entering New York in 1890.
How to say the Garifuna words for some towns in Central America.
How to say, Happy / Glad to meet you in the Garifuna Language .
How to say Likewise in the Garifuna Language.
How to ask, Where is your father from? in the Garifuna Language . (Students asked each other this question).
How to respond to where is your father from? in the Garifuna Language.
How to say Where he is, in the Garifuna Language.
How to say Where she is, in the Garifuna Language.
How to say Where is your mother from? in the Garifuna Language. (Students asked each other this question)
Cultural Breakdown about the Garifuna words for the towns of Plaplaya, Honduras and Rio Tinto, Honduras.
How to say, Slow Down in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, Forward in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, I’m going to the other side, in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, Who are you? in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, Where are you from? in the Garifuna Language. (Students asked each other this)
How to say, What is your father’s name? in the Garifuna Language.
How to ask, Where is your father from? in the Garifuna Language.
How to ask, And your mother? What is her name? in the Garifuna Language.
How to ask, Where is your mother from? in the Garifuna Language
How to say, What is your brother’s name? in the Garifuna Language.
How to ask, Do you know your land? in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, What did you do? in the Garifuna Language.
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How to say, How are you? in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, I am ok. I am fine in the Garifuna Language. (different variations)
How to say, And you? in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, What did you do this week? in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, I want to dance with my husband, in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, I did not leave the house, in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, I went to church, in the Garifuna Language.
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How to say, I am eating, in the Garifuna Language.
How ho say, it’s raining, in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, Where are you? in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, I am in (town/city) now, in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, How was your day? in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, I am observing Ramadan with my Husband, in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, the day was stressful, in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, too/also/as well in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, How is the weather today? in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, I am going to, in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, I am at work, in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, What happened? in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, Nothing in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, Good in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, Bad in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, Very Good, in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, I had a long day today, in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, Return in the Garifuna Language.
How to say place / location in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, My Father is from ________ in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, My Mother is from _________ in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, Where is your father from? in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, Where is your mother from? in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, parents in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, Where are your parents from? in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, What kind of work do you do? in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, Police, in the Garifuna Language
How to say, Teacher, in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, Student in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, university in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, retired, in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, I don’t work anymore, in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, I don’t want to work, in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, Real Estate Person, in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, Invest, in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, Carpenter, in the Garifuna Language.
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How to say, Doctor, in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, Caregiver or Nurse in the Garifuna Language.
How to say Land Surveyer, in the Garifuna Language.
How to say London, in the Garifuna Language.
How to say North, South, East and West in the Garifuna Language.
How to say Spain in the Garifuna Language.
How to say Italy in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, How Old Are You? in the Garifuna Language.
How to respond to, How Old are you? in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, I’m old, in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, Grandfather, in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, Grandmother in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, Where is your Grandmother from?
How to say, How many siblings do you have, in the Garifuna Language.
How to say, Eighteen in the Garifuna Language.
How to say Zero, in the Garifuna Language.
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In some Instances, the students repeated the translations to each other in coached conversation. In other instances, the translations were simply to fulfill curiousities.
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Classes are Wednesday nights at 7pm EST (New York City Time) . The cost of the course is $70. Call Mr. Milton Guity Sr to sign up. He is available on Whatsapp and Facebook. His phone number is (646) 591-7095.