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CISCO: My Networked Life: Craig Charnock, Cape Town, South Africa

Some awesome guys from Micro Documentaries in San Fran, US got hold of me recently and asked to shoot a short doccie on me, as commissioned by CISCO Systems.  Mark Jackson, a local camera pro came and shot with me for 5 hours.  We had a lot of fun, then sent the footage back to Marc Tamo in the States and a month later, this beautiful 3 min vid was done!  Enjoy it!  Full web story:  http://newsroom.cisco.com/release/970446 

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TEDxCapeTownED – Craig Charnock – Language Learning: Bridge to a Better World (12 min)

On June 16, 2012, Youth Day, Craigieji spoke at the TEDx conference on Education, which took place at Ratanga Junction.  Other speakers included Dr. Mamphela Ramphele, Prof Tim Noakes, Soli Philander, John Gilmour, amongst many other awesome speakers, mostly in the education field, or otherwise highly relevant.  Please see the full list here:  http://tedxcapetowned.org/speakers.  It was a great privilege to be invited and to participate.

The video below is 14 mins long.  It includes the music video intro, followed by the 10 minute talk, which includes anecdotes, and interesting quotes painting a broader context of value for learning the languages of indigenous cultures globally, and ends by teaching over 300 educators in the audience a dance step called ukuxhentsa, used by Sangomas or traditional doctors to enter trance.

Please view the video and share it with your networks.  We are hoping for 10000 hits for it to be featured on the TED.com website.

I watched your TEDxED video again last night – INSPIRATIONAL stuff. Thanks again for putting in so much effort. Of the 60 audience feedback forms I’ve got most rated your and Xola’s talks as their top favourites. Well done!  Terence Themba Berry, TedX Education Organiser

Makhosi :)c

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Craig Charnock Presentations Feedback 2012

Hey guys
I have been giving a number of presentations over the years, but never really marketed it.  I speak to corporates, schools, students, whoever.  Always fun, informative, interactive and a little bit funny 😉  I give very flexible talks, specific to the occasion, and can use audio-visual elements, or just speaking, but either way, the talk is inspiring, empowering and entertaining. Please email craig at learnxhosa dot co dot za for more info.  In the meanwhile, please see feedback below, or watch my recent TEDx talk to a group of 350 educators live.  Video further up in this blog.
Yhu! Enkosi kakhulu! Craig, that was terrific! I am only sorry you weren’t a fly on the wall in my lesson after to hear the boys bubbling over. You made a massive impression – all positive too! You have extended your fan base and really made these boys think and feel. They are all adamant that you should be a permanent fixture on the Gr 7 school calendar – a compliment indeed!
Lisa Harris, Head of isiXhosa WPPS
Thank you SO much for coming in- your talk was inspiring, thought-provoking and so well received by everyone. It sparked a lot of interest and really got people thinking and talking.  Some feedback from the group:
“It inspired me and really opened my eyes. I learnt a lot.”
“Inspiring, intelligent, ingenious.”  People took to it incredibly well.
Nina Bloch, Westerford High
Hey, you are a definite hit… – and trust me, there is no more sincere and honest flattery than that from 13-year-olds when it is spontaneous!  You pitched your talk perfectly and had something in it to appeal to each of the boys at a variety of levels. Most of all, your enthusiasm, knowledge, humour and genuine engagement has inspired the boys. (Gives me hope for the future of SA!) Unquestionably, the vids help.
Lisa Harris, Western Province Prep School
Charismatic, talented and doing something really important, Craig should be working in every school in the country!
Georgina Stirrup, Accelerate Cape Town
Craig it was an awesome presentation, The boys are still talking about it and I truly believe you motivated some guys to do something about learning an African language.”  Tim Stirrup, Head of Lingua Franca society, Bishops
I watched your TEDxED video again last night – INSPIRATIONAL stuff. Thanks again for putting in so much effort. Of the 60 audience feedback forms I’ve got most rated your and Xola’s talks as their top favourites. Well done!  Terence Themba Berry, TedX Education Organiser
What I liked personally was for someone other than myself saying how important and valuable learning another language like Xhosa can be. I just wish more pupils would take it as a subject. It was interesting to hear your background and your journey and about the making of the video. Thanks for promoting the language because it is an uphill battle, especially as it has lost even more status in primary schools because it falls outside the “core” subjects which pupils are forced to take.  I hope you will continue to inspire others to make an effort so that they and our country can benefit!
Cuan Dugmore, Head of Xhosa, Westerford High
Thanks for an excellent presentation.  There was an excellent opportunity for young men at Bishops who are mostly from a privileged background to witness first-hand how an OD has broken with convention and embraced another culture thus reaching out in a truly South African way in the broadest sense of the word.  Paul Murray, History Teacher
Thank you so much for your wonderful presentation and that you were willing to be one of our speakers at the Pecha Kucha event. Judging by our audience response, you were one of the favourites!
Ronnie Belcher, Pecha Kucha Cape Town
Craig Charnock was one of our speakers at our PechaKucha Night here in Cape Town in June 2011. This international event ( http://www.pecha-kucha.org/ ) is hosted in over 417 cities worldwide and is a platform created to inspire others. Craig was a brilliant speaker, who totally captivated the audience. His passion was contagious. When the audience participated in vocalising the three xhosa clicks, they were totally engaged. Fantastic. Thanks, Dave Cotton, www.pechakuchacapetown.co.za
Your presentation at TEDx – other than being engaging and powerful – was personally encouraging to me and gave me some good quotes and evidence to continue the promotion of Xhosa teaching at our school – as with CAPS next year this could be an optional extra at primary school level.
Kind regards, Colleen Moore
“The stories you shared with the group about your journey with African traditional medicine were captivating and inspiring.  Thank you!”
Stewart Chirova
Academic Director, South Africa: Multiculturalism and Human Rights
SIT Study Abroad, a program for World Learning Inc, http://www.sit.edu
“Craig, your contribution to the programme was simply stunning and I only wish we had more time to do justice to your input.  Just watching their body language as you spoke – from the heart – conveyed to me their interest – you came over exceptionally well.  With warm regards” 
Trevor Wilkins, Organizer – Rotary Ambassadorial Orientation – 2006
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Quite a White Ou second track: Hayibo!

When I wrote Hayibo, it was with great sadness for the deeply entrenched corruption in our global economic system and the continued imbalances, which we now see manifesting in such tragedies as the Marikana Massacre. Whilst people suffer for sub-minimum wages, their bosses buy hummers and multiple holiday homes, so many of us who claim to care, continue to buy designed-redundancy junk and consume our time and energy on self-centred and futile pursuits. Just a little more giving in meaningful ways, by each of us and the world will keep changing for the better, but as long as we continue to put our money where our hearts aren’t, then its going to keep getting worse!

Remember, a great way to learn a language is through music, so get singing along:
Lyrics below:

http://soundcloud.com/quiteawhiteou/hayibo-featuring-teba
FREE DOWNLOAD of Second track from Quite A White Ou, paying homage to reggae and ragga sound systems, and bringing a more serious tone to this emerging artist’s voice. Hayi bo! Featuring Teba, the Original Social Worker.

Hayibo (feat Teba)

Intro by Teba: “Ek se yamvala? uthini bafethu, lengamla! Umlungu uthini man mfondini? Uthetha ungathi uyabhuda nje? Thetha siphulaphule nje. Phulaphula!

“Yo, I say, brothers, what’s this white guy saying, is he just talking nonsense? Speak then, we are listening. Pay attention everyone!”

Verse 1

Sifuna inkululeko kodwa abantu baninzi We looking for freedom but so many people
Bathanda ukuthenga izinto ezininzi They like to buy so many things
Sizama ukumosha lomhlaba nabantu Are we trying to mess up this land and its people
Nezilwanyana neentyatyambo And the animals and the flowers

Chorus 1

Ndithi, hayibo , ndithi hayibo I say “Gosh” – (despairingly) , I say “Gosh”
X 4
hayibo
hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hayibo x 4

Verse 2

Ndihayika entabeni I hike on the mountain
Ndikhangela lendawo I check out this place
Siyaphi thina ndiyabuza kubawo Where are we going, I ask to the father
Masivule indlebe asimameli kumama Lets open our ears, we are not listening to the mother
Yiyo loonto sisathenga iHumma That is why we are still buying Hummers

Chorus 2

Ndithi, hayibo , ndithi hayibo I say “Gosh” – (despairingly) , I say “Gosh”
X 4
hayibo
oh oh oh oh oh oh oh hayibo x 4

Ragga Verse:

Corruption no gonna work
Righteousness have to rule this here earth
You could break uno leg
If uno rob people, and your belly pretty fat
Raise your hands in the air
If you support this family affair, well
Peace and love we declare
Quite a White Ou and Teba
We care. Kaboom.

Chorus 1 repeat.

Verse 3:

Vukani madoda masincedisane Wake up, men, we must help each other
Kubi ukucinga uba asifani Its bad to think we are different
Yintoni impendulo andiyazi What is the answer I don’t know
Ukuhlisa umoya siyakwazi Let’s bring more spirit to earth

Chorus 2 repeat

END

http://soundcloud.com/quiteawhiteou/hayibo-featuring-teba

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Xhosa Audio Phrase-A-Day: Where were you on holiday? I was ….

Please FORWARD this to friends and PRACTICE with the peeps.
Note:  Make use of the pause button!

Where Were You? I Was by Ubuntu Bridge  
Download now or listen on posterous

Where were you_ I was ……mp3 (476 KB)

English:  Where were you?  I was …..

Xhosa:  Ubuphi?  bendise ……

Phrase Breakdown:

ubu – you were ….
phi? – where?
bendi – I was
s – locative buffer
e – starts most destinations
Kapa – Cape town
khaya – home
lwandle – the sea/the beach

previous line:  
how was you holiday?  It was great.
Ibinjani iholide yakho? Ibimnandi.

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Siyabulela (We are grateful).

UBuntu Bridge
Inspired Xhosa lessons and intercultural connectivity.

Posted via email from The UBuntu Bridge Xhosa Blog

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Xhosa Volunteer Opportunities – The thinking behind it

It is my belief that the best way for people to learn Xhosa and potentially help heal rifts is to go and volunteer, but not to go as some sort of saviour but rather as your humble self, struggling to learn Xhosa and to get to know people in the process. You provide a service, and learn about your fellow peoples in our beautiful country and have a good time. There is plenty of healing to be done on both sides of the wealth and class curtain. Besides, this is how I learnt Xhosa as an adult – Volunteering and interacting. Its a fabulous investment in yourself, let alone the youth of our country.

So, if you wish to be connected through some innovative channels, please check this blog label often or subscribe via RSS or just keep subscribed to my mailing list. But hopefully, you can follow one of the links to organisations below and find a place to volunteer that works well for you. At this time, I prefer to not have to manage this process. Take initiative and contact some of the folk below.

At some point, we hope to have a google calendar, which will provide up to date connections with events and peoples organising things in the townships. The atmosphere of non-work pressure combined with the inquisitive exposure will allow you the mental space to let your Xhosa grow. Epic! Improve your Xhosa, heal the nation and yourself – Volunteer!

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Volunteer Opportunities – Links and Contacts

The Sosebenza Centre for Peace is a youth centre in Masiphumelele (MASI). Its is a home away from home to many youth involved in various environmental, music, art, drama, sport and spiritual community based organisations.

Link to their Facebook Page

And Green Pop for fun tree planting activities in the locations:

http://www.greenpop.org/
http://greenpop.org/dates/ – for planting schedule.

The Earthchild Project have some truly inspiring Volunteer projects going and you can have a lot of fun doing great things with wonderful kids.
See the other blog posts below or their site at:  http://www.earthchildproject.org/index.php  
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Long-distance Learning options

If you wish to study from a distance you have a few options.

1. Ordering the CDs. These are great for self-study. I teach over the Cds, with which you interact verbally, and the manuals make it clear. Starting with the first two I would suggest as a minimum and working through all four would be ideal. See Cd structures and costs here: http://ubuntu-bridge.blogspot.com/search/label/Audio%20Language%20Learning%20CDs

2. The online learning environment: this is in development, but I can finish it off quickly. Id like you to test the first lesson for me and let me know how it is working for you.

Xhosa Online Learning Environment
View here: http://196.25.114.230/learnxhosa.co.za/moodle/
Description: Read more online, but basically the whole text, audio and video content of my first lesson as taught in my courses, with pronounciations, the clicks, greetings, good-byes as well as cultural tips to help you in everyday interaction. Learn online!

To enter: I have set it up so that guests may enter the site provided they have an enrolment key or password which is “ubuntu”.
Click on the above weblink and go to the home page. To get into the course you will need to click on the LearnXhosa Level 1 link in the centre of the page. This will take you to a page where you should enter the enrolment key (ubuntu) and click on “enrol me in this course”. From then on you will be able to access the site freely.

NOTE: Do not click Login as you wont be able to access the site. Rather enter the enrolment key (ubuntu) and click on “enrol me in this course”.

FEEDBACK including constructive criticism is greatly appreciated.

3. Skype lessons: After working through the above options, if you still need some live tutoring or you want someone to practice speaking with, you have the option of skype lessons.

We can converse with you and explain things that need explaining. Its an excellent way to keep your Xhosa in practice, especially if in a country where no one speaks Xhosa.

Or you could work through the first two beginners CDs (i.e. from scratch):

Or the third and fourth CDs:
These are generally better suited to those with a intermediate ability who are looking to practice and actually use the language whilst they are in a circumstance with few Xhosa speakers. However, anyone of any level could benefit from these lessons over the web.

We teach in 30 minute (R250). Special rates if you pay for a number of lessons upfront. 5 x 30 minute lessons for R1100.

For all options, please email: info@learnxhosa.co.za

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