Author: Craig Makhosi

Learn vocab for a basic Xhosa greeting and then practice on screen with the teachers.

“The course was different than what I expected. The course was informal enough to make you comfortable and not to let you feel embarrassed to try and speak Xhosa in front of other people. It was wonderful to meet such a lot of people that also want to learn to speak Xhosa and use the language with people in their own environment. Craig, thank you for the experience and the opportunity you gave me to start with a new language that will grow daily for me.”
– Petrie le Roux

“With Xhosa, the mountain we need to climb is massive. As you so correctly said, you cannot carry us, we must walk ! Its very difficult to learn a language from scratch as an adult as you well know. We can only motivate ourselves. It will be years before the fruit off the Xhosa tree tastes really good. But even now we can experience the reward of of taking our first steps over that bridge of uBuntu. Your course brings like minded, conscious people together and that in itself is great. So thank you Titshala, Siyathanda ukuthetha isiXhosa, Siyazama !!” (We love to talk Xhosa. We’ll keep trying) – Stephen Praetorius

“I think the classes went really well. It was also really nice to meet you. These classes are great for people who are learning Xhosa as a second or third language with specific focus on functional and conversational use. I really enjoyed the experience of trying out all the new phrases I learnt with people I met and the response you get for trying to speak their language is really affirming!” – Carly Abramovitz

“I think your approach to teach beginners the basics of a new language is very effective. Most other courses start off by trying to teach the boring difficult stuff first. Most of the students then get confused and despondent. Your approach, as far as I understand it, is to get students first to construct simple sentences and to teach them the bare basic grammar to do so. I think it is an excellent way, because the understanding of the language grows with the understanding of the grammar. Doing it your way the student has a sense of achievement instead of a feeling that the task of learning the language is too difficult and too much effort” – Giel du Toit

“There are many barriers that separate people. They vary from believes to personality to race to… Language is the most important barrier in the sense that it has a lot to teach us about the other barriers and is the easiest most powerful tool to overcome these barriers and build bridges between people.I work with teenage Xhosa boys in the Pollsmoor prison and Craig’s course has equipped me to cross the barriers between me and these boys in a more powerful way. Speaking a little Xhosa allows me to help them build a bridge between them and a brighter future in the community” -Francois Esterhuizen

“I think the course was most enjoyable and just the right balance for the strugglers and time challenged people like me as well as the more diligent/language-boff students.
I really liked the fun way you presented the course with a great love and respect for the Xhosa people, their culture and language. Having previously been moderately conversant in easy fanigalo/chilapalapa, Xhosa was a totally closed book to me. Your course quickly unlocked the main elements and was very practical in getting me going in simple conversation. I feel I have a great skeleton to continue building on. Another thing I liked was your care and encouragement for each and every student, which I think, helped everyone to make good progress.
Craig you are definitely an articulator of the new and wonderful cross cultural South African experience that combines the best of all our history and people – I feel the awesome vibe in this country is just going to keep growing – who knows where it is going to take us? – Kevin Creasey

“Having been immersed in the Xhosa culture through my work, I thought it would be quite easy to pick up the language as I went along. I was mistaken there, I really needed someone to put me on the right track, teach me the basics and the way the language fits together. I feel that the beginner’s course has done just that, it gives you enough grammar and vocab to string a whole lot of sentences together and to start making up sentences. I liked the way that we were taught useful escape phrases so that you can, at least, start a conversation and bow out when it all gets too much! I will certainly continue practicing and hopefully, in time, become more fluent. Thank you to Craig, who taught us in a very clear and methodical manner, which was easy to follow.” – Marion Gready

“The course was great because not only did we learn the basics of the Xhosa languages but we also learned about the culture. It deepened my understanding of the Xhosa people on many levels. The course is structured so that we learn the basics quickly and efficiently. We get a comprehensive learning experience through lecture and practice in class, the CDs, the manual, and the homework assignments.” – Joanna Cicchon

“What I appreciated (although I dreaded it) was you forcing us to speak in front of the whole class, if you hadn’t I wouldn’t have the confidence to speak to strangers.” – Sieggy Cooke

Molweni Nonke (Greetings all)

We are planning a group lunch mission this Saturday 12.00pm to go eat and practice our Xhosa at the Sibanye Restaurant in Imizamo Yethu Informal Settlement, Hout Bay. Bookings must be before Friday eve latest.

We need to book so email me and we can meet at Constantia Nek on Saturday and make our way down together. email info@learnxhosa.co.za

Alternatively, if going individually, let Nathan know numbers by Friday eve latest, so email Nathan direct on: sibanye.restaurant@gmail.com or 082 5687978 for more info and let him know how many people you will be coming with. The restaurant is usually open Mondays to Saturday, at certain hours.

Its going to be a wonderful and unique experience and an opportunity to support entrepreneurship and business in the townships – conscious consumerism is what its all about these days.

The set menu:
1) Starter of mince Mcgwinye and a chackalaka sause,
2) Main: their choice of chicken or beef with a taste of pap and mngqucho(sp?)
3) Desert: 2 home baked koeksisters with a choice of tea or coffee.

The cost of the meal is R60 exlc. soft drinks.

Please put your name on the list ASAP if you are interested. Send your name, number of people and a contact cell phone number to info@learnxhosa.co.za

:)c

This is a fun, informal day outing to Robben Island. I will be going with a group of Xhosa friends and you are welcome to join. Tickets are R180 per adult, I believe, so just cover your ticket, and if you wish to sponsor fully or partially another Xhosa person, many of whom cannot afford the whole price, we can arrange for them to be your personal translator during the journey. It should be a lot of fun and insightful – I have always wanted to go. Let me know if you are interested. It is likely to be on a Tuesday from 10-1ish in mid January. RSVP!

Hi Guys

It is proving to be a logistical struggle to get this trip happening, what with the Xhosa folk at Montebello (MB) either working 7 days a week, or having alternating days off, or having different shifts each week, etc. However I am determined and excited.

Tickets are R180 per adult, R90 for kids.
I was originally aiming for a Tuesday or Wednesday as it seems to be the most likely date for the MB crew, but this seems to have possibly changed.

So either this week approaching 13th or 14th or the following week 20th or 21st I would like it to happen, but we will see. I will be confirming the actual date as soon as possible.
The 11am ferry seems the most practical, meeting at the Waterfront (more details later). We should be back by 2.30pm.

Please indicate your availability for above suggested dates and the number (if any) of people you are willing to sponsor, even if only partially so.

Thanks for your patience.
Take care.

I dont often ask for feedback for the CDs, unlike my course feedback after every course, but I do get a constant stream of people telling me how great they are, and as a result I am now making 5 more CDs just to contain my ego. Here are a few, I remembered to save. Please add more, if you have the Cds and wish to.

“This is great stuff. As a beginner you gave me the words I could use right away in an easy to understand manner. I enjoyed your sense of humor which kept me listening after I would normally stopped. Thanks so much, this made a big difference in my last trip to the Transkei and I will be recommending it to other travelers. Cheers!”
Tim Stout Date Added: Saturday 29 November, 2008

“THE CDS WERE GREAT! They really help to get the sound, the rhythm and tempo of the language right”
Gene Falk

“Very high quality (have been a writer and publisher, so this is not said lightly!”
Barbara Johanssen

“They are so straightforward and easy to follow, thanks.”
Linda Codron

“Loved them! A great tool—my “security blanket.”
Dianna Crouse

“There is an obvious attention to detail shown in the development and structuring of the CD and notes. I find the detail in both sufficient to cover the areas that you don’t actually mention in class which may cause confusion or digression. I look forward to the future CD’s 3, 4 and 5. The amount of repetition heard on the CD is excellent. I find it very balanced. I did not refer to the notes as much as I did to the CD. An excellent learning tool.”
Beryl-Lyn Cocks

CDs can be ordered via email or on my site on the downloads page.

Molweni nonke,

You are all invited to what we believe will be a wonderful cultural experience happening at the Joseph Stone Auditorium, Klipfontein Rd, Athlone, this Friday evening at 19:00.

Africa Jam, a group of youths from Khayelitsha , who perform in dance, song and drums ,mostly from the Eastern Cape and mostly in Xhosa, will be performing this Friday evening. We have become friends with some of the guys on the team and I believe it will be a great evening.

Tickets are R30 per ticket and will be sold at the door.
Sharp
Jacques

Lucie McGregor sent a message to the members of Sosebenza Centre for Peace (MASI). maybe join this facebook group then i dont have to keep updating this 😉

——————–
Subject: Come to Masi this saturday the 23rd of august!

Dear all,
Thanks to everyone who participated in the tree/plant-planting, recycling, gardenning and beaching last saturday!
Please come this saturday for another day of fun! With a focus on finishing the brick laying of the toilets; more gardening; help with lunch-making and maybe another visit to Fishoek beach (weather permitting!)
There will be a pick up from Jameson steps (UCT) at 10.
Call Ben for any more info on 0724752977.

Hope to see you there!
Lucie

I have always said that to own your Xhosa, you really need to use it, and there is nothing like experiencing a language in its cultural context. Rural village trips to the eastern Cape are great and a must, but the local townships also offer lovely opportunities to experience the culture, practice your Xhosa, and have fun doing it.

Thanks to the enthusiasm of one of my current students, Mike Gathercole from 2waytravel, we are offering an opportunity for all of you dying to use your Xhosa a little bit more. This Sunday, we will visit his church in Gugulethu, and then head off to Mzoli’s for lunch. Bound to be fun.

Itinerary:

– Meet Mike at 9.30 at Montebello, Newlands. Please request map if you don’t know it.
– Car pool and drive together. You are also welcome to go direct.
– Please contact mike@2waytravel.com or 082 940 7737 for directions.
– Church is 10h30 – 12h00, then Mzoli’s for lunch, a popular spot.
– Bring R50 for lunch and maybe R15-R20 petrol contribution for whoever you get a lift with.
– Home by 15h00.
– All are welcome. Please RSVP and keep your commitment.

Email: info@learnxhosa.co.za

Listen, download and share loads of free mp3 audio lessons on our other blog:  http://ubuntubridge.posterous.com/

These are some samples from my first audio CD:

A Basic Greeting

Pronouncing the X click

Saying Thank you