How to pronounce Rholihlahla, Qunu, isiXhosa and Camagu

Siyabulela, tata - We are grateful.
Sizokukhumbula - We will miss you.
Camagu
Makhosi

Thundafund Xhosa Video Crowdfunding Campaign

We're super excited to have launched our first ever request for financial assistance, (UBuntu Bridge first started in 2006).  Details are below.  Please support us by viewing the video, rewards, purchasing a reward and forwarding our campaign to other people you think will be interested.

Click here to see the campaign page and help us reach our target:  https://www.thundafund.com/ubuntubridge

Watch the video here:

REWARDS:

Rewards include our recently launched T-shirt campaign, under the following names:

T-Shirt 1:  South African Whitey

T-Shirt 2:  Molo, Mlungu!

Click here to see the campaign page and help us reach our target:  https://www.thundafund.com/ubuntubridge
 
Enkosi
Dankie
Thank you

The Great African Language Learning in Schools Dilemma and Proposed Solution

Molweni, Sanibonani, Dumelang, Goeie Dag, Hello

If you are here, reading this, you probably:

a)   recognize the vital and urgent power of even basic African language learning, coupled with African cultural awareness, as a way to help forge a united nation and heal wounds from our past, relating to intercultural dynamics

b)   are concerned with how we can find a way to make it relevant, convenient and effective for young scholars (the future of this country) and adult learners

For years the debate has raged, and as recently as this morning, we have seen the headline of the Cape Times proclaim that the new policy will require an extra hour to the school day, much to many teacher’s and learner’s dismay.  The issues have been unfolding, often with controversy, for some time!

African languages have been taught at many ‘white’ (arguably where they are needed most) schools over the years and are beset by the following problems with profound consistency:

1)   lack of interest from learners (usually one or two white learners finish it for matric)

2)    sub-standard (and often describes as boring) teaching from mother tongue teachers who have not received training on how to teach their own language as a third language (an equivalent to TEFL - we refer to our methodology and teaching style as TXTL - teaching Xhosa as a third language).

3)   old-fashioned course content, which focusses on deep, non-contemporary Xhosa, thus providing learners with very little practical reward (and thus erodes motivation and interest).

4)   grammar heavy learning, which results in scholars knowing the noun groups, but not how to greet and introduce in a way that facilitates relationship-building and enjoyment of the language

5)   lack of cultural empathy and connection, thus reduced enthusiasm, respect and little authenticity to the learning process, something ‘white’ learners need, as language and ‘race’ issues in modern SA for whities is particularly about identity, shame/guilt, fear, arrogance, ignorance.

As a white, male, adult learner of Xhosa, and having spent much time immersed in traditional villages and modern townships, I have walked the paths (and still do) that I advocate here. 

After years of experimenting and testing, we at UBuntu Bridge believe we have a very viable solution.  At the recent PANSALB Language Indaba we erected a stand which demonstrated our beliefs, and vision.  We wore t-shirts which showed our humour in innovative ways to teach and inspire Xhosa language learning and we displayed our materials and brochures.

We also screened demos of our Xhosa language and Culture learning Videos (demos below):

This is the summary of what we were saying at the conference:

Vision in a Nutshell:

Language Learning in SA is really about two things:

1.         PAST:  Respecting our local cultures, people and history, for proper reconciliation and healing of all our peoples!

2.         FUTURE:  Connecting our peoples across socio-economic divides, to build a nation to inspire the world, again!

Marketing and Motivation:

Language learning needs to be popularised.  It needs to compete with all the other interests and distractions out there!!  But it needs to be marketed via demonstration – videos, music, popular culture.

Once you have interest, there are Three C’s you need to give learners:

·     Confidence - materials and teaching methods that focus on practical essentials!

·     Convenience - multi-platform and mobile learning tools, for adults with busy jobs and scholars with full curriculums!!

·     Cultural Context – immersion opportunities to authenticate the connection and learning process!

UBuntu Bridge has a 5-pointed plan for the situation, which we have been building and testing for 7 years of teaching on corporate, govt, school, NGO, online and public learning platforms (since 2005):

1.   Excellent and engaging materials and teaching methodology

2.   Fun and enrolling live teaching and tutoring

3.   Online, multimedia and mobile learning tools e.g. videos

4.   Online tutoring support

5.   Language and culture immersions in townships and rural villages (which stimulate local micro-enterprises)

BUT WE NEED FUNDING AND INVESTMENT!!!

Please email for more information on sponsorship opportunities!

Quite a White Ou SAPA Speech Videos

On Africa Day, QAWO was invited to speak to 500 school principal's at the South African Principal's Association (SAPA)'s Annual conference.  The talk provided an opportunity for Makhosi to share just a piece of the vision and mission for helping to transform global society into a place where we can rebalance the benefits of technology and modernity with the ancient wisdom still contained in indigenous cultures that is ALL of our heritage, but largely ignored or trivialised by western society.

In part 1, the focus is on introducing language as a way to bring people together to address the core issues in society today - separation and mistrust between people, especially across cultures!



In part 2, the focus is on the notion that we need balanced transformation in society, that western cultures have as much to learn from indigenous cultures as we expect them to learn from us!



In part 3 & 4, the focus is on the notion of a calling to service in society, and how ideally education should help connect children with their calling.  Also talking about edutainment as a strategy to compete with media and and other distractions for the attention of scholars and adults.



In part 5, the focus is on cultural immersions in townships and villages as a global strategy for creating balanced cultural respect, multilingualism, distribution of wealth, de-urbanisation and stimulating micro-enterprises in areas of poverty.



In part 6, the focus is on global context and relevance of multilingualism and multicultural respect, as well as how a new world requires a new way of educating!



Thanks for having me, SAPA!!!!

See the script and slides here:  http://ubuntu-bridge.blogspot.com/2013/06/quite-white-ou-sapa-speech-script-and.html

Kaos Pilots Intro to Xhosa Culture and Language Workshop Video

An amazing organisation called the Kaos Pilots form Denmark, recently spent 3 months in Cape Town on an 'Outpost'. 

For more on what they did and do, see here:  http://100in1day.co.za

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KaosPilots

http://kpcpt.org/

But they basically dropped a love bomb on the city of Cape Town.

When the Pilots first arrived, I gave a brief Intro to Xhosa language and Culture Workshop, the video you can view below:

UBuntu Bridge Mandela Day Community Event 2012 Video

 On 18 July, 2012, Madiba's 94th birthday, UBuntu Bridge organised a community day with a difference in Imizamo Yethu, Hout Bay, a.k.a. Mandela Park.

With a focus on Xhosa language learning for the volunteers, we then spent time with the kids from Ikhaya Lethemba creche planting trees, doing yoga, reading practice and finally singing Happy Birthday to Nelson Mandela in his home language, isiXhosa.

Nelson Mandela in one of his first public appearances in office, on May 10 1994, strongly urged all the people of South Africa to learn each other's languages:

"This is the best way to contribute to nation building and reconciliation,"
Mandela said. "Those among us who do not know Afrikaans must now learn to study this language. Those among us who do not know Zulu, Xhosa and Sotho must now learn to study these languages."

UBuntu Bridge hopes to inspire people to heed Madiba's call, and to do it in a fun and convenient way that brings prosperity to many communities on all levels of society.

The day was made possible with help from:

Nathan and Terror of Sibanye Restaurant - http://www.sibanyerestaurant.co.za/
Stu and Jen from YoYoga - http://www.yoyoga.co.za/
Robyn at Greenpop - http://www.greenpop.org/
Chris and Leticia at Paper Jet Print - http://paperjetprint.co.za/
Niki, Sisa and the kids at Ikhaya Lethemba - http://www.ikhayalethemba.com/
Andrew from Trashback - http://trashback.org/
Video by Gill at www.make-content.com/

 

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 

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

How to Toyi-Toyi on You Tube

Stressed? Life getting you down? Or is your bum in the butter? Either way, living in SA, it is vital that you learn how to Toyi-toyi.

As part of my passion for using the medium of film as an educational tool (or edutainment), I recently made this short instructional video on an element of African culture. Please enjoy and practice at appropriate opportunities.

Video Promo - A Basic Xhosa Greeting

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

The African Handshake: How to

This is a temporary promo version. The fully scripted version has yet to be edited.