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

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

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

Ten Xhosa Learning Tips # 3-4

3.      Don’t rush in till you know how to escape!

We ask students to not engage with Xhosa speakers until they have learnt how to enter the conversation, introduce themselves, but then also how to respectfully exit the conversation. This entails knowing the good‐byes, but more importantly, it is about knowing how to explain in the Xhosa that one is still learning to speak Xhosa, that one only speaks a little and one can’t say anymore.     Xhosa people love it when you can say these things properly but they also get that your Xhosa is limited, which helps avoid uncomfortable situations.

4.      Then rush in whenever you can!

This knowledge in turn gives you as a learner increased confidence to enter into conversations in the first place, something you need to do a lot of to improve in any language. So once you know the basics, and can ‘escape’ respectfully, you need to go for it. One of the great things about learning Xhosa is that it is appreciated by so many Xhosa speakers. One of my ‘mamas’ says that when someone trys to speak Xhosa to her, she wants to hug them cos it makes her feel like all is right in the world. This is an attitude shared by many Xhosa people, as told by her, as experienced by myself personally, shared by many students, and confessed to by Xhosa people I have asked. However, not everyone is like this and if Xhosa people feel or suspect, and have been subjected to people speaking their language in a way that is obviously just to manipulate or exploit, they do not react warmly at all. What people respond to is respect, effort, authenticity, humility!

Recent Corporate Feedback 2011

The majority of our feedback was collected on written sheets, as yet to be digitised, but here follows some excerpts from emails we received, often spontaneously, or via the HR manager. We intend to keep improving our services and products, but this shows that the quality of our work and service has remained consistent, even as we begin to upscale. We will not rest on our laurels, but continue to strive in our quest to help transform South Africa in a postive way.

I’ve been attending the Xhosa classes (taught by the Ubuntu Bridge team) here in Cape Town the last two months, and I have thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed them. It’s been wonderful to learn something new, and in the process learn a bit more about Xhosa culture. I didn’t expect to have as much fun as I did, and it was also fantastic to meet Media24 staff from other businesses/business units. I really laud this Media24 initiative!
Warm regards,
Ester Levinrad

"Thanks for a great course – it has honestly changed the way I interact with people and has taught me so much more than the basics of another language. I hope to pursue it further."
Andrea Marchesi, Media 24

"Hi Craig
Just wanted to say a big thank you to you and Babalwa for the course. It was actually fantastic and it surpassed all my expectations. Having gone to school for 12 years and varsity for 5, I can safely say it was the most enjoyable course I have ever done.
Thanks again,"
Steven Mervis

Molweni Craig, Nosi, Harrison & Luphumlo,
Thank you so much for the wonderful learning experience you gave us at Media24.
You guys were the best!
Sobonana!
Elizca Henn, Media 24

Thanks, We had a tough time restructuring our business and our stress levels are high. I must say the one thing that helped reduce my stress levels were our lunch time classes with Luphumlo and Nosi. They are such a breath of fresh air and Luphumlo is sometimes a laugh a minute.
It is most definitely a worthwhile course to do and I think the uBuntu Bridge team that taught us is wonderful and very professional. I would strongly recommend that Old Mutual continue using them and most definitely continue presenting this course as part of the Business School HR initiative. I wish I have had this opportunity 20 years ago.

Finally, thank you for giving me this opportunity to enrich myself on a cultural and personal way. We have a wonderful country, and at Old Mutual we most definitely are living the value of diversity. I loved the past 8 weeks – THANK YOU!!!!

Regards, Mo van Niekerk, Old Mutual

Craig, thank you very much for creating the UBuntu Bridge initiative. The course is an enriching experience on many levels. And our teacher is a great ambassador for the culture and sensitivity of the people and the elegance of the language.
Louisa Botha, OM

Click here for Corporate info:
Or email us for more info: info@ubuntubridge.co.za

Ten Xhosa Learning Tips - #'s 1 - 2

I will release these every few weeks via our newsletter. Subscribe here:

1. Assume it’s an easy language to learn:

Because it really is! Here’s a couple of great reasons why: Some languages, such as Japanese, have at least three alphabets and writing each character requires accuracy and attention. English, a language you can speak (if you are reading this) and one which many people from all different backgrounds and levels of education are learning all the time around the world, is NOT phonetic, which makes it difficult to learn to read and pronounce, in fact it can take years. In contrast, Xhosa not only uses the Roman alphabet, but it IS phonetic and is thus quick and easy to learn to read and pronounce. Even the clicks, which make many people think that Xhosa is impossible and they just CAN’T do, are really easy and quick to learn if someone knows how to teach them. (This does not necessarily include Xhosa speakers, who suckled Xhosa from their mother’s breasts, as the Xhosa saying goes, and thus never had to learn the language as an adult!) There are only three clicks and we have taught over hundreds of people Xhosa over 6 years and everyone gets all three clicks in 30 seconds. It then just takes a bit of practice and repetition to get them strong and effortless, much as we can all do a bench press of a moderate weight at least once, but it takes effort and practice to increase your reps. With a few minutes of practice each day, rapid progress is possible! And the clicks are a fantastic way of connecting to the vibrations of our old Bushmen ancestors. Travel back in time, reconnect to ancient human heritage. Learn the Clicks! See a great video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1YwH_cRDK8. And besides, attitude is everything when trying to learn anything!

2. Don’t START with the noun groups.

Many text books and Xhosa courses start with teaching the noun groups. This made some sense if the designer of the course was seeking to teach the entire structure of the language to a student and new that they had a long time to do so, for instance a couple of years at high school, or a year curriculum at university level. Even with those structures, many students seem to go through years of high school Xhosa tuition and come out not speaking Xhosa! I believe you have to start with a verb-based grammatical understanding, then combining with prefixes and using nouns only ad hoc, whilst the learner builds confidence and love for the spoken language of Xhosa. As you gain confidence and enjoyment, and sense the tangible rewards for your effort, you will be motivated to start tackling the more study intensive noun groups and all conjugations that follow from there. This worked for me!

Xhosa Feedback Form

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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UBuntu Bridge

Inspired Xhosa lessons and intercultural connectivity.

Email: info@learnxhosa.co.za

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Posted via email from The UBuntu Bridge Xhosa Blog