Trip to Robben Island

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.

Xhosa Audio CD Feedback

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.

Friday evening 22 August - Africa Jam in Athlone 19:00

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

Sosebenza - Xhosa fun in the sun

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

Free Township tour this Sunday

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

Free Audio Samples

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

Xenophobia Crisis

My beautiful people. The horror of what is happening may finally bring us all together. Perhaps too we may collectively start taking responsibility for the current situation which allows our people to become so desperate that they resort to this madness. That is no excuse, but we must acknowledge it. We all need to give more, we need to do more, actively, not just pray, and pay tax grudgingly. and not just because we are afraid we may be next. people are desperate and this is evidence.

May the rich, black and white, stop fiddling like romans. based on the good i see in these times, i am hopeful.

one example may be www.thirdthursday.co.za of how poeple can give back in the long run, if it aint too late.

For immediate action, in Cape Town:
The TAC HQ in 122 Longmarket Street, Westminster house is a centre for food, clothing, blankets, toiletry donations in CT. call hennie on 021 422 1490.

peace, gratitude and blessings.
:)c

Saturday Xhosa practice

Greetings
This is one of the great opportunities to connect with a loving, and caring community of people who know how to have fun and get good things done. The kids are Xhosa, and i cannot emphasise how helpful it is for your Xhosa to spend a few hours with kids, practicing what you know and asking questions.

Ben Jochanan Getz sent a message to the members of Sosebenza Centre for Peace (MASI), on Facebook:
MASI is ON for tomorrow!!!! (It is usually every second saturday, so confirm via the cell numbers provided).
We have tons to do and need your HELP!
Come along for building, cleaning, lunching, recycling:)

Where: MASIphumelele near Sun Valley, Capri, Kommetjie) is on tomorrow - WE WANT YOU!

Either make your own way there OR get a lift with Christoph from UCT at 10am (meet him in parking lot between smuts and fuller - his number is 082 491 9124)

Big Love
BEN:)
072 475 2977

Weekend Xhosa Immersion Practice

Hola.

This post will be updated, but its presence signifies the intention to create weekly opportunities for you, the learner, to experience appropriate opportunities to practice your Xhosa with mother-tongue speakers.

The experiences will be:
- free
- close to Cape Town
- with Xhosa people who have time to listen to you and help you with your Xhosa by being patient and understanding
- mutually beneficial in that the people will really appreciate your presence
- cultivating ubuntu

That would mean visits to orphanages, creches, hospices, or volunteer based projects, where you can brighten someones life or contribute to a poor community, in return dramatically improving your Xhosa, consolidating what you learn in the lessons, and making you feel like you belong to a broader community.

Any of you, my students, who work in NGOs who are aware of an appropriate opportunity for interaction, please leave comments on this post, or email me details.

Blessings to us all.