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Amharic

Printed From: FSI Language Courses
Category: Learning Languages
Forum Name: General Discussion
Forum Discription: Discussion about studying languages using the FSI courses. If you would like to see a specific language forum not listed below, just let us know.
URL: http://fsi-language-courses.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=434
Printed Date: 16 January 2009 at 3:19am


Topic: Amharic
Posted By: Ge'eZ
Subject: Amharic
Date Posted: 24 June 2007 at 2:09pm
I'm currently studying Amharic using FSI, and for additional reading and background, I'm using the Colloquial series.
 
FSI chapters 1 to 11 are digitized on this site with the audio provided.
 
Chapters 1 to 50 are transcriptions
Additional material, separate book, has chapters 51 to 60, which are:
Learn the Amharic script-Fidal
Q & A, Basic sentence, short readings in Fidal script from 1 to 50
 
***If anyone can digitize chapters 51 to 60 that would be of great help.
 
In return, I can help anyone with the early chapters, at least up to chapter 10.
 
Organization of the FSI Amharic lessons:
 
1  The program was intended for diplomats within the framework of a 'real
 course with a 'real' teach, probably within an assimilated setting.  It is not a 100% learn on your own program.  It is intended for constant feedback and fill-in the blanks by the teach.  That being said, it is possible, with much time, to do on your own.
 
2 The drills, Q&A, and short readings are not translated into English.  I have got all the translations and more, if anyone needs that, I can provide the Word files.  However, my files are in Fidal script and English, not in the FSI transcription.  I would really like to obtain the readings 51 to 60 in Fidal to add to my learning, if anyone can digitize that book?
 
3  It's a foreign, 'foreign' language, that is somewhat difficult to learn without being in an immerged setting.  Although, for every foreign'est example I encounter in Amharic, I could think of 5 similar examples that learning English can represent.  In other words....it's not because it's African.  The language is quite logical.  Some of the African'ness of the 1964 period adds a lot of the interest in learning.  Social class, city/farmer, man ordering for the lady, dimunitive feminine house, car.... many religious connotations...have a seat to the right of god on judjement day....in sentence useage for have a seat...polite. 
 
4  Chapters 1,2,3
Basic sentences, after going through the vowel, consonant soundings, you will quickly learn the many exceptions with surrounding letters, as in all languages?
 
In-depth pronunciation drills...chapt 1,2,3,4.
 
Some of the religious greetings may be a little dated, but still used, just less often, I think.  Diplomatic intensions originally...
 
Many substitution drills are provided to 'get' the pronouns.
 
5 Chapters 2,3,4,5
 
The bulk of the 'building blocks' to learning and much needed.  In my opinion, far too difficult.  Too much, too quickly....but mastering these basics will help your learning throughout the next chapters.
 
Definite suffixes for- noun, verb, modifiers...
pronoun prefixes & suffixes...
 
verb example:  reda- root verb- meaning, help
 
redan......we helped
reda........helped, 3rd person- he- perfective 
        n......we sufiix pronoun
 
inredallan.....we will help, are helping
....reda....     help
in........llan....we will
 
inreda(ha)llan....we will help you- masculin
..........you......
inreda(sha)llan...we will help you- masculin
inreda(ta)llan.....we will help her
 
That's Amharic verbs in a nut shell.
 
Gradual introduction of the verbs. 
***pgs 141, 142, 143 have a summary of 'all the verbs in 6 tenses seen so far'.  It is much easier to learn early-on using a copy of these as an aid.
 
Many of the basic sentences cover tenses that have not been learnt yet.  This complicates matters, but I can see their intent, the basic sentences are more of a 'learn, while role playing' methodology than intense dissection of every sentence, if that makes sence.
 
Chapter 5...on  readings introduced, 3rd person story telling, dirset...
 
A short reading at the end of the chapter, later chapters being extended to longer readings.  It is usually a story told in the 3rd person complementing  the basic sentences at the beginning of the chapter.  Questions follow, no answers are provided...if anyone needs help, I can provide some guidance here.
 
?? Chapt 6...on
The many, many affixes in Amharic to verbs and nouns....
 
Basic sentences, Drills, Q/A's, readings....form the bulk of the course.
 
Some of the annoyances while learning:
 
There is no such a thing as, easy review in this course, it is a constant slippery up slope, new material, always, and non-ending.  This is were being in an immerged setting would fill-in the many gaps.
 
After many hours spent learning the programmatic style provided...Q&A, drills....Even the most of basic sentences is not necessarily known.  The FSI methodology used does not concerned itself with this at all, not a priority.  Basic reading, radio, tv, or even speech....cannot be done without 'feeling' like starting from scratch....but of course, not all is lost.  The gaps from theory to practical should be filled-in very quickly.  The few links I have tryed to fill-in have been somewhat successful, relatively quickly.
 
 



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