Advanced Beginner Bambara

 

[🧪 PILOT]

A hybrid program for Bambara/Dioula students at the Advanced Beginner level that combines self-paced assignments and real-time class sessions in a group with a teacher and other students.

(Join the mailing list to know about future cohorts!)

💡 What is the Advanced Beginner Bambara Program?

The Advanced Beginner Bambara program is a “hybrid” online course that combines the best of self-paced (“asynchronous”) and real-time (“synchronous”) learning.

You study grammar and vocab via weekly assignments that you do on your own time.

You practice the language in weekly real-time online conversation classes with me and your classmates.

You connect and practice with me and your classmates in the dedicated online community spaces.

You do it all on a schedule.

And you get feedback and grading from me along the way.

✅ Overview

  • Duration: 7 weeks (for the Late Spring 2024 Pilot)

  • Prereqs: Completion/Knowledge of the grammar and vocab covered in the Beginner Bambara course

  • Structure:

    • 1-2 hours of assigned weekly assignments that you complete on your time

    • 1 hour of weekly conversation class with me and the other students in the program

    • Connect, practice and study with your classmates (and me) in dedicated online community spaces

  • Assignments: A series of textbook-style “Advanced Beginner” chapters that are structured as follows:

    • 1) Pre-Dialog Vocab List (and audio

    • 2) Dialog (in audio and text format with an optional translation and grammar points listed)

    • 3) Video-Based Lesson where I walk you through the text and explain the dialog’s grammar points

    • 4) Related Vocabulary (for discussing the chapter’s topic further)

    • 5) Interactive Exercises

  • Class Size: 3-6 people

  • Cost: $220

  • Dates: Between May 22 and July 11, 2024

    [No class on Thu, July 4]

  • Conversation Class Meeting Time:

    • Wednesdays at 7pm (Paris time)

    • Thursdays at 1pm (Paris time)

      [Click below to see in your time zone!]

Join the mailing list to know about the next cohort.

📝 Topics

1) Weather
  • The particle dɛ
  • Using situative to express sensations
  • Expressing “to need”
  • Progressives with bɛ ka
  • The constrastive particle dun
2) Studies
  • Light-verb constructions
  • Converting verbs to nouns
  • The particle kɛ
  • Making action nouns
  • Topicalizing verbs
3) Tea
  • Expressing “to like”
  • Sequential verb constructions
  • Determiners
  • The particle sa
4) Children
  • Expressing “to have”
  • Expressing “a long time ago”
  • Asking/talking about age
  • Counting above 10
5) Boutique
  • Expressing “to love/want”
  • Converting adjectives into nouns
  • Counting money
  • Discussing price per item
  • Expressing “X worth of”
6) Market
  • Expressing “to seek”
  • Metaphorical descriptions with qualitative verbs
  • Verbs and indirect objects
7) Drinking Spot
  • Expressing “done”
  • Expressing “to bring” and “to take away”
  • The future with bɛna
  • Using verbs statively

[NOTE: 7-10 will not be covered in Late Spring 2024 pilot]

8) Taxi
  • Progressives with -ra/la/na
  • Modal verb constructions
  • Naked infinitives as orders
  • Conditionals with mana
9) Eating Spot
  • Making verbs with -ya
  • Reflexive verbs
  • The quotative ko
  • Expressing “because”
10) Wedding
  • Expressing “to be/become”
  • Expressing “if/when/once”
  • Compound nouns

🤔 Questions?

How interactive are the weekly conversation classes? Very interactive! For each sesson, I have a specific lesson plan with activities designed to get all of us interacting and speaking the language.
What is the class size for the cohort? Six people max.
Can you explain more about the online community spaces? How are they used for practice and study? The community spaces are a private Discord server and a private sub-section of the Forum. Via chat, audio/video calls, you can use them as a place to practice, interact or collaborate with me and your cohort mates.
Is participation in the community spaces a required part of the course? No, but they are big perk!
What if I miss a live conversation class? Are there make-up sessions or recordings available? No. If you miss a live conversation class session, it's on you.
How flexible are the weekly assignments in terms of deadlines? You can do the assignments for each week whenever you want before the weekly conversation class.
What technical requirements or software do I need for the course? For the weekly assignments, you can use any device with a modern web browser and a good internet connection. For the weekly conversation classes, you need a desktop device with a microphone, a camera, a modern web browser, a good internet connection, and potentially video conferencing software such as Zoom or Discord, etc.
Is there a specific platform or app used for the weekly assignments and weekly conversation classes? The weekly assignments are all hosted on the web-based platform of "An ka taa". The weekly conversation classes will place video video conference call using a software like Zoom or Discord.
What are the payment options and is there a payment plan available? You pay via credit or debit card. I don't have the option for a payment plan at this time.

Something else? Contact me!