Learning to speak/read/write/hear Haitian has not only opened a door to a new language but also opened a new world of culture and history and social organization and food and music and art and religion that I simply wasn’t aware of. #Haitian #Kreyòl

The more I dig into this language the more I find that I do not know anything at all. My initial appraisal of the language and the way to learn it is nearly entirely false. The initial methodology of saying simple phrases is helpful to build confidence, but Haitians do not talk like that.

And as language is used to mark who’s in and who’s out, so it is used in context between those who are within the culture of Haiti and those who are, like me, without.

The best way to learn is to simply do. I’m trying that. I first must try out the first moments of wobbling on this bicycle, afraid to hit the ground, but determined to go on ahead.

Goodness, I am so tired. I feel, again, like I just can’t absorb any more, and it’s all mush in … More

Kreyòl ayisyen has five ways to say the singular “the.” And now I know them!

I’m pretty happy with hitting another level of understanding. The lessons are enjoyable again, even though yes they’re still tough.

M pa gen mo, y’all…

The title of this post comes from a popular expression in Haiti: Behind every mountain is another mountain. (Literally, behind … More

Haitian Creole / kreyòl ayisyen is already a very simplified language in both spelling and pronunciation, making it easier to learn than many other languages. But there are still a few things that can trip you up!

In which I pick up a new set of language skills – and a new friend.

M praktike kreyòl pou yon edtan chak maten. Jodia m ap praktike envèse fraz tankou: /k/ Kisa Joj ye pou … More

Yowza. I think today broke my brain! Last week’s lesson was on family relationships — mother, father, sister, brother, sister-in-law, … More

Today I had my first “street conversation” nan kreyòk ayisyen. Well, not on the street, exactly. It was a phone … More

I’m not one to complain… Well, maybe a little. This last week we went from parts of the body (Pati … More

So as part of my efforts to learn Haitian Creole I signed up for a few resources that would connect … More

So this last week (Tuesday) I had my first full hour of tutoring in kreyòl, and zanmi m, it was … More

I’m kinda excited for what’s about to happen. I started this journey back in February/March 2022. (The first week was … More

WE DID IT! Today was the first time that my tutor and I had an actual conversation in kreyòl! Now, … More

Okay man, it’s getting serious now. In the previous weeks of lessons with my tutor, we did a lot of … More

Okay, it’s been, what, ten weeks? I’ve found better and better resources to learn kreyòl ayisyen, and while I am … More

I’ve been hard at work with my lessons in kreyòl on Duolingo, and on paper it looks good—Level 21 / … More

Today’s lesson brought up what I’d seen in the past in a few lessons here and there. Let me show … More

Let’s talk about what, exactly. So kreyòl has a whole interesting way to form words of interrogation/asking in ways that … More

There has been a couple of things I’ve been keeping notes on as I’m learning, and one of them is … More

Week 4 of learning Haitian Creole and things are kicking up a notch. Now it’s getting into “ownership” (how to … More