Help kids learn our native languages!

[joshuamarcus]

Hello,
My name is Joshua Marcus and I'm a musician from Philadelphia in the U.S. I'm writing to ask a very small favor, or to see if you may know someone who can help.

I work with a program called "All Around This World" (http://www.AllAroundThisWorld.com), an interactive music class that introduces small children (infants to 8 year olds) and their families to world cultures through a mutual exploration of global music. Each season All Around This World students "visit" a different part of the world and learn about its cultures and traditions through its music; for example, this past winter we "traveled" to East and Southeast Asia where we had fun exploring things like Japanese taiko drumming, Indonesian gamelan and Korean pop.

Right now we're working on a special season about the Caribbean. Each week we're going to feature a different country in the Caribbean and focus on that country's many cultures and genres of music. We start each class by saying hello in a language from the country, and end each class with that language's goodbye. Right now our teachers just learn the greetings from the internet and guess at how to say them in class.

I'm writing to you with the hope that you, or someone you know, is a native speaker of Tobagonian or Trinidadian Creole, or Trinidadian English slang, and would be able to help the kids by recording your language's hello and goodbye so we can share them in class. That way when we're learning about Trinidad and Tobago the kids will be hearing someone who really speaks the language greet them. The recording process is easy--I'll paste a couple instructions at the bottom of this e-mail.

As for the greeting..you can pick whatever you think would be closest to "hello" or "goodbye." We have some ideas, but you're the one who speaks the language, not us. If you want, you can come up with a couple ideas and we'll choose.


If you're living in the United States, perhaps I can call you on the phone to record a greeting?

If you're living internationally, would you be willing to skype with me, or use your computer's simple recording software to do so?

On a PC, you can just click "sound recorder" on the Windows start menu and talk right into my computer. On a Mac, you can use garageband, or some other similar recording software. If you need help locating your computer's software, lease let me know and I'll guide you through the process.

Thank you very much for your time and for your willingness to help, either by sharing a greeting yourself or passing on this e-mail to someone else. The kids will really enjoy hearing your voice!

Feel free to e-mail with any questions.

Thanks,
Joshua

[letric]

Hello,
My name is Joshua Marcus and I'm a musician from Philadelphia in the U.S. I'm writing to ask a very small favor, or to see if you may know someone who can help.

I work with a program called "All Around This World" (http://www.AllAroundThisWorld.com), an interactive music class that introduces small children (infants to 8 year olds) and their families to world cultures through a mutual exploration of global music. Each season All Around This World students "visit" a different part of the world and learn about its cultures and traditions through its music; for example, this past winter we "traveled" to East and Southeast Asia where we had fun exploring things like Japanese taiko drumming, Indonesian gamelan and Korean pop.

Right now we're working on a special season about the Caribbean. Each week we're going to feature a different country in the Caribbean and focus on that country's many cultures and genres of music. We start each class by saying hello in a language from the country, and end each class with that language's goodbye. Right now our teachers just learn the greetings from the internet and guess at how to say them in class.

I'm writing to you with the hope that you, or someone you know, is a native speaker of Tobagonian or Trinidadian Creole, or Trinidadian English slang, and would be able to help the kids by recording your language's hello and goodbye so we can share them in class. That way when we're learning about Trinidad and Tobago the kids will be hearing someone who really speaks the language greet them. The recording process is easy--I'll paste a couple instructions at the bottom of this e-mail.

As for the greeting..you can pick whatever you think would be closest to "hello" or "goodbye." We have some ideas, but you're the one who speaks the language, not us. If you want, you can come up with a couple ideas and we'll choose.


If you're living in the United States, perhaps I can call you on the phone to record a greeting?

If you're living internationally, would you be willing to skype with me, or use your computer's simple recording software to do so?

On a PC, you can just click "sound recorder" on the Windows start menu and talk right into my computer. On a Mac, you can use garageband, or some other similar recording software. If you need help locating your computer's software, lease let me know and I'll guide you through the process.

Thank you very much for your time and for your willingness to help, either by sharing a greeting yourself or passing on this e-mail to someone else. The kids will really enjoy hearing your voice!

Feel free to e-mail with any questions.

Thanks,
Joshua

Great effort...

[joshuamarcus]

I'm a bit confused. Does that mean you can help me? Or do you mean great effort, like I'm asking too much?

[guyguy]

Mr. Marcus,
There is a very large population of Trinidadians & Tobagonians in Philadelphia. I lived there myself in the early 1970s so I can definitely make this claim. There is a Trinidadian & Tobagonian (Trinbagonian) Society also. Try contacting them. I'm certain that many members would love to help you in your endeavour, and, you'd be listening to the language from "the horse's mouth."

Brown Sugar Bakery - 219 S 52nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19139 - (215) 472-7380

Rajas Trinidad Restauran - 4850 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19124-2606

http://skaibluemedia.com/home/2011/0...taste-of-home/

You may wish to contact the anthropology departments at Temple and UoP Universities for more information.
BTW: I used to live at 54th & Cedar, next to Misericordia Hospital.

[letric]

I'm a bit confused. Does that mean you can help me? Or do you mean great effort, like I'm asking too much?

Why are you confused? You are complimented...

[joshuamarcus]

thanks for the good advice! I'll do that.

Mr. Marcus,
There is a very large population of Trinidadians & Tobagonians in Philadelphia. I lived there myself in the early 1970s so I can definitely make this claim. There is a Trinidadian & Tobagonian (Trinbagonian) Society also. Try contacting them. I'm certain that many members would love to help you in your endeavour, and, you'd be listening to the language from "the horse's mouth."

Brown Sugar Bakery - 219 S 52nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19139 - (215) 472-7380

Rajas Trinidad Restauran - 4850 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19124-2606

http://skaibluemedia.com/home/2011/0...taste-of-home/

You may wish to contact the anthropology departments at Temple and UoP Universities for more information.
BTW: I used to live at 54th & Cedar, next to Misericordia Hospital.

[shield_2006]

I'm a bit confused. Does that mean you can help me? Or do you mean great effort, like I'm asking too much?

seems he has that effect on everyone all over the world.

[letric]

seems he has that effect on everyone all over the world.

Indeed...

[letric]

Indeed...

A people needs legends, myths. Deny them these
and you have won half of the battle against them.
Black Man's Burden (1965)

[snowbird]

A people needs legends, myths. Deny them these
and you have won half of the battle against them.
Black Man's Burden (1965)

If legendary is what you are after..... try no more..... you have achieved it....you have arrived