Why learn Creole?

One thing I here from missionaries is that, I wish I took more time to learn the language when I first came to Haiti.  I was reminded of this again when I read a popular article by Laura Parker describing her number one mistake was not learning the language first and only.  Here is the clip from the article:

Learn the Language, First and Only. When we got here in April of 2010, we hit the ground in a full-out sprint. We gave ourselves very little time to adjust or get culturally-acclimated. Instead, we dove into ministry in a panicked frenzy. And while much may have been accomplished at the girls home we worked for, our long-term ministry and effectiveness have suffered because it has taken us so. much. longer to learn to communicate. We’ve had individual tutors, we’ve done 6-week long classes for tourists, we’ve promised {and then re-promised} to do Rosetta Stone daily, we’ve made flashcards and more flashcards. And we still only have a workably-mild grasp of the language. I assumed we would be fluent by now, honestly, and it frustrates me that I still have to pre-plan my Thai phone calls.

Learning the language while you are in the thick of ministry is like trying to get your Masters when you have small children and a full-time job. You can still do it, but it is much harder and much slower and much more frustrating. Trust me, the three months or six months {or more?} you devote to simply learning the language and adjusting to your new culture will pay off dividends in your long-term effectiveness.

How can I start learning Creole?

Of course, nothing beats learning Haitian Creole when you actually live in Haiti.  As strange as it sounds, even if you live in Haiti you do need to be intentional about practicing.  Here are some ways to study whether you live in Haiti or not.

Free

Sweet Coconuts Blog
She has *tons* of exercises, lessons, audio and material that you could use all for free!

University of Kansas
They have some great free material up.   I would listen to the following audio with the text over and over again:

Ti Koze Kreyòl: A Haitian-Creole Conversation Manual

A tongue-in-cheek account of boy meets girl in Haitian Creole class, and of their honeymoon adventures and misadventures across Haiti. Organized as nineteen topical conversations with explanatory notes and a complete Haitian-English glossary.

Download textbook | Download audio (73.8 MB)

Free iPhone / iPad / Android Apps

• Google Translate (apple store / google store) – I use this almost daily!  I have my phone with me all the time so when I don’t know a word and it is important to the conversation – I have a quick-key to open up the google translate app and type it in.  Works great for studying as well though it’s not 100% accurate for Creole.

• There are many free apps available which are great!  Some free one’s just have a few beginning lessons and then you pay for the full app.

• Apps
  • Android - Haitian Creole (free / paid)
  • Apple - French Creole (free)
  • Apple - Byki (free)

• Once I started getting serious I ended up downloading a free flash card app and created my own flash cards that I could study when I had free time.  If you want to access the flash cards I made just search for username “youthenme” in the app.

YouTube

• Can search for “learn haitian creole” or creole sermons or about anything and find creole speaking, singing, etc.

Paid

Creole Made Easy (Amazon) – This is the way we learned.  We bought this book and then hired a Haitian to teach us 3 days a week for 2 hours. There is a workbook and CD’s you can buy to supplement this book.  We did this for 6 months when we first arrived.

Other paid methods

• Haiti Hub – Fantastic resource!  You pay a one-time $100 for a life time subscription.

• Byki App (iPad / iPhone / Android) – Great way to learn with a flash card learning style with listening.

• The Pimsleur Method - Known others that have used this method and enjoyed it.