Hi All,

Our residency finally came through, yipee! We will be on the island beginning 19 May. If anyone could recommend a Papiamento language tutor that would be great!

Liz

Congratulations, Liz and Ed!! You'll be fluent in the language before you know it. See you in a few. Carole and Joe

A friend, who's a new resident, is taking a Papiamento class offered by Bonaire's equivalent of "adult ed." About 20 people in the class, mixed native tongue. I believe a new class is started when a sufficient number of people indicate interest and a teacher is available. Good luck.

There are a numnber of Papiamentu (No o, but a u) private tutors, but the best way is to get a dictionary, a copy of Extra, liten to TV or Radio and just practice....

Liz,

Golden Reef was great, thanks for a very pleasant (if not incredibly hot) experience! :-)

A couple of recommendations - there is a Papiamentu/English dictionary (blue), very thick, that I picked up at the airport two years ago. Very useful, but it does not teach the language.

At Flamingo Bookstore, they have a 'Papiamentu textbook' from time to time (English version), but they haven't had it for a while - not in January and not last week. Only Dutch version, so let them know you want one (that will make three orders between you, me and someone else). I believe it is a high quality book, about 150 pages. I originally wanted a child's textbook like they might have in school, but I don't believe they technically teach the language in school anymore - I may be wrong.

There are books you can get from Amazon.com, all used - author is Goilo, title is Papiamentu Textbook - about 25 years old. Do a search in their rare book search section, if you need help let me know.

There are also two CD's you can get - one is a vocabulary builder and the other a language builder, both for absolute beginners by Topics Entertainment. They are around $20-$30 each, also on Amazon.com.

If you want any of these from the states, let me know and I'll send them down with my next package to the island.

All the best

Carl

Papiamentu is a required course for the school children here and is fromally taught with a cirriculum, etc., The dictionary is still available but the text book is very diffucult to find. The CDs are probably one of the best ways to go.

Also, check with your local library. There are a few doctoral dissertations on Papiamentu. Maybe your library can get them for you.

Thanks all! I have the dictionary and the CD. Very basic, not putting sentences together. Your right Michael, while on Bonaire Ed has coffee with Giby at Torito's in the morning and tries reading Extra. He is picking up things, but I need to hear the sounds of the alphabet, words etc for me to get it. Pronunciation is the key I think. See you soon Michael....we will be arriving the 19th.

Carl, thanks so much glad you had a great time!

Liz

The very best book for learning Papiamentu is one I bought years ago at Bonaire Boekhandel. It is called Papiamentu Textbook, by ER Goilo. It is available through www.schoenhofs.com (the oldest foreign language bookstore in the US...Cambridge, MA). Fabulous, fabulous store/website. The ISBN is 9990481032. But, like Michael said, there is no subsitute for jumping in the deep end and practice, practice, practice (I am a high school Spanish teacher so I know from whence I speak). PS- Two days of school left!!! Yippeeeee!