Meeting New People
Barnoota 1: Nama Haaraa Waliin Wal Baru
Anna is moving to a new city, Washington, D.C. She will learn many new things about the city, and you will learn with her. In the first lesson, she is meeting her new neighbors.
Annan gara magaalaa haaraa, Washington, D.C. tti deemaa jirti. Waa'ee magaalaa sanaa waan haaraa hedduu baratti, isinis ishee waliin barattu. Barnoota jalqabaa keessatti, ollaa ishee haaraa waliin wal bartii.
Conversation Practice
Akkam! Ati Annaa?
"Hi! Are you Anna?"
Eeyyee! Akkam! Ati Piitii?
"Yes! Hi there! Are you Pete?"
Eeyyee, ani Piitii dha.
"I am Pete."
Wal baruun keenya gammachiisaadha.
"Nice to meet you."
Irra deebinee yaa yaallu. Ani Annaa dha.
"Let’s try that again. I’m Anna."
Ani Piitii dha. “Anna” A-N-A moo?
"I’m Pete. “Anna” Is that A-N-A?"
Lakkii. A-N-N-A.
"No. A-N-N-A."
Tole, Anna "N" lamaatiin... Baga nagahaan gara Daandii Irving 1400 dhufte!
"Well, Anna with two “n’s” … Welcome to … 1400 Irving Street!"
Mana kiraa koo haaraa! Eeyyee!
"My new apartment! Yes!"
Key Words
| Afaan Oromo (English) | Hiika (Meaning) |
|---|---|
| Mana kiraa (Apartment) | a usually rented room or set of rooms that is part of a building and is used as a place to live |
| Wal baruu (Meet) | to see and speak to someone for the first time |
| Haaraa (New) | not known before; recently bought or rented |
| Gaarii (Nice) | good and enjoyable |
| Daandii (Street) | a road in a city, town, or village |
| Yaaluu (Try) | to make an effort to do something |
| Baga nagahaan dhufte (Welcome) | used as a friendly greeting to someone who has arrived at a place |
Learning Strategy / Tooftaa Barachuu
Set a goal for learning. What do you want to do in English/Oromo after studying for three months? It is best to set a short-term and small goal.
Kaayyoo barachuu qabaadhu. Ji'a sadii erga barattee booda Afaan Oromootiin/Ingiliffaan maal hojjechuu barbaadda? Kaayyoo yeroo gabaabaa fi xiqqaa baasuun gaariidha.
Act out the conversation with different partners. Use your own names instead of "Anna" and "Pete".
Haasawa kana hiriyaa adda addaa waliin ta'uun hojii irra oolchaa. Maqaa "Anna" fi "Pete" jedhuun dhiisuun maqaa keessan fayyadamaa.
Questions with "to be" (Ta'uu)
The conversation uses the verb "to be" (akka Afaan Oromootti "dha," "ti," ykn "ta'uu").
Question: Are you Pete? / Ati Piitii?
Statement: You are Pete. / Ati Piitii dha.
Practice asking your partner "Are you [name]?" and making statements "You are [name]."
Hiriyaa kee gaafadhu "Ati [maqaa]?" akkasumas hima "Ati [maqaa] dha." jedhu ijaaraa.
Pronunciation Practice
In English, "I am" is often shortened to "I'm" in fast speech. This is called a contraction.
Ingiliffa keessatti, yeroo haasawa saffisaa keessatti "I am" gabaabfamee "I'm" ta'a.
Slow Speech: I am Pete.
Fast Speech: I’m Pete.
Practice introducing yourself using "I'm [your name]."
"Ani [maqaa koo] dha" fayyadamuun of beeksisuu shaakalaa.
The Alphabet (Qubee)
Review the alphabet. Write your own name and say each letter slowly. Ask a partner to spell their name.
Qubee irra deebi'aa. Maqaa keessan barreessaa, qubee tokko tokko suuta jedhaa. Hiriyaa keessan maqaa isaa akka qubeessu gaafadhaa.
Go to the full Qubee Alphabet TableNumbers (1-20)
Practice counting from 1 to 20 in Oromo: tokko, lama, sadii, afur, shan, ja'a, torba, saddeet, sagal, kudhan, kudha tokko, kudha lama, kudha sadii, kudha afur, kudha shan, kudha ja'a, kudha torba, kudha saddeet, kudha sagal, digdama.
Practice counting things in the classroom, such as students, desks, and books.
Listening Quiz
Read the sentences below and choose the correct matching text.
Hima armaan gadii dubbisi. Isaan keessaa kamtu sirriidha?
- 1. Hi, I am Mary.
- 2. Hi, I am John.
- 3. Hi, I am Jill. Are you John?
- 4. Hi. I am Russell. Are you Anna’s friend?
- 5. Yes, I am.
- 6. Nice to meet you!
Writing Practice
Write a conversation between yourself and another student. You can model it on the lesson conversation, or make changes using names of teachers or classmates.
Ofii keetii fi barataa biraa gidduutti haasawa barreessi. Haasawa barnoota kanaa akka fakkeenyaatti fayyadamuu dandeessa, ykn maqaa barsiisotaa ykn baratoota daree fayyadamuun jijjiirama gochuu dandeessa.