I’m closing in on 200 words of my Reo journey. Instead of waiting for the 200 day mark as an arbitrary point to reflect, I thought I’d take the time to share some things I think I’ve learnt, and some questions I definitely still have.
Some current questions I have.
How do I refer to the language? When is it correct to say “Te Reo” or “Reo” or “Te Reo Māori” or “Māori” or even, as I have heard some reo speakers say, “Reo Rangatira”? What is the meaning behind Reo Rangatira?
How do I learn to understand and speak idioms/ki waha correctly? Learning formal/correct grammar structures in one type of challenge, but how do I pick up the turns of phrase that are scattered throughout the language?
Some things I’ve figured out, I think.
You can do immersion at home. It’s possible to apply the principles of immersion to learning Te Reo Māori outside of an actual rumaki (immersion) environment. For example:
Read books by Māori authors (I started with Witi Ihamaera and The Parihaka Woman).
Listen to the Taringa podcast instead of a true crime podcast
Good tools help. Bookmark The Māori Dictionary in your browser and install the app on your iPhone or Android smart phone for quick references.
Daily engagement is probably the most important thing. I started with daily flashcards using the Anki app on my phone (for free on Android and on your computer) and a collection of words based on the most frequent 1000 words in Māori.
If you learn five new words a day, you’ll basically cover 1000 words in half a year
Knowing people who speak Te Reo is encouraging. For a start, they can help you. But also, they’ll probably share the story of their learning journey with you.
The Reo Project | Day 190