Practice doesn't make perfect

Practice makes you practiced.

And being practiced makes you familiar.

And being familiar makes you comfortable.

And being comfortable makes you practice.

The Reo Project | Day 211

Sometimes it clicks

Some days are a battle.

But some days things click together.

Today was one of the days when it clicked.

Tomorrow, maybe not.

The Reo Project | Day 210

Simple penny-drop moments while exercising

I’ve been including a (very small) amount of exercise in my regular routines for the past couple of weeks.

Just a few push ups.

The Te Reo Māori word for push ups is pana ake.

pana means to push away, expel

ake means upwards (among many other things.

pana + ake = push ups

The Reo Project | Day 209

Hāunga and haunga

It took me a while to get whāinga (objective, aim, purpose) and whangai (to feed, nourish, foster) straightened out in my head.

I really can’t get hāunga and haunga to stick.

I’m hoping this whakairinga rangitaki (blog post) helps…

You can read the Online Māori Dictionary definitions, but here’s my thinking

hāunga (haa-ung-ah) is a particle that excludes or discounts the object. It’s like “Other than A, B happened” or “Even though A, B still occurred”. I imagine I’d use it at the start of a sentence.

haunga (hou-ngah) is a stative or noun that basically means putrid. The list of words used in the Online definition linked above is quite descriptive:

haunga

(stative) be stinking, smelly, putrid, reeking, fetid, odorous, stale.

As an aside, taru haunga is fennel, which goes really nicely in a salad I make with cherries and orange. You slice the bulb up thinly. I’ve also have pickled fennel bulb on a massaman curry at an excellent local restaurant.

The Reo Project | Day 108

Finding kia in more than just than kia ora

I've been confused for a while about kia. It shows up in our most common phrase kia ora but then essentially nowhere else (that I've found).

But I'm learning things. Here's two places I now know kia belongs in Te Reo Māori.

  1. Commands using statives.

    Basically this is when you are giving a command or instruction where you want the listener to achieve a particular state e.g. Kia ora (Be well) Kia tere (Be fast).

  2. As a negative form of the verbal sentence that starts with kua.

    Kua usually indicates that something has begun, but may not be finished, and the examples make more sense as questions and answers like this:

    • Kua moea koe? - Have I begun sleeping? 

    • Kāo. Kāore anō au kia moe. - No. I have not begun sleeping.

The Reo Project | Day 207

Reo and rānei with the kids

I learnt how to say “or” in Te Reo Māori recently. Basically, you list the options and then put rānei at the end.

Rānei essentially tells the listening that the list of things are options, not

If you’ve done any computer programming or used advanced search functions, this might make sense

OR (Option A, Option B, Option 3) = Option 1 OR Option 2 OR Option 3 = Option 1, Option 2, Option 3 rānei

Anyway, the interesting bit is this:

When we learn new grammar structures, my kaiako (teacher) challenges us to come up with sentences/phrases that we can actually use in our context.

I have two young children and often use (the illusion of) choice to get them to do things.

Like the following:

Kei te pānui, kei te tākaro rānei? - (Would you like to) read or play?

Kei te matekai, kei te hōhā rānei? - (Are you) hungry or grumpy?

Kei te matekai, kei te pōuri rānei? - (Are you) hungry or sad?

He tōhi, he Ricies, he Weetbix rānei? - (Would you like) toast, Ricies or Weetbix?

The Reo Project | Day 205

Making sense of mā and nā

A and O possession is really important in Te Reo Māori.

Got it. Still need to learn it, but I get it’s important.

But I haven’t had the foggiest clue on how to deal with the m/n mā/mō and nā/nō!

Until now.

Here’s what I’ve got.

Nā/nō/na/no is use to indicate the origin of something. Where it has come from.

Mā/mō/ma/mo is use to indicate the ultimate/eventual ‘having’ of something. Where is will end up.

Here’s the sentence that makes the most sense for me:

He mīti nā te toa mā te whānau - Some meat from the shop for the whānau

Mā and nā in once sentence with the same item!

He mīti nā te toa - Some meat from the shop

He mīti mā te whānau - Some meat for the whānau

Hope that helps you as much as it did for me.

If not, try this instead.

The Reo Project | Day 204

Staying self-directed and motivated

Learning a language might be an individual pursuit, but your relationships matter.

I’ve been lacking motivation to continue developing my Reo while on this enforced study break. I’d convinced myself that daily flashcards was enough, but the honest truth is if I’m trying to push towards some kind of fluency I need more than that.

I need more fluency.

I need more grammar.

I need more conversations.

So I started a WhatsApp group with a few (literally three) of my classmates who were keen for some kind of interaction in Te Reo Māori. And it’s paying dividends already.

  • I had a half-hour Zoom call with one classmate where we managed to kōrero Māori anake for the first 10 minutes of the chat.

  • I learnt about 10 new words from a three message interaction last night with another classmate.

  • I’ve realised (again) how limited my Reo is, so I’m motivated to get back into Te Kākano and keep learning new grammar structures in my holidays.

The Reo Project | Day 203

E mahi ana

Back into it.

Never miss two days in a row

Or something like that.

Anyway. There’s a lot of chat about the importance of routine at the moment. Here’s some things that I know make my day better:

2 minutes of meditation / sitting silently

I use the Insight Timer app on my phone which is preset to open directly to a 2-minute timer.

Using the app and the 2-minute minimum are critical because, even when I’m busy and can’t be bothered, I can always spare 2 minutes. And once I’ve opened the app I’m one click away from starting.

10 - 30 minutes of Te Reo flashcards

The foundation of my Reo development. I use Anki with the Android phone app for my daily practice, and the desktop App (on Mac) for building new cards.

I have lots of different decks for learning karakia, passive verbs and new grammar constructions but as a minimum, I work through my vocabulary deck each day.

Click here to download my current Kupu deck with over 1200 kupu Māori.

Whakapakari Tinana (Exercise)

I’ve kept this simple: 5 pana ake (push-ups) with good form.

I’m not a big exercise person, and this is a very new addition to the daily routine, but my experience or early morning sessions at a Wānanga/noho marae with my Reo class convinced me that even a little bit of body movement is worth it!

Whakairinga Rangitaki (Blog Post)

Most days, I come here and write something.

Bonus: Habit Tracking

If you really want to know, I also track all of these on the Loop Habit Tracker. I have widget buttons for each of these on the main homepage of by phone that turn bright colours when I tick them, so that I get a really nice feedback loop when I finish each one of the routines above.

The Reo Project | Day 201

He whakangā

A friend said today: If you’re feeling a little tired, a little stretched, a little less onto it than normal; cut yourself some slack and take a break.

In the spirit of rest, I’ll keep it brief: Here’s three kupu I use for resting.

okioki

(verb) to rest, pause.

whakatā

 (verb) (-ngia) to take breath, catch breath, rest, relax, have a break.

whakangā

(verb) to take breath, inhale, catch breath, rest, refresh, relax.

The Reo Project | Day 200

The value of rumaki (immersion)

Today I had a brief video call with some friends also on a Reo journey.

It was great.

We attempted to kōrero Māori anake (only speak Māori). It was hard.

And we failed.

That made it harder.

There’s something about being in the mindset of committing to speaking only Māori which feel essential to really digging deep into Te Reo.

The Reo Project | Day 199

Looking at Te Ao Māori through A and O categories

A and O categories seems to be pretty fundamental to learning Te Reo Māori.

As seems to be common in Te Ao Māori, things are understood based on their relationships.

Looking at the categories is interesting, for example:

  1. While “A category” items are described as things you “have control over”, when you consider that children are A category items but highly treasured in the culture, it seems less like dominant control and more a responsibility to care for A category items.

  2. You “have control over” (A category) your things, but not your clothes. Your clothes care for you.

  3. You “have control over” your spouse, but they “have control over” you also. Or: You both have a responsibility to care for each other in the same way you care for your children.

  4. You are responsible for actions (A category) but not thoughts or feelings (O category).

The Reo Project | Day 197

Flashcards with my tamaiti

Yesterday a good friend dropped off a gift for my 3-year-old tamaiti. It’s a set of 50 flashcards with Te Reo on one side and English on the back.

It also has a set of suggested phrases that you can use with the kupu on the flashcards, so you can integrate the words into your day-to-day language.

My kid loves it! He’s learning Te Reo Māori (or Te Reo Maadi, as he says) with his dad. And he proudly tells everyone about it, and that “my dad’s really good at speaking Te Reo Maadi”.

I’m stoked he values Te Reo Māori and sees speaking it as something worth boasting about (even second hand). I'm super stoked he’s keen to learn himself. I love spending some time every day working with him on his Reo. And I look forward to the day when he can proudly speak it too.

The Reo Project | Day 196

Decolonising Methodologies by Linda Tuhiwai Smith.

I’ve started reading Decolonising Methodologies by Linda Tuhiwai Smith.

It turns out, New Zealand has a habit of producing some things which are more recognised overseas than they are on our own shores. This book appears to be one of them. Apparently, its essentially a reference text for ‘cultural/indigenous/etc’ studies internationally, but barely recognised by mainstream research education in New Zealand.

Ironic, given the content of the book.

I’m just getting into it, and it’s heavy going. Dense and packed with sentence after sentence that makes me think.

If you want an overview before diving in:

  • Here’s a short online review.

  • Here’s a longer review by a New Zealand government department

  • Here’s the list of academic citations on ResearchGate

The Reo Project | Day 195

More resources!

As

Today while searching for kīwaha I stumbled across the Kotahi Mano Kāika website, a local language revitalisation initiative. Their resources page has word lists, books, phrases, and even labels!

I also found a starting karakia:

KARAKIA MŌ TE TĪMATAKA

Tukua taku wairua kia rere ki kā taumata

Hai ārahi i āku mahi

Me taku whai i te reo Māori

Kia mau, kia ita

Kia kore ai e karo

Kia pūpuri

Kia whakamaua

Kia tina!

TINA!

Haumi e!

Hui e!

TAIKI E!

This is translated in English as:

Let my spirit ascend to the top most summits

As a guide for all that I do

And in my aspirations for Te Reo Māori

So that it can be retained forever more

Never to be lost

So that it is preserved

And maintained

So that it is secure

The Reo Project | Day 194

Digital coffee and kōrero

I’ve been thinking about home-based language learning this week. For the obvious reasons.

I’m part of a few different online learning communities who have all launched virtual co-working spaces in the last 24 hours. Some of these are text-based forums with a lot of clever thinking in behind the system. Others are simply open zoom meetings with a specific vibe.

Which got me thinking: Why haven’t I come across any simple ways of doing an online kōrero with someone also on their Reo journey? A 10-minute video chat while you’re on the bus, waiting for a takeaway coffee, or wandering around the block.

Let’s try this: If you’re keen for a 10-minute kōrero OR you’re a Te Reo student who would be keen try a group study session, send me an email at reo@robbieblakelock.com with your preferred digital hangout details.

Zoom is probably easiest for all of us (email address only), but I’m also using Google Duo and WhatsApp if you don’t mind sharing your phone number.

Kia kaha e hoa mā.

The Reo Project | Day 193

What's the minimum?

I used to think that asking the question “what’s the least amount of work I need to do” indicated a general laziness and desire to avoid work.

I haven’t changed my mind.

But I’ve learnt to appreciate that in some cases the most important thing is doing something. I actually suspect in most of the important cases, doing something regularly is better than doing a lot sometimes.

But enough abstract thought: Why does this matter to my Reo journey?

Because I’ve learnt to appreciate doing the least amount of work.

I aim to do many things every day to help move my Reo forward. I aim to text someone in Te Reo Māori daily. I intend to write something here every day. I plan to do my flashcard deck every day. I should do some homework for my course every day! And I get daily Kupu o te Rā with new words and phrases which I can put into my flashcard deck.

But I don’t do all of these every day. I often to most of them. And I usually do one of them.

The most important thing is that I do something daily. That’s my minimum effort.

One text message OR one blog post OR flashcards OR homework OR read my email and put it in my vocabulary deck.

And as an absolute minimum: Review 50 cards in my Anki deck.

Doing something daily is more important that doing everything all the time.

The Reo Project | Day 191

A few things I think I've figured out about learning Te Reo Māori, and a couple of questions

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:

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