Learning a new language, can be overwhelming sometimes !
Firstly, we need to ask ourselves, why do I want to learn ?
Am I compelled to learn or do I have a fondness towards the language ?
Next, consider the following -
What are the resources that I have, in order to learn this ?
Can I learn on my own using the resources from the Internet or do I need offline help / expert help ?
In this blog, I am addressing some of the queries we have towards learning a new language, in our case, Kannada.
When my child was 6 years, I was posed with a challenge that I was running away from, for several years. It was NOW or NEVER !
Feeling motivated, I gathered some resources that will aid in learning and teaching.
In the initial 2 years, we learnt to read and write the language, thanks to my kid’s school !
I was in the quest for good books that would promote this learning further.
That’s when I realised the amazing collection of books, in regional languages, from Tulika Books ( https://www.tulikabooks.com/ )
Story books are the best way to introduce a language and improve vocabulary.
I was thrilled and ordered a few Kannada short stories.
Once we started reading, we realised that the larger problem was the glossary or absence of someone to translate.
We would constantly query our friends who understood the language or looked up on the internet.
It wasn’t a very absorbing experience and the spirits were getting low.
Again, I stumbled up bilingual books from Tulika ! That was our Eureka moment.
Tulika Publishers have made by life and learning easier. With bilingual books — say English / Kannada, my child and I can now read the lines in Kannada and understand the meaning in correct grammar.
Some of the bilingual books that we enjoyed and love recommending are below
( Note — I am mentioning the titles in English, for the ease of searching )
1. Little Anbu
2. Malli is coming
3. The Red Umbrella
4. Four Friends
5. Miaow
6. Look Up
7. Five Little Monkeys
8. The Birdie Post / Hakki Anche
9. The Talkative Tortoise
10. Monday to Sunday
11. The Lion and the Fox
12. The Musical Donkey
Some of the titles intended for readers, who can read and understand Kannada
1. Little Laali/Putta Laali
2. Boodabim
3. Four/ Naalakku
4. Let’s Go/Banni Hoganna
5. Stories On The Sand/Marala Melina Kathegalu
6. Big Rain/Bhaari Male (Kannada)
7. Let’s Catch The Rain!/Male Hididhukollonna!
8. Where Is Amma?/Amma Elli?
9. A Saree for Ammi/Ammigaagi Ondu Seere
10. The Jungle Storytelling Festival/Kaadina Katheheluva Habba
11. Anya and her Baby Brother/Anya Mattu Avala Putta Tamma
12. Can You?/Ninagidu Saadhyave?
13. Lila’s Loose Tooth/Leelala Alladuva Hallu
14. Gajapati Kulapati Series
15. I Will Save My Land/Nanna Bhoomiyannu Kaapaaduve
One more suggestion is to pick a few titles from both categories and engage kids to explore the language.
Happy reading ! Happy learning !
