Where are all the Navajo Tutors?!
I googled “Diné bizaad tutor” and “Navajo language tutor”.
Do you know how many people I found that offered services as a Navajo language tutor?
Only 3!
Do you know how many forum posts I’ve come across that are looking for Navajo tutors?
More than 3.
This needs to be corrected. I know there are more than three Navajo instructors out there who are qualified enough to offer tutoring to beginner, intermediate, and advanced level Navajo learners.
Here’s what I am gonna offer because it is difficult to find a Navajo language tutor online.
If you have some background with Navajo language teaching and offer tutoring services online, or in-person, leave a blog comment below with some contact information and a sentence or two about yourself. This way there is a list of Navajo tutors if anyone is looking for one.
If there is a good response of instructors I might start a tutor directory. ;)
Photo credit: Sergey Zolkin on Unsplash
Navajo dubbed Star Wars and Finding Nemo on Disney+
Great news! You can watch Star Wars: A New Hope and Finding Nemo in Navajo from the comfort of your own home! A Reddit user noticed the Navajo dubbed version Star Wars was listed in the Extra section of the movie on Disney+.
Both movies were available for limited screenings when they were released in theaters in 2013 and 2016. There were unfortunately a limited number of DVDs available for distribution afterward. There has been a demand to obtain a DVD copy of these titles and I am so glad it accessible via Disney+ now.
To watch, go to either movie of your choice In Disney+.
Then select the Extra section and scroll down until you find the (Navajo Version) in the list.
Unfortunately, they do not include any Navajo subtitles for either movie. I think it was a huge missed opportunity, but we will take what we can get.
Enjoy!!!
Gauging Interest
I would like to know if anyone would like a language learning plan or roadmap for those wanting to learn Navajo. This would be a simple list of things to tackle in a fluid order to help you to continue to progress in your studying. I get into a rut unless I have some structure when I’m learning a language. Would this be helpful to anyone?
Also, I have been toying with this idea of creating a digital textbook. Free to the public, of course. I think there are enough public domain resources to revamp and have a textbook-like resource for everyone. I’m thinking it could have audio embedded in it, listening exercises, etc. If there is enough interest we could start getting some people together to create such a resource. Please make a comment below to let me know if you would be interested in being part of such a project.
If you are a Navajo speaker that is interested in doing something sooner than later, I have a separate idea for you that could be very helpful to this community. Comment below if that is you.
I’ve been around more Navajos lately and this language topic of learning, speaking and the difficulty of finding people to practice with is something I hear about almost everyday. It’s time for something, something new maybe. I am not sure entirely what, but I have ideas.
Huge Update
I had some time during the quarantine of 2020 to update the site. I’ve fixed some broken links, added new links and also made notes at the top of some posts if any programs, websites, or services are no longer available.
The Audio/Visual, Vocab & Flashcards, and Culture & Tourism pages have many more links. There have been some helpful resources made available in recent years, the flashcard and video sections are a reflection of this. The Culture & Tourism section was fun to update, there’s lots of information there to explore and learn about the Navajo.
Thank you all for checking out the site if you were a new visitor during this time. From the beginning of February to the beginning of May 2020 the site had 2,750 hits from 51 different countries. You all motivated me to make sure you had the most up-to-date Navajo language resources during this global pandemic. Ahe’hee.
Enjoy the new material.
Stay safe out there.
$5 off at Google Books
There is a targeted $5 Google Book credit promotion running now thru September 30, 2017. Log into Google Play and then Books. There should be an advertisement that looks like this if you are targeted:
Make sure your choice is $5.01 or more. Use keywords “navajo”, “diné”, and “navaho” to find the few titles on Navajo history and language. The one time discount will be credited at checkout like this:
Don’t forget there are some free (public domain) titles like: The Navaho Language: the elements of Navaho grammar with a dictionary. Enjoy!!
Navajo Language books – get $10 off at Amazon
I thought I would pass on this Amazon promotion to everyone. Navajo language materials can be pricey, and what better time to purchase some gifts for yourself or another Navajo language learner than the holiday season.
Receive $10 off any book purchase of at least $25. Use promotion code HOLIDAYBOOK under the “Gift cards & promotional codes” section when checking out. According to the terms and conditions the offer is valid starting November 24th and goes through Nov 28th.
A sample purchase of two books
I’ve tried a combination of different books, the promotion applies to books shipped by Amazon. Third party sellers do not count.
When choosing a book be sure to look at related items at the end of the page. Also take a look at Audio Forum to compare the digital price for some books.
If you don’t have Amazon Prime there is a free trial to take advantage of the free 2-day shipping here.
Nemo Há’déést’įį’ is Amazing!
I had the opportunity to attend a screening of Nemo Hádéést’įį’ last month and I loved it. I was very happy the seating chart was filled to half capacity at the ticket counter on arrival and there were more Navajo patrons waiting to reserve their seats.
I was excited but also unsure of what to expect of the event. The SLC Star Wars screening had technical difficulties. I patiently waited for more than an hour for the problem to resolve. No Star Wars, I left disappointed. This time around Finding Nemo had two showings daily for almost a week at the Megaplex Theater in Salt Lake City. In fact, there were screenings available in about nine theaters across three states with other viewing in the works.
What was fun about Nemo Hádéést’įį’ was the opportunity to look up potential vocabulary. This was a limited preparatory practice for Star Wars. Did you know Garth Wilson’s Conversational Navajo Dictionary has an entry for Turtle? I didn’t until I looked it up. It was interesting to learn turtle ahead of time and then hear it in the theater. I actually heard it multiple times throughout the movie, even when the turtle was off screen.
The fact that this was an animated film was helpful for me to watch. When I watch dubbed movies in spanish it confuses me a bit. Another example is watching kung fu movies with english dubbing. It kind of kills the experience with the sound and lips not syncing. Dubbing the completed Nemo animation I’m sure had challenges for the script writers, but they did a really good job of syncing navajo dialogue to the animation. There were moments when I forgot I was watching Finding Nemo in another language. This is hard to explain when I don’t speak or understand navajo fluently. But what I guess I’m saying is that the movie flowed very naturally for not originating in navajo.
Did I learn anything new from the movie? I was surprised by what I could comprehend in navajo. I could not pick out many specific verb conjugations but I really enjoyed hearing some familiar vocabulary. I really wish I had sat in the very back corner seat with paper and pen to take notes, I would have remembered more phrases.
I really want to watch it again, and soon I’ll have that opportunity. The Navajo Nation Museum has started pre-orders for the DVD. Go to NavajoNemo.com(deadlink) to order. I want everyone who is interested in purchasing a DVD to order today. I want the Navajo Nation Museum and Disney/Pixar to know that there continues to be an interest in full-length navajo dubbed films. This can only lead to more entertainment in the navajo language.
Lastly, I was surprised to hear the end credit song “Beyond the Sea” in navajo, and it is great. I wish it was for purchase somewhere. It is sung by Fallout Boy vocalist Patrick Stump. You can hear part of it in the Nemo Hádéést’įį’ trailer below.
If you have not seen Nemo Hádéést’įį’ yet, buy the DVD, make some popcorn and invite your elders to watch with you. You will all love it!!!
It’s Christmas time
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Well it’s almost Christmas so here are a few phrases with the help of Countryboy79’s website.
There are a few holiday examples with audio on this page.
and lastly, some good all around advice …
Share these phrases or other pics at Countryboy79 on Facebook and Twitter. Spread the Navajo Holiday cheer!
navajonow.wordpress.com 