Monday, March 30, 2009

Upcoming Field Trip!

Hello! The arrival of spring in Hawaii makes it a perfect time to head down to the beach. Our students will be going on a field trip in a couple of weeks to learn how to paddle canoes in the oceans of Maui. We will also have lots of delicious food to eat while we relax our worries away on the beach. We'll take lots of pictures, so be sure to check back soon!

For today's Pidgin lesson, let me introduce you to a word that you probably haven't heard before.

Bumbai (Bum-Bye) - 1. Later, after, at some other time. 2. A conditional clause with a nuance of "if you do something, then this will happen." However, the most common usage of this word is to express a later point in time (definition 1).

1. Jack: Eh, you get one test tomorrow ah? You better go study.
Frank: Nah no worries, I going study bumbai.

Jack: Hey, you have a test tomorrow right? You should go and study now.
Frank: Don't worry about it, I'm going to study later.

2. Jack: Ho it's raining! I going play in the rain.
Frank: Eh no do that...bumbai you going get sick.

Jack: Wow its raining! I'm going to go outside and play in the rain.
Frank. You shouldn't do that because you might get sick.

Got it? Great! See if your Pidgin knowledge is up to par by seeing if you can understand this next paragraph:

Howzit! Spring is da best time fo go to da beach. On our MLI field trip, our students going paddle canoes jus like Ancient times. And of course going get choke ono grinds too!

That's all for now! There is going to be more fun updates soon, so stay tuned!

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Spring has Arrived


Spring is here! The warm weather makes it perfect for hiking or relaxing on the beach.

In addition to improving their English skills through our language classes here at the Maui Language Institute, our students also have the opportunity to learn about the Hawaiian culture through our Hawaiian studies class. We also have a couple of new classes this session. One of these classes is our creative and performing arts class. Students are learning how to do things like writing and reading their own poetry. Writing poetry is a great tool for improving your English because you must use creative and colorful language to do so.

We also have a class that helps you prepare for the TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication). This class goes over important grammar points, helps you to identify common mistakes in grammar, and goes over practice tests.

We come to yet another installment of Pidgin 101! Let's keep today's lesson simple and sweet. The word I would like to talk about today is garans.

Garans - Guarantee, for sure, definitely
Ex.
1. Daniel: Ho, you when ace yo test?
George: Ho garans! Was so easy!

Daniel: Hey, did you ace your test?
George: Definitely! It was so easy!

That’s all for now folks! See you later!

Monday, March 2, 2009

Spring Semester Party!




It's hard to believe that another session has come to an end here at the Maui Language Institute. To end the semester with a bang, we had another one of our famous potluck parties. As usual, we were treated to an array of delicious food from all around the world. Some of our students also provided us with wonderful entertainment showcasing their amazing talents. Many of the students also got to try Twinkies for the first time. However, it was met with mixed reviews. But we all had a lot of fun and made lots of great memories.


We also had to say goodbye to a few students who completed our program. Whenever we have to say goodbye to someone special in our lives, I am reminded of a quote from the American author Richard Bach: "Don't be dismayed by goodbyes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends."

Guess what time it is? That's right, it's time for a brand-new Pidgin English lesson! If you have been keeping up with each lesson, then you already know some useful words that you can use in your daily conversations.


In this blog, I would like to talk about my favorite subject...food! In Hawaii, the backbone of our local cuisine is something called "plate lunch." A plate lunch is a set meal that usually includes a main entrée (beef, pork, fish, etc.), two scoops of white rice, and a scoop of macaroni salad. Nowadays, there are many different variations that can be found throughout restaurants in Hawaii. There are plate lunches with green salad instead of macaroni salad (for the health conscience), plate lunches with mashed potatoes, and even plate lunches with ethnic side dishes like kimchee (Korean fermented vegetables), sunomono (Japanese vinegared salads), and sushi.

A standard way to order food in English is to say something like "I would like a ______ please." Or "I'll take a/the ________ please." In Pidgin English, this phrase can be translated as "I like one _______." Let's take a look at a sample conversation using this phrase.

Employee at McDonalds: Hi, what can I get for you today?
Michael: Hi, I like one hamburger and one diet coke please.

Translation:
Employee at McDonald's: Hi, what can I get for you today?
Michael: Hi, I would like a hamburger and a diet coke please.

A little warning about using this phrase. The way you say this phrase and the tone you use is very important. If you are ordering something in a restaurant or are asking someone to give you something, this phrase should be said in a polite tone.

Here is one last word that many people already know, but it is definitely a good one to remember.

Mahalo or Mahalos - Thank you, Thanks!

Jack: Hey I just when bake some cookies, you like try some?
Nick: Oh yea, mahalos! Ho, some ono!

Translation:
Jack: Hey I just baked some cookies, you want to try some?
Nick: Hey thanks! Wow it's super delicious!

Well everyone, we have come to the end of another blog. But don't worry, we'll be back again soon with more updates. So until next time, take care and mahalo!