Street Smart Nepali
Introduction
Welcome to Street Smart Nepali Course
This course is designed to teach you how to think in Nepali.
This book contains 10 realistic Nepali conversations. By the end of the book, you will learn how to speak, read, breathe and swim in Nepali.
I am very excited. I hope you are too.
Why did I create this course?
Growing up in Bhutan, I didn’t have education in Nepali (language was banned in 1980s due to shitty government policies - mostly due to foreign influence). I only learned to speak in Nepali, since my family is of Nepali origin.
So I never learned to read Devanagari.
😟
SAD
BUT, I never gave up:
Age age 32 I decided to write this course. I realized how important it is to learn a language
WHY learn a new language
- New superpower: you will able to read, write and speak in a foreign language
- It will make you smarter (see: this book)
- It will make you creative (see: this book)
- it will literally change your brain (see: this article)
- You will connect more deeply with people, understand them thorough your own eyes, rather than via someone else’s lens
So this course was born. This is the course I wished I had when I was young.
Note: This course wont teach you everything about Nepali, but you will have tools and confidence to master the entire language
What will you learn in this course:
Chapter 1: Nepali Student - नेपाली विद्यार्थी (Nepali Vidhyārthī)
Context:
Learning Objectives
- Namaste: Learn how to say ‘hello’ in Nepali
- Learn the basics of Devanagari
- Halant: Learn our first Dependent vowels (half-letters) how it can be used to remove vowels from characters
- SVO: Learn the basics of sentence structure in Nepali
- Learn to ask “Can you + able” type questions using huncha
- Learn how to respond to “Can you + verb” type questions using ho
- We will learn to ask “how” questions in Nepali using कसरी (karasi)
- Learn how to respond to “how” questions using किनकी (kinakī)
- We learn how to use some really common conjugation verbs, including: hunu (हुनु), cha (छ) and huncha (हुन्छ), and you'll start to get a feel for how basic Nepali grammar works.
- We will learn how Nepali words are constructed (consonants + verbs)
Chapter 2 Chapter 2: Namaste!
Context
Kash and Shiva, two young men from Toronto, have just arrived in Kathmandu to travel. Atal Khanal, a tourist himself, has been sent to meet them - since they booking their stay in his Airbnb.
Learning Objectives:
- Learn how to start a conversation
- Learn how to identify others
- Ask and answer simple question
- How adjectives are added to nouns
Chapter 3: At Everest Momo I: I’m hungry - Bhok Lagyo (**भोक लाग्यो)
Shiva, Kash and Atal are in their hostel rooms . Shiva and Kash are tired and hungry from their long trip. They are discussing where they will go to eat.
Learning Objectives
- Talking about feeling hungry (feeling, emotions)
- Discuss which restaurant is good (opinions)
- Talk about the address (know / where)
- Talk about distance (near / far)
- Talk about size (big / small)
Chapter 4: At Everest Momo II
Shiva, Kash and Atal go to momo restaurant. Shiva and Kash are tired and hungry from their long trip. Its a busy day at Everest Restaurant. Its all packed. So they wait in line. As they waiting for their table, Atal starts talking to a person named Vishnu Khadka.
Learning Objectives
- Asking basic questions: where are you from
- Common introductory conversation such topics as nationality and things you like such as eating or drinking.
- Basic response strategies (hajur)
- Talking about likes / dislikes
- Learn how to use some really common conjugation verbs, including हो (ho), cha (छ), and
- You'll start to get a feel for how basic Nepali grammar works. - We will learn how to ask “what” questions in nepali using के (Kē)
Chapter 5: At Everest Momo III
Its almost 6:30 and Atal, Shiva and Kash finally manage to get their table. They are approached by a waitor.
Learning Objectives
- You will learn how to order food in a nepali restaurant
- Learn how to ask for menu
- Learn to ask for specific food. ex: momo
- Learn to ask for food + drink: ex: coke with water
- Learn to say “No, thank you”
Chapter 6: Lets go to Bhaktapur I
Atal and Kash wants to go to Bhaktapur Walk In tour. Shiva is not excited. In this conversation Kash and Atal try to convince him
Learning Objectives:
- Learn how to say: “I don’t want to” or “I don’t like” etc
- Learn how to say “why” in Nepali
- Learn how to respond with “because:” in Nepali
- Talk about rainy weather
Chapter 7: Lost in Kathmandu
Atal, Kash and Shiva start their Bhaktapur tour. After walking for an hour, they realize that they are lost… this the conversation that followed
Learning Objectives:
- Learn how deal in a situation where you are lost
- Learn about Nepali “should have”
- Learn how to use “but” in Nepali - Learn how to ask “Do you have +” type questions in Nepali
Chapter 8: Milai ra dinuhos na bhā'i + मिलाई र दिनुहोस् न भाई
Its been 2 week since Kash and Shiva landed in Kathmandu. They are now ready to travel east to Pokhara.
After googling and reading travel blogs, they find out that there are two ways to get to Pokhara: by air and bus By air, it takes 20 minutes but costs around 3000 Nepali Rupees and buy bus 8 hours but it costs 1200. Short on money they decide to take the bus. Upon reaching the Pokhara bus station. They find a taxi driver.
This conversation is between Shiva and Tashi (the taxi driver) who is trying to negotiate a better deal
Learning Objectives:
- Learn how to talk with taxi drivers
- Ask how much does it take to get from here to there type questions
- Learn the principle of Nepali bargaining (Milai ra dinuhos na bhā'i)
- Learn to express the cost of something: cheap / expensive
- Learn the basics of Nepali number system
- Learn the basics of Nepali currency
Chapter 9: Village Life is the best
In Sibsoo Bhutan, Umesh is doing his homework. He has to write an essay about the differences between life in a city and life in a village. His older sister and her parents are helping her out.
Learning Objectives:
- make comparisons
- express likes and dislikes