When was the last time your read an entire story in Haitian Creole?
That is the theme of this newsletter. What is beautiful about Haitian Creole is that there are very few differences between written and spoken Creole.
Therefore as you read the stories out loud, answer the questions, and listen to a little poetry, you will improve your pronunciation and comprehension.
Students who read regularly learn what is correct and what is incorrect in Haitian Creole. Enjoy!
Test your reading comprehension (advanced learners)
What’s the lesson behind the story?
Original Source: Author: Free, Bryant C., founder and director of the University of Kansas Institute of Haitian Studies
Test your reading comprehension (beginners)
Nou nan yon ti bouk pa twò lwen Pòtoprens. Bouk sa a rele Fonwouj. Li gen yon pwoblèm ki gwo anpil anpil: pa gen dlo. Pa gen dlo menm menm. Plant ap mouri, bèt ap mouri. Yon jou se moun ki ka mouri tou. Depi lontan lontan lapli pa tonbe. Tout bagay sèk, tout bagay tris.
Petèt se paske yo te koupe tout pyebwa yo, men sa w vle? Yo te bezwen bwa a pou fè chabon, pou fè kay, lantiray, mèb. Epi yo te bezwen tè a tou pou plante mayi, pou plante pwa, pou yo jwenn manje. Si yo pa travay tè a, yo pap manje.
Devan yon ti kay pay gen de vye granmoun ki chita: yon nèg ki rele Byenneme, ak Delira, madanm li.
Byenneme: “Zafè nou pa bon. Tout bagay ap mouri. Bondye bliye nou nèt.”
Delira: “Pa pale konsa. Se pa byen, non. Deja nou pa gen lespwa. Pitit gason nou an kite nou depi lontan, pou ale koupe kann nan peyi Kiba. Li pap tounen. Non, se vre, pa gen lespwa.”
Review Questions
- Ki kote ti bouk la ye?
- Ki jan bouk sa a rele?
- Ki gwo pwoblèm li genyen?
- Ki sa k ap mouri?
- Depi ki lè lapli pa te tonbe?
- Ki sa moun yo te koupe?
- Poukisa yo te bezwen bwa a?
- Ki bagay yo te plante sou tè a?
- Si yo pa travay tè a, sa k ap rive?
- Ki kote de vye granmoun sa yo chita?
- Ki sa Byenneme di?
- Epi ki sa Delira reponn li?
- Kote pitit gason yo a te ale?
- Ki sa li te fè la?
- Yo kwè l ap tounen?
- Èske yo kwè gen lespwa pou yo?
Unscramble
Haitian Creole grammar rules are simple yet important. See if your sentence structure is correct by unscrambling these sentences below and making complete sentences.
As a bonus, try writing a little story using all these sentences.
rèd yo bagay
toutan w mwen avè
manke tan li
pran ka li moun
bezwen ou pè pa
lyon yo m lage toutbon wè yon pral
leve tout depi tanbou moun frape danse
A Brief History about Haitian Creole
Watch the interviews about the brief history of the Haitian Creole, the difference of the language by regions in Haiti and our journey as 2nd generation Haitians who are now teaching others.
We also talk about the best practices to learn Haitian Creole / Haitian language for 1st and 2nd generation Haitians.
In addition, we talked about the debate centered around the correct name to call the language.
Poetry Night Recap
We were overwhelmed with gratitude for the support for our Haitian Poetry Night. We had such a good time. Enjoy the highlights.
“One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two open every door along the way.”
– Frank Smith
Send Us Your Answers
Feel free to send us your answers to the questions. We actually take time to read them lol.
