lesson plan – Learning Basic Amharic Greetings & Pronunciation

 Learning Basic Amharic Greetings & Pronunciation

Language Skill Focus: Speaking & Listening

Lesson Goal

By the end of this lesson, learners will be able to:

• Use common Amharic greetings in everyday situations.
• Pronounce basic Amharic phrases correctly using the Ge’ez script as a guide.
• Recognize and reproduce key Amharic sounds that are not found in English.

Resources Used

1. AmharicTeacher.com – This site offers video and audio lessons with clear pronunciation. Learners can listen and repeat after native speakers to build fluency.
2. Omniglot – Amharic Language Page  A helpful resource for understanding the Ge’ez script, pronunciation guide, and how each letter corresponds to a sound.

Lesson Steps

Step 1: Get Familiar with Amharic Sounds (Listening Practice)

• Go to Omniglot’s Amharic page and scroll to the section showing the Ge’ez script chart.
• Listen carefully to how each letter is pronounced. Try to repeat the sounds aloud.
• Focus on the vowels like “ä,” “u,” and “i,” which sound different from English vowels.
• Tip: Record yourself on your phone and compare your pronunciation with the Omniglot samples.

Step 2: Practice Basic Greetings (Speaking Practice)

• Visit AmharicTeacher.com and find the lesson titled “Amharic Greetings”.
• Listen to each phrase twice before repeating.
• Practice the following key greetings aloud:

• Try to practice both listening and responding. For example:
  • A: Selam!
  • B: Dehna neh?
  • A: Dehna negn. Amesegenallo!

Step 3: Combine Both Resources

• Revisit Omniglot’s pronunciation guide while re-listening to AmharicTeacher.com’s audio.
• Compare how the written script connects to what you’re hearing.
• Focus on tone and rhythm, Amharic is very melodic, so listen closely for that flow.

Step 4: Mini Speaking Challenge

Record yourself greeting someone in Amharic and introducing yourself. Example:

“Selam! Ene Meron no. Dehna neh?” (Hello! I’m Meron. How are you?)

Listen back and note what sounds natural and what needs improvement.