Maa Listening Resources and a Comprehension Strategy

WELCOME Maa beginner learners to this chapter on Maa Listening Resources and a Comprehension Strategy. In this chapter, I will outline various listening resources that have been helpful for me as I familiarize myself with Maa. At the beginning level, one of out primary listening objectives is to simply expose ourselves to the language. We want to begin to hear the sounds that speakers create with their mouths, the words they use to express things, the vocal pauses they use throughout their natural speech, and the lyrical flow of the language as it is spoken. As we advance in our language learning, we hope to start to hear distinctions between words as well. Eventually, in time, we will be able to reach full comprehension of auditory input with the right practice and the right strategies. Below, I will outline the specific strategy I have used as a beginner learner. For now, let’s explore some of the resources that I have found to be especially helpful.

LISTENING RESOURCES:

*NOTE: Some of these resources are listed in other chapters as well; however, because they are so helpful, they warrant multiple mentions. They are listed alphabetically.

1. I share my Husband with Two Other Wives: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78n8IZ2nI2A

• This site tells the marriage story of a Maasai woman. The story is documentary style and mostly uses Maa as used by the interviewee. There are some English explanations of things as outlined by the interviewer; however, most of the audio portion of this video is in Maa. A Maa language learner can learn MUCH from this video not only about Maa language but also about Maasai marriage. This video is an incredible resource for a language learner to be exposed to spoken Maa on a culturally intriguing topic.

 2. John Speaking Maasai: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etUt37dgA4o

• This site provides an example of a Maasai man speaking Maa. It will introduce students to the sounds of the language as well as the lyrical flow of the language.

 3. Lemarti Oyee Remix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quc1i2tW6os 

• This site provides an introductory example of Maasai singing and dancing. A beginner Maa learning could use this video to expose themselves to Maasai clothing, dancing, singing, ceremonial processes, and Maa language. A more advanced learning could use this video to practice their language skills and see which words they understand and which ones they need to practice.

 4. Maasai Dancers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLDwn9Jo6Kg

• This site provides an introductory example of Maasai singing and dancing. A beginner Maa learning could use this video to expose themselves to Maasai clothing, dancing, singing, ceremonial processes, and Maa language. A more advanced learning could use this video to practice their language skills and see which words they understand and which ones they need to practice.

  5. Maasai Greetings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6PXQQW9x-o

• This site is an introduction to Maasai greetings. The teacher in this video provides some cultural examples based on formality and gender. She describes some of these contexts in English while providing the Maa greeting terminology. This video is wonderful for Maa language beginners.

   6. Maasai Women Musical: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aO7h8vjuJf4

• This site provides an introductory example of Maasai singing and dancing. A beginner Maa learning could use this video to expose themselves to Maasai clothing, dancing, singing, ceremonial processes, and Maa language. A more advanced learning could use this video to practice their language skills and see which words they understand and which ones they need to practice.

 7. Maryanne Naipasoi Tutuma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6etmrgpi4WY

• This is a vide of a Maasai woman singing. It provides students context for sounds, words, and phrases used in singing. Listening to songs can help students begin to hear how Maa sounds and is used lyrically. There are also English subtitles which are very helpful.

 8. Maryanne Naipasoi Tutuma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sV5gN_p70E

• This is a vide of a Maasai woman singing. It provides students context for sounds, words, and phrases used in singing. Listening to songs can help students begin to hear how Maa sounds and is used lyrically. There are also English subtitles which are very helpful.

 9. Shilishil: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZCXCyCDcA4

• This site provides an introductory example of Maasai singing and dancing. A beginner Maa learning could use this video to expose themselves to Maasai clothing, dancing, singing, ceremonial processes, and Maa language. A more advanced learning could use this video to practice their language skills and see which words they understand and which ones they need to practice.

LISTENING/ COMPREHENSION STRATEGY: 

Listening and trying to understand a language as a beginner can be really hard and sometime frustrating. In all ways, give yourself grace, be patient, keep working, and I PROMISE you will see some amazing benefits in a rather short time! Here is the main strategy I use when listening to new Maa audios. I have broken it into passive and active listening.

PASSIVE: 

*This strategy is used when the goal is purely exposure.

1. Turn on any Maa video/ audio on the speakers in my house or on my airpods pro for more direct input.
2. Listen to the video / audio as I do other things around the house.

ACTIVE:

*This strategy is used when the goal is to focus on language learning and expand my terminology pool.

1. Take a piece and paper for note taking
2. Sit in a comfortable space and use airpods pro (or some other headphones) for the most direct input.
3. Click on the audio/video link
4. Familiarize myself with context
   1. Is this an audio conversation? About what? Between whom?
   2. Is this an audio song? About what? Sung by whom?
5. Listen to the audio once all the way through without writing anything down. This is simply to expose myself to the language used, the sounds, and the stimulus.
6. Listen to the audio a second time taking note of any sounds/ words/ phrases I hear
7. Listen to the audio a third time taking note of any sounds/ words/ phrases I hear
8. Listen to the audio a final time listening to the audio input while following along with the words and phrases and sounds I have written down.
9. At my next mentor session, I bring these notes to Musa and get his feedback on what specific words might be etc.

At this stage, I am grateful to be able to hear some words and simple phrases. One thing that is nice about this active listening strategy with respect to songs is that songs are often repetitive and about “easy-to-discover” themes. For example, many songs are written about love, broken hearts, and Christianity and Jesus etc. The repetition of the refrains allows a language learning student, like myself, to be exposed to key phrases several times in one listening session. When a student hears a song 4+ times in an active-audio listening session, they leave with these phrases and sounds more intact in their long-term memory.

HAPPY LISTENING!!!