Virtual One-on-One Chamorro Language Lessons Now Available

Our Saturday practice group finished reading and translating I Derechon i Taotao this morning, which means there is no new story for this week. I have also noticed a huge spike in views and audio downloads on the blog – Un dångkulo na si Yu’os ma’åse todus hamyo! A big thank you to all of you! It is truly a beautiful thing to see so much activity on this blog, which shows how much people are wanting to learn and use our language.

There are also some people who have reached out to me directly, wanting to know how they can learn Chamorro. If you are interested in group practice and study, you are more than welcome to join our Saturday (PST) practice groups on Zoom. Just fill out the Contact Form to express interest.

But if you are looking for something more personalized, there is a new and unique learning resource now available: Individual Chamorro language instruction for adult language learners, offered by our friend Jesus Lujan. He is based on Guam but offers instruction virtually, which is an incredible opportunity for anyone off-island to receive personalized Chamorro language help from a trustworthy teacher. Whether you are needing more conversation practice or are starting from level zero, his sessions can be a great support in reaching your Chamorro language goals. And if you would like to learn with a group, he also offers group discounts. Contact him today to secure your spot!

65 Words for Accessories & Clothing in Chamorro (with Audio Pronunciations)

In this post, we will learn 65 Chamorro different words for clothes and accessories, including basic terms for everyday items and materials commonly used for clothing. Each word includes an English translation and audio pronunciations by Jay Che’le. Happy studying!

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Kåntan Chamoru: Gayera

Although it is now officially an illegal activity, cockfighting was a fixture of Chamorro culture up until it was banned in the U.S. territories just a few years ago. I’ve never been to a cockfight, but it was part of Jay’s childhood growing up on Guam in the nineties. In this song we get to hear about cockfighting in Chamorro culture, including some name drops of favored rooster breeds for the fighting pit. In this post we have Chamorro lyrics and an English translation for the song Gayera by Daniel De Leon Guerrero. Happy listening!

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The Right of a People

It is Guam’s Mes Chamoru (Chamorro month) once again! To kick off our celebration this month, our Saturday morning practice group will be reading the essay I Derechon I Taotao, written by Rosa Salas Palomo and originally published in 1987 as the opening essay to the book Chamorro Self-Determination. At that time, the Guam Commonwealth Act was up for the vote. In this essay, Señora Palomo repeatedly emphasizes the importance of the Chamorro language for our culture, our children, our people, and our future political status.

This post includes the Chamorro text, an English translation, and a Chamorro audio narration by Jay Che’le. Happy reading!

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Cooking in Chamorro, Part 1 – 20 Words for Preparing Ingredients (Washing, Chopping & More)

Food and cooking is a huge part of our culture, and it’s also something that we often bring with us even when we are away from the Mariana Islands. In part 1 of this blog series, we will be learning 20 key words for food preparation. This includes washing and chopping food, and other common preparation steps such as peeling, grating or removing seeds. We will also use these words in simple phrases, many of which were found in the Revised and Updated Chamorro-English Dictionary from the CNMI. This post includes terms, definitions, example phrases, and audio pronunciations voiced by Jay Che’le. Happy studying!

Continue reading “Cooking in Chamorro, Part 1 – 20 Words for Preparing Ingredients (Washing, Chopping & More)”