Author: Schyuler Lujan

Learning to speak, read and write Chamorro while creating digital materials to support our worldwide learning community.

Kåntan Chamoru: Unu Ha’ na Låta

On By Schyuler LujanIn Chamorro SongsLeave a comment

This lighthearted song tells the story of a work break gone wrong. The singer tells of a hot day, when he and his co-workers sit under the coconut tree to barbecue and crack open a few beers—but by the end, all the beer is gone, and so is his job! Our Saturday evening practice group transcribed this one back in early July. Now, with only one song left in our current “season,” Jay is already refreshing the list for the next round.

As always, this post includes the Chamorro lyrics and an English translation for Unu Ha’ na Låta by Daniel De Leon Guerrero. Happy listening!

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A Story About the Wisdom of the Elders

On By Schyuler LujanIn Chamorro StoriesLeave a comment

After several weeks of reading through an interview from the Directory of Traditional Healers & Medicinal Plants in the CNMI, our practice group will be reading a story this week from a section of Istreyas Mariånas: Chamorro (accessible via the Inetnun Kutturan Natibun Marianas). The story underscores the importance of helping those who have helped you, even if it isn’t in your own best interest. The author’s narrative style is vivid and conveys clearly his childhood memory of overhearing a conversation between adults and his later reflections in adulthood when he realizes its lessons later in life. In this post we have the Chamorro text, an English translation, and a Chamorro audio narration by Jay Che’le. Happy reading!

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Say It In Chamorro: 40 Phrases Parents Can Use With Their Kids

On By Schyuler LujanIn Phrase ListsLeave a comment

When our måli’ Monique enrolled her son in Hurao Academy on Guam, she asked us for some simple Chamorro phrases she could start using at home. She wanted everyday expressions she could say to her son—basic commands and reminders like “put on your shoes” or “it’s time to sleep”—so that Chamorro would become part of their daily routine.

That request inspired this post. We’ve gathered around 40 easy, practical Chamorro phrases that any parent can start using with their children right away. Whether your child is in a Chamorro immersion program, learning from family, or just starting to hear the language at home, these phrases are meant to make Chamorro feel natural in everyday life.

As always, this post includes Chamorro audio narrations by Jay Che’le and English translations for every phrase. Happy studying!

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Kåntan Chamoru: Nånan-måmi

On By Schyuler LujanIn Chamorro SongsLeave a comment

In early August, Jay and I traveled to O’ahu to celebrate my Aunty Lupe’s 90th birthday with family. My prima Torrey—Aunty Lupe’s granddaughter—wanted to honor her with a Chamorro song for this incredible milestone. She chose “Nånan-måmi,” a beloved tribute to Chamorro mothers and matriarchs. The day before the party we practiced together, and the next day we performed it as a sing-along.

Afterward, Aunty Lupe told us how special it was—no one had ever done anything like that for her before. Even my Aunty Faye, who used to teach Chamorro at UH Mānoa, hugged me and said how wonderful it was that we sang this song (she said it was even better than Happy Birthday!).

If you’re looking for a meaningful song to celebrate a mother or matriarch in your life, this is a wonderful choice. It’s well-known, beginner-friendly, and with a little pronunciation practice, even beginners can sing it beautifully. (My prima isn’t yet conversational in Chamorro, but she did an amazing job with the phrases and sounds!)

As always, you’ll find the Chamorro lyrics, language notes and an English translation for the song “Nånan-måmi”. Happy listening!

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Tired of Feeling Stuck? 5 Tips to Escape the Chamorro Language Learning Rut

On By Schyuler LujanIn Study TipsLeave a comment

Ever feel like you’ve hit a wall in your Chamorro learning journey? Maybe you’ve been in and out of classes for years, but still find yourself saying little more than Maolek ha’ in conversation. Or perhaps you’re struggling to follow native speakers, and the syntax or vocabulary just isn’t sticking. It’s frustrating, especially when months or even years of studying haven’t gotten you to the level you aspire to. But don’t worry – every Chamorro language learner has moments of feeling stuck, and there are ways to break through it and re-invigorate our learning process. In this post, I am going to give 5 tips for getting out of a language learning rut.

Continue reading “Tired of Feeling Stuck? 5 Tips to Escape the Chamorro Language Learning Rut” →