Esperanto, la dua internacia lingvo

For other Esperanto-related pages, see Esperanto (disambiguation)

This is an EPEC course, from January, 2009 focusing on learning the international second language invented in 1887 by Dr. L. L. Zamenhof, Esperanto.

= EPEC Course Description =

We will read the educational novel in Esperanto, “Gerda Malaperis,” through the term and will converse and write frequently in Esperanto. In order to practice often, we will meet 4 or 5 days per week, probably for an hour each day. Additional self-teaching (most likely through the site “lernu!” at en.lernu.net) will be highly encouraged.

= Syllabus =

January 5
Introduced the class and a basic grammar of Esperanto (basic noun/verb/adjective/adverb endings, participles, correlatives, pronunciation of the most tricksy consonants like c ĉ ĝ ĥ ĵ ŝ ŭ). We read the first two chapters of Gerda Malaperis. There was some discussion of how to indicate grammatical aspect; the answer is that there is no indication of aspect in Esperanto.

January 6
Read two additional chapters of Gerda Malaperis, bringing us through the end of chapter 4. There was discussion of some grammar that the writer of this sentence does not remember clearly at this time.

January 7
Read three chapters of Gerda Malaperis, through the end of chapter 7. Clarified meaning of Jen, about which there had been some misunderstanding; it is a word added to a phrase to draw attention, somewhat like much of the usage of the German gern, as well as Entschuldigung and Verzeihung despite their other meanings. In Esperanto this word to draw attention exists without having different meaning; some attempts at translation have included "Hark!" "Behold!" and "OMG!" Clearly, none is entirely complete.

January 8
Read a chapter and most of a second; we have the block of text at the bottom of 9 to read, but have otherwise finished that chapter.

January 9
Ian wasn't here, but hears that the other members met to start translating Wikipedia, as described below.

January 12
More reading; finished 9 and 10.

January 13
We read one chapter, chapter 11. Additionally, however, we did most of the speaking during the class in Esperanto; we discussed and then ordered pizza to eat during the meeting (while reading). Hopefully we will be able to finish Gerda Malaperis this term, however, this will require two chapters per day, strictly, through the end of January. This may not happen; we can continue this into Spring through the structure of Esperanto club.

= Homework and Classwork =

We started working on a translation of a Wikipedia article about Ahmed Aboutaleb. It is available at eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_Aboutaleb

Our classwork, thus far, involves reading Gerda Malaperis, an educational novel in Esperanto.

= Members =


 * Ian McEwen (erstwhile instructor)
 * Adam Krellenstein
 * Claire Oberholtzer
 * Tal Schechter

= EPEC listing =