
In this lesson we familiarize ourselves with the Igbo alphabets as the foundation of language learning. Learn Igbo alphabets and sounds so as to recognize the alphabets when used singly or when used together to form words. This is the first step to perfecting your reading, writing and speaking skills.
Have you heard that Igbo language is tonal? That's right. Learn about Vowel sounds and Tones: the major determinants of pronunciation in Igbo Language. Get familiar with the Igbo vowels, vowel elision, vowel harmony and tonal differences. After this lesson, you will be able to tell the difference between words with same spelling but different pronunciation and meaning.
Your first step to communicating in Igbo Language is learning commonly used words, the most important of which is greetings. In this section you will learn greetings, polite expressions and self introduction. These words are short and simple, so you can begin to use them immediately!
In this lecture you will learn nouns used in every day speech: Family members, Household objects, Food and drinks, Plants, Animals and Nature, Places, etc. It's a lot to learn so here's one tip: Ensure you memorize the very common words used everyday like 'Mother', 'Sister', Bag, Dog, 'Sun', etc. You can continue to learn the other less common words as you go on.
Learn different uses of Pronouns in Igbo Language. Observe the use of vowel harmony in the choice of Subject pronouns. Show possession using Possessive pronouns, and refer to specific nouns using Demonstrative pronouns.
Verbs are 'action words' of any language, and the key to sentence formation. Learn about Transitive verbs, the Infinitive form of verbs, the Present tense and the Past tense. Recognize verbs in any sentence, detach the verb roots and conjugate in tenses. Now you can begin to make simple sentences in Igbo in your desired tense using the verbs you have learnt!!!
This lecture allows you express yourself in more tenses. Talk about what you will do or what will happen using the future tense. Give an order or advice using the imperative tense and the negation of the imperative. Explain what has happened or what is yet to happen using the Present perfect tense.
Verb suffixes are words or letters that give a certain meaning to verbs when added to the verb root. They are different from tenses, and very commonly used in both Oral and Written Igbo. Learn about these suffixes to gain a deeper understanding of the Igbo language and also express yourself better.
Prepositions are used to show the position of people and things. Describe the location of nouns and give directions using verbs and prepositions.
Adjectives describe nouns. In this lesson, you will learn various ways to describe people (young, kind, dark. good, etc), places (far, expensive), and things (long, cold, sweet, slimy, etc). Go a step further and learn about the verbs that qualify adjectives, and how to conjugate them to express different meanings from the same adjective e.g. dark skinned, not so dark skinned, slightly dark skinned, etc.
At the end of this Lesson, you will be able to understand when/how these adjectives are being used in speech, and also use them to make better sentences yourself.
Learn about adverbs of time, manner and degree used in Igbo Language. At the end of this lesson, you will gain the ability to communicate better using Adverbs of Time like recently, soon, every time, last year, this week, etc. Show 'how' things happen using adverbs of manner like hurriedly, slowly, fearfully. Describe the degree of an adjective using adverbs like too, very, more, etc.
Now you are making complex sentences and expressing yourself in more detail!!
Congratulations!!! You made it!! You are at the end of this course, and by the end of this lesson you will read a full article in Igbo language!
Conjunctions join words, sentences and phrases. Learn about conjunctions in Igbo e.g. Notwithstanding, in addition to, except, until, etc. Observe their use in Igbo language and practice joining sentences using the different conjunctions. There will be a brief recap of the full Course from Lesson 1, and you will receive tips for reading in Igbo Language.
Go on, and see how far you have come!!!
What is the best approach to learning a language? Classroom learning, interaction with native speakers or both? Memorizing commonly used words and phrases or detailed study beginning from the alphabets?
The Complete Igbo Course provides ALL you need to master Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing the Igbo Language. Beginning with a foundation lecture on the Igbo alphabets, it guides you through Tones and Vowel sounds to lay a foundation for your pronunciation, Greetings and Salutations as a basis for communication, Nouns to increase your vocabulary, and other Parts of speech to guarantee your progress from simple to complex sentence formation.
This highly detailed but simple course is ideal for Beginners and Intermediate level Igbo language learners, simultaneously increasing proficiency in all 4 components of Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing Igbo. Advanced learners will certainly find it helpful as a refresher course. Practice exercises are included in each lesson, and the answers to these exercises are added as an extra resource to the course. Take your time, watch the lessons over and over, ensure you understand a lesson before moving on to the next, do the practice exercises, ask your questions, and keep learning. Jisie ike!!