Helping Your Child Learn Manding
A Language Transmission Write-Up for Parents and Families
This is a write-up for parents, families and/or caretakers (in particular, in mixed/bicultural couples and/or the West African diaspora living abroad) to help transmit Manding language varieties (Bambara, Jula, and Maninka) to their children.
General Advice
My friend and colleague who I did my PhD in Educational Linguistics said this and I think that it's solid advice:
Mostly as a parent but also a little as a linguist I would say try and ensure that your kids can maintain meaningful relationships with speakers of the "target language" and that you find special ways to use it in your everyday life
Relevant Articles
- Raising Bilingual Children: Common Parental Concerns and Current Research
- How to lovingly empower your children to speak your heritage language with you
Content, Media, Activities, etc.
Here is a list of content, media and other resources that can be useful for the following:
- Exposing your child to Manding language varieties
- Encouraging them to speak the language with you
- Helping them formally learn the language if they need help
Podcasts and Audio Resources
Podcasts and audio resources can be a great way to passively or actively expose your child to Manding language varieties.
Podcasts for kids
- None that I know of :-/
Podcasts for adults (but that kids can hear/listen to)
An ka taa blog post about "Radio and Podcasts for Learning Bambara"
Podcasts for learning Bambara/Jula
Audiobooks
- None that I know of :-/
Oral literature in audio format
Music and Songs
Nursery rhymes and children's songs
- Lullabies
Traditional music
- Nothing here yet
Modern music for older kids or adolescents
- Tiken Jah Fakoly
- Oumou Sangaré
Books and E-Books
Children's Books
- An ka taa Write-Up
- Interested in an An ka taa project to produce a children's book? Fill out this survey to help guide it!
Bilingual books for young readers
E-books and digital stories
- Bamanan.org's unpublished tales — Available online in Bambara with French translation
Games
Manding language board games, card games, etc
Educational Videos and Shows
YouTube channels with Manding language content
Animated videos/shows in Manding
Manding language learning videos
- An ka taa's Basic Bambara
- An ka taa's Maninka Lessons
- An ka taa's Kuma Bakolo
- An ka taa's Na baro kè
Apps and Digital Learning Tools
Apps and other digital learning tools that might be helpful for you and your family!
Online courses and apps for learning Manding
Apps
Cultural Resources
Media (books, videos, podcasts, etc) in English or French, but that is relevant for learning about Manding-speaking culture and society.
Books
- "Ségou" by Maryse Condé
Movies and Videos
- Nothing here yet
Podcasts and Audio
- Nothing here yet
Worksheets and Printables
Things that you and your child can print and do at home for a learning activity!
Worksheets
- My Bambara Worksheets — An An ka taa project that is in development. Email me if you are interested in seeing a draft version and providing feedback.
Coloring books, activities, games, etc
Nothing here yet
Events and Meetups
Events or meetups that can help immerse your child in Manding language and/or culture
Virtual and in-person meetups for kids/families
Nothing here yet
Workshops and language camps
Nothing here yet
Cultural festivals and events
Nothing here yet
Immersion Classes and Schools
Some individuals, associations and language education businesses that offer or have offered classes for kids before.
- Mandenkan — Offered in-person in Abidjan
- L'Univers des Langues Africaines — Offered online
Support and Community Groups
Nothing here yet
Other Websites Focused on Raising Bilingual Children
Feedback
Got feedback? Am I missing something? Did you find a typo? I'd love to hear from you!