Byki online lessons - click to see a labeled diagram.
Together with Andeisha, the director of the AFCECO orphanages in Kabul, we have created some Dari lessons for child sponsors. You can use these simple words and phrases to spice up your emails and your Skype conversations with your sponsored children.
We’ve used the Byki Language software to create the lists. One of the best features of the Byki software is that it lets you create custom lists and share them via the Byki web site.
There’s no charge for this – it’s entirely free. If you like, you can download and install the free Byki Express software. You’ll then be able to download these lists and use them directly on your computer, even without an Internet connection. Otherwise, you can simply click the link below for each lesson and learn online, without the need to download any software.
Lesson content
Most of the lessons include:
- words and phrases in English
- the spoken Dari equivalent
- the Dari script
- the English transliteration
When you write to your child, you can use the English transliteration – there’s no need to use the Dari script unless you’re particularly adventurous.
For some of the lessons, we don’t yet have the English transliterations. We’re going to rope in some native Dari speakers to help us fill that gap. Even without the transliterations, you’ll be able to learn plenty from these lessons.
The lessons
i. Dari for AFCECO Sponsors Lesson I
This lesson contains 12 simple words and phrases. The male voice you’ll hear is the fellow who does the Byki lessons; the woman’s voice is Andeisha, from the AFCECO orphanages. In this lesson you’ll learn how to say and write:
- Hello
- dear
- Thank you
- How are you?
- I am fine, and you?
- I’m fine, thank you.
- I love your drawing.
- I love your photo.
- I really liked your letter.
- I will write again soon.
- hugs
- with love
ii. A dozen simple words for the linguistically challenged
If you find our the first lesson a little intimidating, give this list a try. It consists mostly of single words, with a couple of simple phrases thrown into the mix. This lesson includes: yes, no, hello, please, thank you, good, beautiful, important, well done, what are you doing?, and – most importantly – help!
As you’ll see, there’s a little repetition between the lessons. Hopefully, you’ll find that helpful.
[More lessons to come...]
Feedback please!
Please let us know what you think of these lessons. Would you like us to do more? Did you find a mistake or do you know an alternative way to say something? Are there words or phrases you’d like to see added to the lists? Are you a Dari speaker who’d like to give a hand with these lessons?
Let us know by using the Contact Us page or, preferably, by joining in the Learning Dari topic in our discussion forums.