Kalmyk Children Classes

[Natalie]

Alta Buruschkin and his wife, Udbala, would like to open their house in South Jersey for children's classes on Kalmyk history, culture, customs and basic Buddhist classes.

They would like to hold these classes every other Saturday beginning October 3rd at 11am. The target group is 8-18 years old but can be flexible. (I may attend myself! )

The format is very informal - more of an oral format like our ancestors used to do. Some of the topics are Yasin, Music, Cooking, Customs (our holidays are coming up), History and basic Buddhist foundations as well as basic Kalmyk language.

If anyone is interested, please post a reply here. I will also send out an email blast where you can send replies there as well.

Thanks!

[Buzava]

Why don't you put some basic Kalmyk language instructions on Youtube for Kalmyks worldwide? For example, you can start with the alphabet; then breakdown the consonants and the different types of vowels; also add number counting and greetings. That would be a pretty decent start.

It's do-able. There are plenty of German-born Kalmyks around who should still be able to do this. Check out what the Mongols have accomplished:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOvL1...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsyMg334xQ4&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg9Mw...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOvL1...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDxiA...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Acv6...eature=related

[Alta]

Thank you so much for the idea.

It is pretty good and sharing ideas with what the Mongols are doing. I am in touch with someone who may help us with this from the Univ of Hawaii who is Kalmyk and this is her specialty.

The elders here are helping with Gordon Bok and his preserving our rich Kalmyk music and doing translations into Kalmyk and English along with others in the DC area. Yes some are from Germany, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Austria, and so forth (You can tell from the songs preserved by Gordon Bok, songs which helped overcome some extreme hardships over the years, especially, along with our strong faith.

What a wonderful idea and hopefully it will come to fruition.

Thank you for your kindness and showing another method.

Om Mani Pad Ma Hum

[Buzava]

I just got a book titled "An Elementary Mongolian Grammar," which explains simply the rules of grammar. The book was written by two Mongol language instructors and an english-speaking person who is their former pupil. The Mongols have taught Mongolian to non-native speakers, especially english language speakers, in Ulaan Baatar for years.

I'm sure there are many Kalmyks who speak Kalmyk instinctively but may not know the underlying grammar rules. Since there are no substantive phonological and morphological differences between Mongolian and Kalmyk, I think this book could be adapted for Kalmyks and would be of substantial benefit to anyone interested in learning how to speak and write Kalmyk beyond simple phrases, like greetings.