WELCOME TO BASQUE IN LANGUAGES

Kaixo! Hey, Basque language learner! Are you ready to take on the challenge and dive into the beautiful world of the Basque language? As someone who has personally experienced the frustration back in the 90s of not having resources or tools to learn Basque, I understand the importance of mastering the Basque language through 3 key building blocks: vocabulary, grammar and community.In this article, I want to share with you my journey of learning Basque from scratch and how mastering these three ...

7 Essential Tips for Embracing Korrika, an 11-Day Non-Stop and Non-Competitive Relay Korrika, a biennial noncompetitive relay, is celebrated with passion not only in the Basque Country but in the Basque Diaspora around the world. Korrika is not a race but a movement that unites thousands in support of the Basque language, Euskara. As a Korrika participant in Boise, Idaho and in the Basque Country and an advocate for Euskara, I'm thrilled to share insights to help you immerse yourself fully in ...

Korrika, an 11-day noncompetitive and nonstop relay preserving the Basque language. Kaixo lagun. Hey friend.  I'm here to share with you the inspiring tale of Korrika, a remarkable event that's more than just a long relay. It's a movement making waves in the Basque Country and beyond.Let's take a brief look at the origins, the significance and the impact of this incredible race on Basque learners around the world. You see, back in the 1970s, the Basque language, Euskara, was in serious ...

Basque! Ancient and mysterious but not a forgotten language. Basque, a language that continues to live on in the 21st century. But why Basque? There are many whys behind the desire to learn a heritage language.  And there is not one correct reason.  The reason, if it drives you to connect with a language and culture is yours and yours alone. What draws you in to learn a specific language?   ************ So, why Basque? Zergatik Euskara? Or Why not? Zergatik ez? Your why for ...

It was the summer of 2004. I was 30 years old. Not an ache in my body. Traveling through the Basque Country house to house festival to festival visiting family. Life was great then as it is today but something was missing then. Even though I was born outside of the Basque Country, the Basque Country felt like home. But again I was missing out on a large part of my cultural identity.  Since I was a child, I knew I wanted to learn Basque. That was the key. And in the summer of 2004, ...

40 years later and I can still sing…”In 1814 we took a little trip. Along with Colonel Jackson down the mighty Mississip.”  It’s a song about the Battle of New Orleans. I was young. I don’t remember how old.  But some of the words are there, the British, the Gulf of Mexico and running through bushes where a rabbit couldn’t go.   1814! Why did I know this date? Not because I remember the time. Nor do I remember all the dates we memorized in ...

I am a big believer that learning languages has the power to change your life. I’ve been learning and teaching languages for 48 years, and since that time I have helped immigrant students feel welcome, traveled to Spanish-speaking countries & met the locals, and helped Basque Pelota players on Team USA feel connected to the team. Learning my own heritage language has also helped me find my community of people, make new friends, and improve myself in ways I otherwise never would have. ...

Math as you learned it may be different than the math they teach in schools today. And it may be different than the way it’s taught in other countries around the world. Once I learned English in elementary school, I excelled in all subjects. Yet, when I had math homework, I ended up getting confused. Teachers taught us to set up and calculate math problems. But when I asked my Basque parents for help, I got confused. As I progressed through school, I reached a level of math that was too ...

In order to learn Basque from the comfort of your own home, you need to bring the Basque to you. When I first started dabbling in Basque on my own, it was around 1997. The Internet had been around for a few years. Later in 2011, I had summers off as a teacher and decided to start immersing myself by traveling to study in a Basque intensive school, barnetegui. Now, I help beginner adults to learn Basque and my key suggestion is to include audio of the Basque language daily. And what was not ...

“Learning Batua Basque is useless!” I’m here to tell you that as an American Basque and a Basque Learner this statement is completely false! I understand you completely if you say this, especially if you have family who emigrated during the Franco Era. This myth that Batua, Standardized Basque, is useless exists because family members were more than likely not educated in Basque at school and were not exposed to Batua before leaving the Basque Country.  To continue saying ...