How to use Learn Sindhi website

How to learn reading and writing Sindhi online at www.learnsindhi.com

The guide is divided into three parts:

1. General overview of navigation and resources layout.

2. Brief description of what each of the nine sections contain

3. A suggested study planner

1. General overview of navigation and resources layout.

When you first visit www.learnsindhi.com the home page will look like figure 1, as shown below.

Figure 1: learnsindhi.com homepage

You can see there are nine sections. In the centre of the screen the section you are currently in is shown.

2. Brief description of what each of the nine sections contain

Try to click on Basics or Expand icon on the left hand side of the screen. If clicked Basics you would see following Figure 2:

Figure 2

You can see in Figure 2 that there are four different contents. The first one is Sindhi alphabet (consonants), second is Sindhi vowels, third is Ordinal numbers, and fourth is Cardinal numbers.

Basics: Part 1: Consonants

You should click on Consonants in the left side panel which will open following Figure 3:

Figure 3: Consonants.

Click on each of the alphabet starting with alif.

When you clicked on alif you will see following Figure 4:

Figure 4

Basics: Part 2: Vowels

When you click on vowels in the left side panel under Basics you will see Figure 5 as shown below:

Figure 5: Vowels

Again there are ten vowels plus one nasalized vowel. Look at signs of vowels. These are used for each consonant to pronounce the sound properly. For example in following Figure 6 see how ‘u’ sound is produced:

Figure 6: Using vowel sign

For each vowels you will see a different screen when you click on a vowel. For example see Figure 7 for ‘u’ vowel:

Figure 7: Vowel screen explained.

Basics: Part 3: Ordinal numbers

When you click on Ordinal numbers in the left side panel under Basics, you will see following figure 8:

Figure 8: Ordinal numbers

By pressing 1,2 .. 10 you will be able to hear the number and read at bottom of screen how it is written in Arbi sindhi. You can also click Autoplay which will run the whole series of ten Ordinal numbers.

Basics: Part 4: Cardinal numbers

There is separate screen for cardinal numbers when you click on Cardinal numbers you will see following Figure 9

Figure 9: Cardinal numbers

Words and Sentences

This section provides information about the various shapes of consonants in different positions in the word. The shaper have been classified for the easy understanding. the vowel signs are added to the consonants to make the words. the words have been put into simple sentences. this section teaches the user to combine the letters into words, and words into sentences.

If clicked Shapes of Consonents you would see following Figure 10.

Figure 10. Shapes of Consonents

If clicked Words and Sentences you would see following Figure 11.

Figure 11. Combining Vowel Signs

If clicked Words and Sentences you would see following Figure 12.

Figure 12. Simple Words & Sentences

Vocabulary

The Vocabulary module helps the user to learn appropriate words to communicate in different situations. Keeping this in mind, this module has been split into three sections:

1. Classified Vocabulary

2. Functional Vocabulary

3. Grammatical Vocabulary

Classified Vocabulary

This section consists of words used for the purpose of describing items under various categories such as Nature, Fruits and Vegetables, Vehicles, Occupations, etc.

Figure 13. Classified Vocabluary

Functional Vocabulary

This section consists of those Sindhi words that have been used in various sections of this CD as illustrative words. They have been put in an alphabetic order to facilitate the search.

Figure 14: Functional Vocabluary

Grammatical Vocabulary

This section contains frequently used forms of pronouns, very useful list of adjectives, commonly used verbs, adverbs, prepositions, interjections and conjunctions.

Figure 15: Gramatical Vocabluary

More than 1000 Sindhi words are included in the Vocabulary module and they are adequate enough for day to day ordinary useage.

Conversation

This module is divided into 3 sections:

1. Commonly used Sentences

2. Situational Expressions

3. Dialogues

Commonly used sentences

In this section, generally used statements are translated from English into Sindhi.

Figure 16: Commonly used sentences

Situational Expressions

This section consists of situational sentences through which the user learns, as to how to talk to different people like a doctor, a postman, a banker, etc. i.e., with people whom we come in contact frequently.

Dialogues

This section contains dialogues as they occur amongst various relationships i.e., between a grand-father and grand-daughter, a teacher and student, two friends, etc.

Figure 18: Dialogues

In the above sub-sections, the English statement appears in Sindhi in order to aid the user to view the formation of the sentence in Sindhi.

By mastering this module the user can communicate with the reasonable accuracy of the pronunciation and intention with the native Sindhi speakers.

Grammar

This section gives a brief sketch of Sindhi grammar, for those who are interested in the formal rules of the language. it provides examples and exercises, which help to strengthen the understanding of the linguistic structure of Sindhi language.

Figure 19: Grammer

Word Power

This module is designed to strengthen the knowledge of the spoken form of the language. Refer to figure 20 & 21.

It consists of:

1. Idioms

2. Proverbs

3. Antonyms

4. Synonyms

Figure 20: Word Power- Idioms

Figure 21: Word Power- Synonyms

Literature Module

This module is divided into 2 sections

1. Prose

2. Poetry

Figure 20: Literature

The prose section consists of selected prose from Sindhi literature.

The poetry section has simple nursery rhymes besides the classical poetry of Shah, Sachal and Sami. Some poems from renowned poets and Sathiya Academy award winners are also included.

Life and Culture

Amongst other things, this section contains information, about the Indus civilization, the Sindhi way of living life, festivals and many interesting facts about Sindh and Sindhis.

Figure 21: Life & Culture

3 A suggested study planner

No	Topic	Minutes	Minutes	Total time	Level	Status
		Learning	Practice/Exercise
1	Basics				Foundation level: Understanding Sindhi Arbi alphabet, vowels and constructing words and short sentences.
	Consonants	90	90	180
	Vowels	30	30	60
	Ordinal Numbers	10	10	20
	Cardinal Numbers	20	20	40
2	Words and Sentences
	Shapes of consonants	60	60	120
	Combining vowels signs	15	45	60
	Simple words & Sentences	30	60	90
				9.5 hours
3	Vocabulary	210[DK1]	210	7 hours	Intermediate: Stage 1
	Classified
	Animals
	Bazaar
	Birds
	Colours
	Creatures
	Days of the Week
	Dress
	Education
	Fruits
	Games & Entertainment
	Health
	House & Entertainment
	Light & Electricity
	Musical Instruments
	Nature
	Occupation
	Ornaments & Cosmetics
	Parts of Body
	Relatives
	Religion
	Shapes
	Time & Calendar
	Tools
	Trees, Plants & Flowers
	Vegetables
	Vehicles
	Weapons
	Functional Vocabulary
	Grammatical Vocabulary
4	Conversation
	Commonly used sentences
	Situational expressions
	Dialogues
	Grand father, Grand daughter
	Friends about Study
	Friends about Sports
	Teacher and Student
	Mother and Son
	In the Family
	Talk with a Child
	Visit to a friend’s house
	At the Book Shop
	Visit to India
5	Grammar
	Noun
	Pronoun
	Adjective
	Verb
	Adverb
	Preposition
	Conjunction
	Interjection
6	Word Power
	Idioms
	Proverbs
	Antonyms
	Synonyms
7	Literature				Intermediate: Stage 2 Ability to read Arbi Sindhi prose and poetry, listen and reflect on written Sindhi.
	Prose	105[DK2]	105	210
	Poetry	480[DK3]	480	960
8	Life and Culture	450[DK4]	300	750
9	Sindhi Panchtantra CD
	Unity is Strength	6[DK5]	10	16
	Ant and the Dove	4	10	14
	The Monkey's Justice	4	10	14
	3 Fishes	5	10	15
				34 hours

Total time:

Foundation 10 hours

Foundation plus Intermediate:1 17 hours

Foundation plus Intermediate:2 51 hours

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[DK1]There are 72 sreens with 9 words on each. Approximately 3 minutes per screen is assumed for learning and 3 minutes of practice of 9 words on each screen. The break down may be given against each category by multiplying number of screens for each category with 3.

[DK2]There are seven passages of prose. 15 minutes assumed for first reading and 15 for practice.

[DK3]There are twenty four poems. Twenty minutes reading time and twenty minutes practice time assumed for each poem. 20x24x2

[DK4]About 33 screens to read. Assuming 15 minutes reading time for each screen in Arbi Sindhi and 10 minutes of practice/revision per screen.

[DK5]Actual viewing time and 10 minutes of some activity like talking or recalling some Sindhi words/sentences from the story.