FSI Language Courses
Peace Corps 91 pages 2 of 10

Acholi Exercises Workbook

Unit 2: Introducing Self and Others

Peace Corps Acholi Language Course

Kilwonga ni Kate, aa ki Gulu. Larema ni kilwongo ni Sarah en aa ki Kitgum.

Exercise II.A-2

Pong kama twolo. Fill in the blanks.

James: Aa ki i California i Amerika. ___________ kwene? Tom: Aa ki i Colorado _____ Amerika. Kilwongi ni nga? James: ___________ James. ______ in? Tom: Kilwonga _____ Tom.

Exercise II.A-3: Write your own introduction. Be sure to include your name, where you came from,

who you stay with, what you are doing in Uganda, and anything else you may find relevant. (Useful verbs: a, lega, tic, bedo)

Exercise II.A-4: Match the statement on the left with the English on the right.

1 Aa ki Pader a. We like Uganda 2. Itimo ngo? b. He works in pabo 3. Abedo Kitgum c. She is a tailor 4. En cito Amuru d. What do you do? 5. Wamaro Uganda e. I am from pader 6. Wukwano leb Acholi f. They will study Lwo 7. Wakwano leb Acholi g. He is married 8. Tiyo pabo h. We study Acholi 9. En onyome woko i. I stay in Fort Kitgum 10. En lakwoco j. We go to school everyday 11. Wacito I gang kwan nino ducu k. You (pl) study Acholi 12. Gubikwano Lwo l. He goes to Amuru

Exercise II.B-1: Rearrange to make correct sentences with the help of a dictionary.

  1. Gulu Taun abedo i

  2. Kwene i aa?

  3. I ki Uganda Gulu aa.

  4. Kwene ibedo kumbedi?

  5. kumbedi abedo Anaka i Amuru aa ki California i Amerika ento.

Exercise II.B-2: Check right, wrong, or don’t know.

√  ? a) Aa ki Gulu. a b) Kilwonga ni Marika. b c) Dano orii maber. c d) Man lacitita. d e) Iaa yom me nenni. e f) An abedo Prossy. f g) Bed maber. Ber. g h) Ayela peke. h

Exercise II.B-3: Match English and Acholi expressions.

  1. They call her/him a. Aa
  2. They call me b. Kabedo ni
  3. Your home area c. Abedo
  4. I come from d. Kilwonga
  5. She/he comes from e. Kilwonge
  6. I stay/ I’m staying f. En aa

Exercise II.B-4: Find all verbs used so far and write their infinitive below.

Verb Infinitive English

Exercise II.B-5: Fill in the blanks.

  1. Nyinga _________ ni Opiyo. (kilwongo, kilwongi) __________ i Uganda. (obedo, abedo, ibedo)
  2. Nyinge kilwongo __________ Cathy. (me, ni,) __________ i Amerika. (aa, ia, en aa)
  3. __________ kilwongi ni James. (in, an, gin) __________ i South Afrika. (aa, ia, giaa)

Exercise II.B-6: Stress the person in the sentences below.

a) Aa ki Amerika b) I tedo labolo kwon. c) Wacito Kampala. d) I tiyo i Peace Corps e) Gimaro kwano leb Acholi f) Wabino ka tic i ot yat g) Amito cam

Exercise II.C-1: Circle the correct word.

  1. (Atiyo/utiyo) i otel.
  2. (Etiyo/Itiyo) kwene?
  3. (I/lu) kwano.
  4. Ocaya (peke tiyo/tiyo) i duka.

Exercise II.C-2: Find out the professions of members of your host family and where they work.

Name Profession Where they work

Exercise II.C-3: Complete the following exercise, assuming these activities are done everyday.

  1. I walk to school. (Awoto ) ___________ .gang kwan
  2. I read a book. (kwano) ____________.buk
  3. I eat breakfast. (camo) ____________.cam me odiko
  4. I sleep in a bed. (butu/nino) ____________. kitana
  5. I greet my friends. (moto) ____________lurema
  6. I pray. (Lega) ____________.
  7. I wash clothes. (lwoko) ____________.bongi
  8. I clean the house. (yweyo) _ ___________.ot
  9. I drink water. (mato) ____________.pii 10.I like to eat matooke. (amaro) ____________ camo labolo kwon 11.I brush my teeth. (ajwayo) ____________lak
  10. I wash my face. (lwoko) _ ___________wang

Exercise II.D-1: Translate the following sentences.

  1. I am reading. _______________________________________________.
  2. He is digging. _______________________________________________.
  3. You (pl) are seeing. __________________________________________.
  4. She is cooking. ______________________________________________.
  5. We are walking. _____________________________________________.
  6. You (sg) are working. ________________________________________.
  7. They are reading. ____________________________________________.
  8. I am coming. ________________________________________________.
  9. Itye ka tic_____________________.
  10. Watye ka pwonyo lupwonye (teachers). ____________________________.
  11. En tye ka bino_________________________________________________.
  12. Atyeka pur _______________________________________________.
  13. I tye ka tedo matoke ________________________________.
  14. Gurii maber ____________________________________.
  15. Atye ka kwano Acholi. _____________________________________.
  16. Watye ka cito Pader __________________________________________.

Exercise II.D-2: Match the sentences on the right with their translations on the left.

  1. Abi/ae tedo a. We are coming
  2. I bedo kany (here) b. They are eating jackfruit
  3. I tye ka neno c. I am coming to stay here for 2 years
  4. Tye ka kwano Lusoga d. He is bringing money
  5. Gicamo mafanic e. I am going to cook
  6. Amaro gang kwan f. I am staying there
  7. Wa bi bino g. Now, she is going to Kisoro
  8. Kumbedi tye ka cito Kisoro h. You are staying here
  9. Abedo kany i. They are working in education
  10. Watye ka buto Hoima. j. Now you(pl) are studying about Uganda
  11. I cito bor (far) k. We are sleeping in Hoima
  12. En tye ka kello cente l. I am a volunteer
  13. An ladyere m. Are you wanting tea?
  14. Abibino ka bedo kany pi mwaka aryo n. I am liking school
  15. Abedo I gang kwan o. You are seeing
  16. Gitiyo I dul pwony. p. You are reaching far
  17. Kombedi wutye ka kwano lok kom Uganda q. I am staying in school
  18. Watye ka neno Mt. Elgon r. He is studying Lusoga
  19. I mito cai s. He is going to see
  20. Obineno t. We are seeing Mt. Elgon

Exercise II.D-3: Read the following introduction and answer the questions.

Nyinga kilwongo ni Mary. Aa ki i gang pa mego ki ladit Awany. Akwano i Peace Corps. Akwano leb Acholi. Ladit ki mego Awany gi tye ki lotino aryo. Diana gin ki Irene. Gin kwano pablik puramari. Ladit Awany tye dakta madit. Dako pa Awany cato bongi i cuk.

Lok manyen Cwara; ladit Dako ; lamago Daktar Lacat wil lotino aryo Cuk En catto Bongo(i) Gin tye ki Mr.; Husband; Chief Mrs.; Ms.; Wife Doctor; medical personnel Business person Two children Market He/She sells Clothes They have.

  1. Mary bedo ki nga?

  2. Mary timmo ngo?

  3. Nga ma Daktar?

  4. Diana ki Peter tio tic ango?

  5. Dako pa Awany tiyo tic ango?

  6. Ladit ki mego gi tye ki lotino adii?

Exercise II.D-4: List the people in your homestay family and what they do.

Dano gang Tic ma gi timo

Exercise II.E-1: Translate the following sentences.

  1. We will walk. __________________________________________.

  2. They will work. ________________________________________.

  3. You (sg) will teach. _____________________________________.

  4. She will spend the day. _________________________________.

  5. I will read. _____________________________________________.

  6. You (pl) will dig. ________________________________________.

  7. We will see. _____________________________________________.

  8. He will like jackfruit. ____________________________________.

  9. I bi tiyo Iganga. __________________________________.

  10. Obitedo labolo kwon. _______________________________.

  11. Gubi camo ngwen (ants). _______________________________.

  12. Wa bikwano Leb acholi. __________________________________.

  13. Gu bicamo mapenic. _____________________________________.

  14. obi puru. ____________________________________________.

  15. Abipwonyo cura (math). _________________________.

  16. ibi cito. _____________________________________.

  17. I bi maro Uganda. ________________________________.

Exercise II.E-2: Look at the verbs that explain different activities of society. Give their meaning and

find out who carries them out. (men, women, children?)

Tic (job) Gonye ni (meaning) Ngat ma timo (who does it)

  1. Matto kongo
  2. Lwokko jami
  3. Kwan
  4. Kwat
  5. yubu/gedo
  6. nyeto cak
  7. Lwokko lotino
  8. twomo pii
  9. Pur
  10. Pwony
  11. Teddo dek
  12. baro yen
  13. Kwoyo latam

Exercise II.F-1: Describe different professions of the people of your family in America.

Family member Profession

Exercise II.F-2: Match the professions to their kind of work.

  1. Atye ki poto layata. a. lapur.
  2. Atye ki carani me kwoyo bongo akwoyo bongi. b. lacat wil.
  3. Acato gwana ki wanjiri i cuk. c. ladwoco.
  4. Atero dano icuk ki mutoka. d. puni carani.
  5. Ayubu kom, meca ki kitana. e. lacwer bao.
  6. En mako rec i nam f. lamak rec

Exercise II.F-3: Concentration Exercise. You can enjoy this exercise when you want your brain to

focus! Have Fun!! Find the numbers in order without marking them from one to one hundred. Time yourself doing this exercise and do it everyday. (Everyday you’ll get a little faster. This goes to show that doing a little bit of work everyday will improve your knowledge!)

82 94 63 96 57 62 84 97 27 47 10 39 29 87 72 43 71 83 56 70 95 86 64 13 5 61 14 46 69 6 45 76 51 44 54 85 50 1 55 68 88 2 75 18 78 20 3 19 58 98 11 74 42 12 73 34 15 26 33 67 89 65 8 93 35 25 9 66 28 7 37 24 52 36 4 21 49 81 100 32 77 40 90 17 53 80 16 91 31 48 38 23 41 79 22 92 60 59 99 30

MEMORY TIPS!!

*Make it a goal to learn several new words each day. Write them on your hand or if you like to read, make a bookmark each day with a few new words and their meanings.

*Learn words for everyday objects by writing their names on tape or pieces of paper to label them. During training, put labels around your room. Once you arrive at site, go nuts! Label everything!

*Repeat the words you are learning aloud.

*Play vocabulary games with your language tutor such as... Tic Tac Toe Simon Says Go Fish Story Circle Twenty Questions Going on a Picnic

Exercise II.F-4: Gender Exercise Answer the following questions with your host family. Discuss

your answers with fellows PCTs and Training Staff.

  1. How does your host family define “family”? Would they describe it as patrilineal or matrilineal? How is this different/similar to your own views?

  2. What are the roles of parents, siblings, care-givers, extended family members, neighbors, etc. in your host family? How are those roles filled in your own family in America?

  3. Describe some of the messages you received about both men and women in the US (e.g., “big boys don’t cry;” “boys don’t hit girls;” “don’t worry your pretty little head;” “you throw like a girl”). If you feel comfortable asking, find out if there are some similar messages in Uganda. Write and translate them in the local language.

  4. List some traditional proverbs which may have influenced your view of gender. (e.g., “It’s a man’s world;” “women’s work is never done;” “take your medicine like a man;” “a woman’s place is in the home;” or “behind every strong man is a stronger woman”) If you feel comfortable asking, are there similar proverbs in Ugandan culture? Write them in the local language.

  5. How do you think the messages you received while growing up impact you today when it comes to dealing with someone of the opposite sex?

Exercise II.G-1: Find the meaning of these phrases.

  1. Wek aciti ______________________________________________________
  2. Wek abin ________________________________________________________
  3. Wek adwogi ______________________________________________________
  4. Wudong maber _______________________________________________
  5. Dong maber ___________________________________________________
  6. Ibut maber__________________________________________________
  7. Wanen inge dwe acel________________________________
  8. Wanen diki ___________________________________________