Three short Kerala conversations — the grocery, the doctor and a neighbour at the gate — each slowly, then at speed. Buy rice, sugar and coconut oil and take biscuits instead of change; tell a doctor about two days of fever; and watch a neighbour refuse tea the first time — because in Kerala the first 'no' is good manners. The whole class is in Malayalam — listen for the shape first, let the rest wash over you, and replay it daily for a week. Words and phrases you will hear: ഒരു കിലോ അരി വേണം (oru kilo ari venam) – I need a kilo of rice മട്ടയോ പച്ചരിയോ? (mattayo pachariyo?) – matta rice or raw white rice? വെളിച്ചെണ്ണ (velichenna) – coconut oil ആകെ എത്രയായി? (aake ethrayaayi?) – how much altogether? രണ്ട് ദിവസമായി പനിയുണ്ട് (randu divasamaayi paniyundu) – I've had a fever for two days തലവേദന (thalavedana) – headache ഒരു രക്തപരിശോധന വേണം (oru rakthaparishodhana venam) – a blood test is needed വിശ്രമിക്കണം (vishramikkanam) – you must rest അയൽക്കാരി (ayalkkaari) – neighbour (woman) കയറി വരൂ (kayari varoo) – come in ചക്ക (chakka) – jackfruit ഒരു ചായ കുടിച്ചിട്ട് പോകാം (oru chaaya kudichittu pokaam) – have a tea before you go അന്വേഷണം പറയണം (anweshanam parayanam) – give them my regards In this class: • At the grocery — rice varieties, coconut oil, and no change • At the hospital — symptoms, a blood test and rest • At the gate — jackfruit from the compound and the polite first refusal • Spoken questions, then questions about your own life Quizzes below. Dr. Reshmi R Nair — SpeakMalayalam.