You will be asked to account for yourself in Kerala again and again, and the quality of your answer shapes everything that follows. Most learners have a bad answer: too short, too vague, or in English. This class builds a good one. First come the questions, in the order they usually arrive. Then the answer in three lengths: one sentence for a shopkeeper, three for a bus ride, one minute for a real conversation. It ends with the question asked with the most curiosity: why are you learning Malayalam? Words and phrases in this class: എവിടുന്നാണ്? (evidunnaanu?) – where are you from? ഇവിടെ എന്ത് ചെയ്യുന്നു? (ivide enthu cheyyunnu?) – what are you doing here? എത്ര നാളായി ഇവിടെ? (ethra naalaayi ivide?) – how long have you been here? ഒറ്റയ്ക്കാണോ? (ottaykkaano?) – are you on your own? മലയാളം എവിടെ പഠിച്ചു? (malayaalam evide padichu?) – where did you learn Malayalam? ഞാൻ ജർമ്മൻകാരനാണ് (njaan jarmmankaaranaanu) – I'm German (man) ഞാൻ ഇംഗ്ലീഷുകാരിയാണ് (njaan ingleeshukaariyaanu) – I'm English (woman) നാട്ടുകാരൻ (naattukaaran) – a local എനിക്ക് കേരളം വളരെ ഇഷ്ടമാണ് (enikku keralam valare ishtamaanu) – I like Kerala very much എനിക്ക് ഭാഷകൾ ഇഷ്ടമാണ് (enikku bhaashakal ishtamaanu) – I love languages ബുദ്ധിമുട്ടാണോ? (buddhimuttaano?) – is it difficult? ബുദ്ധിമുട്ടാണ്, പക്ഷേ രസമുണ്ട് (buddhimuttaanu, pakshe rasamundu) – it's hard, but it's fun In this class: • The questions you will be asked, in the order they come • Your answer in one sentence, three sentences and one minute • The -കാരൻ / -കാരി ending for any country, state or district • A real answer to why you are learning Malayalam, and the follow-ups Quizzes below. Dr. Reshmi R Nair — SpeakMalayalam.