【語学講座】シャン語初級Ⅱ（CEFR PreA1~A1）

【言語の紹介】
The Shan language is the native tongue of the Shan people and is predominantly spoken in Shan State, Myanmar (Burma). As the largest state in Myanmar, Shan State is home to many diverse ethnic groups and borders Yunnan (China) to the north, Laos to the east, and Thailand (specifically Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son Provinces) to the south. In Burmese, the term 'Shan' [ရှမ်း] refers to people whose language belongs to Tai language family. For inhabitants of Southern Myanmar, particularly Mon State and Tanintharyi region, 'Shan' is often used as an umbrella term that covers the Thai people as well. Conversely, the Shan people refer to themselves Tai [တႆး], and their spoken language is commonly called Kwam Tai [ၵႂၢမ်းတႆး] in Shan. The Thai people refer to the Shan as "Thai-Yai" (ไทใหญ่). Rich in centuries-old literature, art, and history, the Shan language is a member of the Kra-Dai (Tai-Kadai) language family, making it closely related to Thai and Lao. It is also spoken in Northern Thailand, Southern Yunnan, and the border areas of Laos. There are an estimated 5 million Shan speakers in Myanmar—making them the second-largest ethnolinguistic group in the country—and about one million in Thailand. Most speakers use Shan locally as well as for commerce with their trading partners. Linguistically, Shan is a tonal language, though its tones do not correspond exactly to those of Thai. Its word order follows the Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) pattern. The Shan script is a Brahmic abugida written from left to right, characterized by the circular letter forms derived from the Mon-Burmese script.

【講座の目的】
• To improve learners' communication skills using Shan expressions related to daily life.
• To familiarize learners with various aspects of the Shan language, culture, and customs.

【講座内容】
Course description
This course is designed for individuals who wish to learn the Shan language. It is specifically tailored for those who have completed Shan Language Beginner I (CEFR Pre-A1), as well as learners who already possess basic speaking, reading, or writing skills and want to enhance their everyday conversation proficiency and fluency.
Like all comprehensive language courses, it covers the core skills: pronunciation, listening, speaking, reading, grammar, and writing. The first part of each lesson focuses on vocabulary and sentence structures. A comprehensive vocabulary list—complete with Shan spelling, phonetic transliteration, and English definitions—is provided at the beginning of each chapter. The second part of each lesson focuses on basic reading and writing in the Shan script. Additionally, learners will explore essential facts about the Shan language, customs, and cultural values through interactive discussions and cultural documentary screenings.
Course Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, learners will be able to:
Listening and Speaking:
• Express likes, dislikes, feelings, and emotions.
• Describe daily activities, family, and their hometown.
• Ask and answer simple questions about familiar topics.
• Express basic opinions on daily routines and activities.
Reading and Writing:
• Answer simple questions regarding descriptions of people, places, and things.
• Identify key ideas in short, simple social media messages.
• Recognize and utilize common vocabulary related to daily activities.
• Write short narratives, messages, and dialogues using simple sentence structures.
• Write about future plans and personal opinions.
※授業は英語で行います