3). From Birth Esperantists
People can only become totally bilingual if they are taught two languages equally from birth. It is interesting to note that some parents have brought up their children to be bilingual with Esperanto as one of their two languages. In fact a listing on the Internet is available of Denaskaj Esperantistoj. Ask from jslindst@cc.helsinki.fi
Publications to read include Denaska dulingveco (red R.Corsetti) and Dulingve- pli simple (E.Csiszar).
4). Specialised Interests
Esperantujo is a wide and varied community and hence members have diverse interests and so specialised sections (Fakaj Asocioj) of the UEA have been set up for them.
Amongst the various specialised fields represented are :
Art, Astronomy, Atheism, Authors, Baha'i, Bicycling, Biological Nomenclature, Blind People, Building Workers, Cars, Cat Lovers, Catholicism, Chess, Communism, Computers, Ecology, Economics, Ecumenism, Ethnic Affairs, European Action, Evangelism, Geneology, Go, Handicapped, Homosexuals, Inventions, Islam, Journalism, Law, Mathematics, Medicine, Mensa, Mormonism, Motorbikes, Music, Mycology, Nature Lovers, Non-Smokers, Oomoto, Ornithology, Peace, Philatelists, Philosophy, Post Cards, Quakers, Radio, Radio Amateurs, Radio Terminology, Railway Workers(*), Rock and Popular Music, Rotarians, Sauna, Science, Scouting, Short Hand, Social Work, Speleology, Spiritualism, Teachers, Tourism, UNESCO action, Vegetarianism, Veterans
Surely everyone can find an interest here and meet new friends via their knowledge of Esperanto.
(*). Celebrated its 50th annual Congress in 1998 at Aalborg, Denmark. The Danish post office celebrated with a special franking of the mail. Its 2000 Congress was in Budapest.
To go with specialisation one needs, of course, specialised vocabularies and word lists (a normal dictionary simply does not have the root for many specialised items).
Dictionaries or, at least, specialised word lists have been published in the following fields : Anatomy, Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Chinese Medicine, Computers, Entomology, Law, Motoring Terms, Music, Railways, Religions, Slang and Jargon, Sports
5). Esperanto Museums
An interesting experience is, of course, to visit an Esperanto museum abroad. The International Esperanto Museum is in Vienna (actually in the Hofburg). (http://www.onb.ac.at/intespm.htm). Others worth visiting are in France and Spain.
Samarkand, Uzbekistan :peacetur@samuni.silk.org
6). Examinations
Now the reader has reached the end of this book he may well wish to test himself with an examination (and in doing so obtain an interesting qualification- which might well create considerable interest on a Curriculum Vitae!)
Worth considering are :
Esperanto Asocio de Britio :
Available at Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced Levels. They exams are taken at home with reference materials permitted. Grades awarded are Pass, Credit and Distinction. I think the reader should be well qualified now to take (at least) the Intermediate Level.
After passing the Advanced Level it is possible to take an oral examination with a specified examiner and success here will result in the granting of the Diploma (D.E.A.B.)
A final qualification is the Licentiate Examination. This however is of a very high- University- standard (and includes a thorough study of the History and Literature of Esperanto). It is however a target to aim for (L.E.A.B.)
Internacia Ligo de Esperantistaj Instruistoj (ILEI) :
The UEA also has examinations held jointly with ILEI Information can be obtained from the representative for Europe Dr Paul Gubbins at the University of Salford.
7). Esperanto and the Youth of Today
A branch of UEA called Tutmonda Esperantista Junulara Organizo (TEJO) has the responsibility for young Esperantists. It holds annual world congresses and publishes the magazine Kontakto as well as a 4 per year journal TEJO tutmonde and a twice monthly internet bulletin.
It has 37 national sections and relations with Esperanto youth sections in a further 12. The British section Junularo Esperantista Brita (JEB) has its headquarters at Esperanto Centre and publishes a magazine S@luton! (6 per year). Membership is free for all those from 16 to 30. Information from jeb@novajeb.org.uk
The UEA also has a section devoted to scouting, Skolta Esperanto-Ligo which publishes 4 per year of its journal La Skolta Mondo.
A special course (Urso-Kurso) has been published for 6-10 year olds.
Each part includes children's workbooks, teacher's/parent's notes,audio cassette and tutor support.
Part One @ £15.50, Parts 2-4 @ £18 each. Details from: Malcolm Jones, 1 Regent Avenue, Skipton BD23 1AZ (01756 799912)
A new project intended to be introduced into Primary Schools is Lingvolan^cilo (Springboard). Details from An^gela Tellier