Include these phrases on your home video. Send to the next person going to Marie's, and they can play it for your child on Marie's laptop. Your child will be absolutely delighted to hear you speaking in their language.

MAKE SURE TO INCLUDE HAPPY VIDEO OF YOUR PETS, ESPECIALLY DOGS. THE KIDS MIGHT START OUT VERY AFRAID OF THEM, SO AN EARLY INTRODUCTION ON VIDEO IS HELPFUL.

Don't worry if you can't pronounce it well. Do the best you can.

I highly recommend Granny Bin's Kreyol for Parents course. It contains true-to-life conversations, phrases, medical terminology, and commands that you will undoubtedly need on the way home and during your first weeks with your child. www.kreyolforparents.com

On each clip, I pronounce the words first separately and without a real "Kreyol" accent...sort of "Americanized." Then I pronounce the phrase with my best "true Kreyol" accent (which is far from perfect by the way!)

Kreyol is actually not that difficult to learn. It is very phonetic, meaning it is pronounced pretty much exactly like it looks.

Write these phrases down in Kreyol and look at them when you say the phrase. You'll get it quickly. If you can't speak it the "Kreyol" way, just pronounce it the "Americanized" way. But try to put a little nasal on the "n's" and don't make your "r's" too hard.

PRESS THE BACK BUTTON AFTER YOU LISTEN TO THE FILE!!

#1) I Love You - Mwen Renmen Ou
#2) We Love You - Nou Renmen Ou
#3) We Think Of You Every Day - Nou Panse Ou Chak Jou
#4) This Is Your New Family - Sa Se Nouvo Fanmi Ou
#5) This is Brother/Sister/Mother/Father - Sa Se Fre/Se/Mama/Papa
#6) This Is Your New House - Sa Se Nouvo Lakay Ou
#7) This Is Your New Room - Sa Se Nouvo Chamn Ou
#8) Big Kiss For You Darling! - Gwo Bisou Pou Ou Cheri!

If you cannot play a file, please email Stephanie and I'll try sending you the file in a different format.

Other than the above, and saying "Bonjou!" or "Allo!" just go ahead and speak in English. They won't care, they'll be enthralled with the whole thing regardless!

CALLING THE CRÈCHE 101

PRESS THE BACK BUTTON AFTER YOU LISTEN TO THE FILE!!

#1) Hello, Marie France please - Bonjou, Marie France silvouple
#2) She's not there now? - Li pa la kounye'a?
#3) In English please, when is she returning? - An angle silvouple, ki le lap tournen?
#4) Times:

Five o'clock - Senkè
Six o'clock - Sisè
Seven o'clock - Sètè
Eight o'clock - Witè
Nine o'clock - Nèvè
Ten o'clock - Disè
Thirty - Trant - Witè trant (eight thirty)