I’ve jumped headfirst into learning Basque this past month, after writing this post about online resources for learning Euskara.

I joined the weekly Basque classes at the Basque Cultural Center, I listen to a Basque for Dummies CD in my car everywhere I go, I use a flashcard app on my phone to learn new vocabulary, and I’ve been practicing what I’m learning by speaking with Aita.

But you know what’s really going to get me to learn Basque? Staying at a barnetegi, which I know is a dream for many of us young Basques in the U.S.

A barnetegi is a Basque language boarding school where you’re totally immersed in the language. Eight hours a day of classes in nothing but Basque! I hear it gives you a headache the first few days but eventually you learn a lot.

About the Contest

I recently came across this video contest run by AEK, the organization that runs these Basque language schools, in which the grand prize is a stay at a barnetegi. Was it fate or what?

So I submitted a video to the contest.

The requirement was to record a 20-second video of you speaking Basque, introducing yourself, talking a little bit about your city, and shouting out the organization that runs Basque language programs all over the world.

Basque language students from all over the world have submitted videos and I’m up against some stiff competition. To win the contest, you need to get the most Likes on your YouTube video by April 1st.

Right now, the guy in the lead has 600 more Likes than I do. I really need your help!

How You Can Help

Please Like my video on YouTube! Click the thumbs up under my video HERE. 

This video has been going around social media, which is amazing, but please know that if you already Liked this video on Facebook or Twitter, that Like doesn’t count as a vote!

So please go and Like the video on the actual YouTube page.

If just 100 of you Like the video and then get 5 of your closest friends and family to Like the video too, I take the lead!

So please help me out here and share the link with your nearest and dearest.

Be a part of the Hella Basque 100 Club!

What This Has To Do With You

I have big dreams that not only would this stay at the barnetegi vastly improve my speaking abilities, but I think it would be so much fun for Hella Basque.

I would do daily vlogs to tell you guys about my experience learning Basque over there.

And I would be much more confident producing content about the Basque language itself, something I’ve been hesitant to do because my language skills are so basic.

So please Like the video and share the link with all of your friends and family that you think might like to see more Basque language content on Hella Basque.

I really appreciate your support!

Behind the Scenes Making of the Video

Since at this point I can only string together myself simple 3-4 word sentences, I had a lot of help from friends and family in putting together a script for this video.

I spent days memorizing it, then when I felt good and ready, I took my camera and tripod down to Baker Beach in San Francisco on a cold Sunday morning at sunrise (to be sure I wouldn’t have any tourists in my shot) to record the video.

It took me half an hour of talking to myself in a camera before I got it right.

Pronunciation ain’t easy!

But since I have so many people from the Basque Country following me on social media, I felt some pressure to at least try to make it look easy.

The Takeaway

Whatever happens with this contest, in a way I feel like I’ve already won.

I went to a lunch at the Basque Cultural Center last weekend and so many Basques of my dad’s generation came up to me because they say my video on Facebook. They were so nice and encouraging about my learning (and my dreaded pronunciation!).

It felt really good to hear that these people were proud of me. They told me about how they didn’t know any English when they came here and they made it! It was super encouraging and heartwarming, and if for nothing else I’m very glad I made this video for them.

But still, go Like my video! And share it!

Mil esker 🙂

CONTINUE READING:

• Euskara Thriving in the Basque Country with Euskaraldia
• How Many People in the Basque Country Actually Speak Euskara?
• Basque Movies to Watch on Netflix