Learning Euskara in the USA

Many Euskara learning options are readily available, such as on-line courses, books, tapes, and other media resources. The North American Basque Organization (NABO) and Helduen Alfabetatze Berreuskalduntzerako Erakundea (HABE) are working together to promote the learning of the language for each local club. The one option both NABO and HABE are actively promoting is the BOGA software program.

NABO's effort to promote the Euskara is under the guidance of Martin Goicoechea, NABO's Euskara Chairman. Martin's love of the language has inspired him to coordinate an endeavor to assist in a joint effort to promote the learning of Euskara. An organizational workshop in Boise, Idaho, which was held in January of 2005, gathered current and potential instructors from various Basque communities. The goal is to have 75% of all NABO clubs offering some sort of language class for its members by the summer of 2007.

John M. Ysursa, NABO's Euskara Communicator, has taken on the endeavor to assist both teachers and learners of the language. He has created an Euskara website which is a useful resource for the learning of Euskara in the United States as well as kicked off the promotional campaign “Got Basque?” to make people aware of the language and the new opportunities that exist to learn it.

For more information on learning Euskara in the United States, visit the Euskara website or contact John M. Ysursa at info@euskara.us