Start here βLesson 1: How the Fidel Works
Essential questions
- How does a syllabary differ from an alphabet, and what does that change about reading?
- Which sounds in Amharic do not exist in English, and how do I produce them?
- How do I move from recognising a letter to writing and pronouncing it confidently?
Learning objectives
- Explain the seven-order structure of the fidel and locate any character on the chart.
- Read and write the α, α, α, α°, α¨, α , α°, α, α¨, α families accurately.
- Produce the ejective consonants α α¨ α° αΈ α and distinguish geminated from single consonants.
- Transliterate short Amharic words in both directions with 80% accuracy.
Key concepts
Syllabary vs. alphabetSeven vowel orders (αααβα³α₯α)Ejective consonantsGemination as a meaning contrastStandard transliteration conventions
Skills
DecodingHandwriting / stroke formationListening discriminationAccurate pronunciation
Required vocabulary
| Amharic | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| αα°α | fidΓ€l | letter / script |
| αααααα α | ha hu hi ha he hΙ ho | the seven orders |
| αα | qal | word |
| α΅αα | dΙmts | sound |
| ααα α₯ | manbΓ€b | to read |
| αα»α | mΓ€tsaf | to write |
Source materials
Practice & reinforcement
- Daily 10-minute Fidel studio audio drill
- Kids β Match game for family recognition
- Handwriting journal: five new words per session
Formative checks
- Chart location checks (speed rounds)
- Dictation exit tickets
- AI pronunciation scores from the Write studio
Summative assessment
Fidel Mastery Check β write 20 dictated words, read a 40-word passage aloud, and submit a recorded pronunciation sample of the ejective series.
Resources & materials
Fidel studioWrite studioPeace Corps Unit 1 audioPrintable 34 Γ 7 chart