TESTIMONIALS
Almaz M. from Charlotte, NC
“I cannot believe how much I learned in the beginner and intermediate courses. In 8 months, I went from not knowing any fidelat to knowing how to read anything in Tigrinya. I can put together grammatically correct sentences and my vocabulary is growing a lot (I started with the vocab of a 4-year-old). I am already seeing some benefits in real life: I can understand much more about what my family is saying, and I can speak better with my relatives back home. Memhr Fisihazen works so hard to support students’ learning and is always available, patient, and encouraging. I am very happy that I started these classes, especially as someone that was a bit embarrassed having lost my Tigrinya knowledge. I feel more confident and in a better place to continue learning. I will continue classes with Life of Hope.”
Sarah I. from Houston, TX
“Like many first-generation Eritreans, I grew up hearing Tigrinya spoken at home, but never fully learned to speak or read it myself. My siblings and I would often stumble through even the most basic greetings when trying to communicate with family back home. Frankly, I got tired of the shame I felt around not knowing my native language in a world where knowledge is accessible at our fingertips. In a very brave act of adulting, I signed up for Life of Hope Tigrinya classes after seeing the flyer online.
Fisihazen has created an immersive and accessible learning experience for learners at all levels. At the beginner level we learned the basics - the alphabet, grammar (including conjugations based on subject), basic greetings, days, months, verbs, etc. He starts with the fundamentals and builds from there, meeting students exactly where they are. His genuine passion for teaching shines through in every lesson. He pours his heart into his students and has cultivated a supportive and encouraging community of learners.
Because of what Fisihazen has built and taught me, I’m more motivated than ever to continue learning Tigrinya. I would highly recommend this course to anyone willing to put the time and energy into learning Tigrinya.”
Helen T. from Toronto, Canada
I can’t recommend Life of Hope Tigrinya enough. I went from speaking zero Tigrinya and understanding only the occasional word to being able to speak, read and write basic Tigrinya in 6 months while working full time. The class is structured (and intense!) and Fisihazen is a fantastic teacher. I highly recommend the class, and have personally recommended it to all of my second-generation friends who are interested in learning their language as well. I’ll be entering my third semester of the course next month.
Daniel B. from Silver Spring, MD
I have taken both beginner and intermediate classes with Prof. Fisihazen, and I have learned so much in about a year’s time. Coming from basically no knowledge of the Tigrinya language but having an eagerness to learn, Prof. Fisihazen has challenged me for the better to not only learn to read, write, and speak but also experience a culture through his lens and the classmates around me. He goes above and beyond to create resources for us to learn and spends the extra time to make sure we understand what we are learning. I plan to continue moving forward with Prof. Fisihazen knowing the day will come that I will be fluent in Tigrinya and know the culture well.
Hermona K. from Ottawa, Canada
I grew up within an Amharic speaking household on account of my parents having been born and raised in Addis Ababa. Growing up, the only time we were exposed to Tigrinya was when we visited our grandparents but our comprehension of the language essentially remained non-existent. In 2022, I visited Eritrea for the first time so that I could meet my paternal grandfather. Upon returning, I felt a deep sense of regret at having reached my late twenties without ever attempting to learn my mother tongue so enrolled in lessons that Fall.
Fisihazen has been my instructor since 2023 and I cannot emphasize enough the benefits of studying under him for those interested in learning the language. The courses are structured so that students begin by learning how to read the alphabet and master basic grammatical structure until they are able to progress to more complex conjugations and eventually formulating basic sentences in conversation. What I appreciate the most about the course structure is the pacing - Fisihazen doesn't rush students and ensures that we have a sustainable understanding of the subject matter at hand before moving on to the next lesson and level.
As a teacher, Fisihazen is incredibly patient and encouraging and has nurtured a really warm and inviting environment where students are able to engage with what is a rather complex and nuanced language as they learn from one another as well as the instructor. If you are looking to learn Tigrinya, this is definitely the course to enroll in!
Nathan A. from Washington, D.C.
I’ve always wanted to improve my Tigrinya, but I never took the step to seriously learn it until I went back home and realized I couldn’t communicate with my family the way I wanted. My aunt even joked, “Don’t come back until you’re fluent!”
After returning to the U.S., a friend told me about this class, and I signed up right away. Since starting six months ago, my Tigrinya has improved tremendously. I can now understand and speak Tigrinya with much more confidence, and I’ve even learned how to read and write.
Fisihazen really pushes us to grow and gives us plenty of resources to support our learning. He’s flexible with makeup days if we miss class, and he’s always open to covering topics that we’re interested in or want to review more in depth.
I would highly recommend this class to anyone interested in learning or improving their Tigrinya.