Lojban Through Dialogues — Curriculum Redesign Plan#

Method: Pimsleur (dialogue-first, graduated recall, anticipation, ~5 new items/lesson)
Arc: Three friends — Lifri (guide), Mentu (learner), Linto (learner) — meet at a Lojban meetup and develop a friendship across 30 lessons. Every lesson is a slice of their real life, not a grammar exercise.

Incoherence in the current course (summary):

• L3 (Thank you) is thin, context-free attitudinals
• L4 (I talk to you) is an abstract grammar drill, not a real conversation
• L5 (What's your name?) should come at L3 — it is the second thing anyone says at a meetup
• L9 (Counting) is a pure number dump with no dialogue
• L12 (Today and Tomorrow) duplicates L8 (Yesterday and Tomorrow) and breaks the food arc: L10→L11→L12→L13
• "I don't understand / speak slowly" (L15) comes too late — it is a day-one survival skill
• Numbers are taught before they serve a purpose; better in clock context (L6) and price context (L12)

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Block 1 — The Meetup (Lessons 1–6)#

Characters meet. Core identity, greetings, first facts about each other.

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Lesson 1 · First Meeting#

Scene: Mentu arrives at his first Lojban meetup. Lifri greets him.

Conversation: greeting → self-introduction → Linto arrives → parting

New words (5): coi, co'o, mi'e, la, cliva
Also used: do (introduced here, not a separate lesson)
Grammar: Single-word sentences are complete. Vocative coi do vs attitudinal coi alone. mi'e la X = self-introduction.

Links to next: Mentu and Lifri are now acquainted → L2 probes his level.

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Lesson 2 · Do You Speak Lojban?#

Scene: Lifri wants to know how much Lojban Mentu actually knows. Linto listens.

Conversation: yes/no question about language → admits only a little → teasing negative form → correct denial

New words (5): xu, se bangu, go'i, na, milxe
Also used: mi (introduced here alongside do from L1)
Grammar: xu turns any sentence into a yes/no question. go'i = echo "yes". na go'i = "no". milxe softens any predicate.

Links to next: They know each other's name tags but not real names → L3.

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Lesson 3 · What's Your Name? What Do You Like?#

Scene: Linto joins and they go deeper — real names, favourite things.

Conversation: How do I say my name? → ask Mentu and Linto → what do you like? → Lojban!

New words (5): ma, mo, cmene, zo, nelci
Grammar: ma replaces the missing noun. mo replaces the missing predicate. zo X cmene mi vs mi'e la X (both introduced, contrast explained). do mo as casual greeting.

Links to next: Introductions complete; meetup is ending → L4 wraps it up.

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Lesson 4 · Thank You — Wrapping Up the Meetup#

Scene: End of meetup. Gratitude, small mishaps, enthusiasm.

Conversation: ki'e for help given → je'e response → .ui moment → .u'u apology → pei asks the other person → .e'u let's meet again

New words (5): ki'e, je'e, .ui, .u'u, pei
Also used: .e'u (introduced here in "let's meet again")
Grammar: Attitudinals are complete sentences or stack before any sentence. pei at end = "how about you?" — the natural way to ask back.

Links to next: They agree to meet again → L5 coordinates where.

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Lesson 5 · Let's Meet at the Park#

Scene: After the meetup, Lifri and Mentu text about where to meet next time.

Conversation: what's new → where are you? → I'm at home → where do you go? → I'll go to the park → great

New words (5): zvati, klama, le, zdani, panka
Also used: nuzba introduced here as fixed phrase ma nuzba
Grammar: le = the (specific). Place structure of klama (x₁ goes to x₂ from x₃). ma nuzba as high-frequency greeting-question.

Links to next: They need to agree on a time → L6.

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Lesson 6 · What Time? Let's Say Seven#

Scene: Lifri and Mentu nail down the meeting time. Numbers serve the clock.

Conversation: what time is it? → clock formula → suggest 7 o'clock → agreed → I'll go to the park at 7

New words (11 digits + 2): pa re ci vo mu xa ze bi so no (0–9), tcika, ti'u
Also used: li, cacra bu (introduced here)
Grammar: Digits chain left-to-right: pano = 10. Clock formula: ti'u li cacra bu N. Numbers are introduced here in context (time), not as an isolated drill.

Links to next: Morning of the meeting → L7.

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Block 2 — Daily Life (Lessons 7–13)#

Characters navigate real daily situations. Tense, commands, food, money.

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Lesson 7 · Good Morning#

Scene: The morning of the planned meetup. Morning texts; time-of-day words.

Conversation: good morning greeting → good day → how are you? → I'm happy → in the morning I'm at home → in the evening I'll go to the park

New words (5): cerni, vanci, nicte, donri, gleki
Also used: ca (introduced here as time marker)
Grammar: ca le cerni = "in the morning". donri coi as daytime greeting. Contrast cerni / vanci / nicte / donri.

Links to next: They meet; Lifri speaks too fast → L8.

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Lesson 8 · Speak Slowly! I Don't Understand#

Scene: At the park, Lifri launches into fast Lojban. Mentu panics.

Conversation: too fast → please speak slowly → I don't understand → do you know? → I don't know → ask again → got it

New words (5): sutra, masno, ko, djuno, jimpe
Also used: preti (introduced here)
Grammar: ko = imperative: any do-sentence becomes a command by swapping do → ko. ko masno tavla = "speak slowly (you)!". na djuno = "I don't know".

Why here: This is a day-one survival skill for language learners. Moving it from L15

to L8 means learners have it before any real practice conversation.

Links to next: Lifri slows down; they catch up on what happened yesterday → L9.

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Lesson 9 · Yesterday and Tomorrow#

Scene: Catching up — what did Mentu do yesterday? What will happen tomorrow?

Conversation: did you go to the park yesterday? → yes, I went → tomorrow I'll go home → but today I'm here → the park is pleasant

New words (5): pu, ba, ku'i, cu, cabdei
Also used: bavlamdei, prulamdei (introduced here as compound day-words)
Grammar: pu/ba before the predicate. cu separates a long noun phrase from its predicate. .i ku'i = "but". Compound day-words as self-describing vocabulary.

Why merged: The current L8 (tense) and L12 (today/tomorrow) cover the same

conceptual block. Merging them removes redundancy and tightens the arc.

Links to next: Mentu is hungry → L10.

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Lesson 10 · I Want to Eat#

Scene: Everyone is hungry after walking in the park. They want to find a café.

Conversation: I want to eat → I want to drink water → do you want to eat? → yes → let's go to a restaurant → I intend to eat bread

New words (6): .au, .ai, citka, pinxe, lo, djacu
Also used: nanba (introduced here)
Grammar: .au = desire ("I wish"). .ai = intent ("I will"). lo = indefinite article (some, any). Contrast lo vs le.

Links to next: They go to the café → L11.

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Lesson 11 · Ordering at the Café#

Scene: Seated at a café. They order food and drink.

Conversation: I'm going to order soup → how about you? → I'll have juice → do you want cookies? → yes, and bread → great

New words (5): stasu, cidja, jisra, titnanba, gusta
Also used: pei (recall from L4); .ai (recall from L10)
Grammar: pei in ordering context ("and you?"). lo gusta = "a restaurant". Chaining .ai mi citka lo X .i .ai mi pinxe lo Y.

Links to next: They look at the menu prices → L12.

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Lesson 12 · How Much? Is It Expensive?#

Scene: Checking the café menu. Sticker shock.

Conversation: is it expensive? → the bread costs 13 dollars → that's cheap → the soup costs 20 → do you have money? → I'll pay

New words (5): kargu, tolkargu, meryru'u, se jdini, pleji
Also used: li + numbers (recall from L6); te vecnu (introduced here)
Grammar: tol- reversal prefix: kargu → tolkargu. li before numbers for prices. meryru'u li N = "N US dollars".

Links to next: They finish lunch; on the way home they stop at a shop → L13.

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Lesson 13 · Buying Things#

Scene: At a shop near the café. Mentu buys items for home.

Conversation: I'm going to a shop → I'll buy cookies and juice → is the juice expensive? → not expensive, cheap → the food is very expensive

New words (4): zarci, .e connector, mutce, drata
Also used: te vecnu (recall from L12); kargu/tolkargu (recall from L12)
Grammar: .e links two sumti: lo titnanba .e lo jisra = "cookies and juice". mutce intensifies: mutce kargu = "very expensive".

Links to next: Next outing needs scheduling → L14.

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Block 3 — Getting to Know Each Other (Lessons 14–21)#

Characters share their lives: schedules, families, homes, work.

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Lesson 14 · Planning the Week#

Scene: The trio plans next week's meetup. Scheduling vocabulary.

Conversation: today I'm at home → tomorrow I'll go to the park → I'm certain → every week we meet → I'll stay three days

New words (5): birti, jeftu, djedi, ro, detma'i
Also used: cabdei, bavlamdei, prulamdei (recall from L9)
Grammar: ro = every/all: ca ro jeftu = "every week". le jeftu be li pa = "a one-week period". birti = to be certain about.

Links to next: Linto asks personal questions → L15.

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Lesson 15 · My Family#

Scene: Linto turns personal — asks Mentu about his family.

Conversation: are you married? → yes, my spouse is happy → do you have children? → yes, two → how many? → my family is happy

New words (5): speni, se panzi, lanzu, be, xo
Grammar: be attaches possessor inside a noun phrase: le speni be mi = "my spouse". xo = "how many?" — replaces a number in place. se panzi re = "have two children".

Links to next: Mentu describes his children → L16.

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Lesson 16 · Son, Daughter, Siblings#

Scene: Mentu describes his children and Linto asks about siblings.

Conversation: my son is happy → my daughter is at home → I have a boy and a girl → your daughter talks to me → do you have a brother?

New words (5): bersa, tixnu, bruna, mensi, nanla
Also used: nixli (introduced here); be (recall from L15)
Grammar: se conversion: le bersa be mi vs mi bersa. nanla/nixli as generic child-of-any-family.

Links to next: Lifri asks where Mentu lives → L17.

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Lesson 17 · Where Do You Live?#

Scene: Lifri invites Mentu to visit her city. First she asks where he lives.

Conversation: where do you live? → big city → my home is small → is the city far? → the park is near → do your children live with you?

New words (5): xabju, tcadu, barda, cmalu, jibni
Also used: darno (introduced here); be mi for possession (recall from L15)
Grammar: barda/cmalu as property predicates. le zdani be mi = "my home". darno / jibni as locative properties.

Links to next: Mentu mentions he has to work → L18.

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Lesson 18 · I Need to Work#

Scene: Evening. Mentu says he needs to work tomorrow. What does he do?

Conversation: it's late → I'm going to sleep → I need to work → what is your job? → I work in the morning → I need to sleep

New words (5): sipna, gunka, nitcu, jibri, lerci
Also used: lo nu (introduced here as event noun)
Grammar: lo nu X = "the event of X-ing": nitcu lo nu mi gunka = "need to work". This is the first use of event nominalization — keep the grammar note short and concrete.

Links to next: Linto mentions she has been abroad → L19.

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Lesson 19 · Travel and Countries#

Scene: Linto mentions a trip abroad. They discuss countries and languages.

Conversation: welcome! → have you travelled abroad? → yes, to another country → what language do you speak there? → I speak a little [language] → far away?

New words (5): litru, gugde, fi'i, bangu (country names), drata
Also used: se bangu (recall from L2); darno (recall from L17)
Grammar: Country/language names with la: la .paris., la .fransis., etc. lo drata gugde = "another country".

Links to next: Long day; everyone is tired → L20.

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Lesson 20 · I'm Tired — How Do You Feel?#

Scene: End of a long day. Emotions and comfort.

Conversation: how are you? → I'm tired → the walk was pleasant → I feel comfortable → tomorrow will be nice → let's talk in the evening

New words (5): taske, kufra, zabna, pluka, se cinmo
Also used: gleki (recall from L7); sipna (recall from L18)
Grammar: se cinmo = "feel (emotionally)": mi se cinmo lo ka taske or just mi taske. pluka as impersonal pleasant: lo nu tavla do kei pu pluka mi.

Links to next: They plan a group trip → L21.

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Lesson 21 · Let's Go Together#

Scene: Planning a group trip to Lifri's city. Coordinating who comes.

Conversation: let's discuss → shall we go together? → my spouse and I will go → I love studying Lojban → I love you → let's go in the evening

New words (5): casnu, jo'u, prami, tadni, pendo
Also used: .e'u (recall from L4); lo nu (recall from L18)
Grammar: jo'u links co-participants: mi jo'u le speni be mi = "my spouse and I (together)". Contrast with .e (separate listing). mi prami lo nu tadni la .lojban. = "I love studying Lojban".

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Block 4 — Deeper Conversation (Lessons 22–29)#

Visiting Lifri's city, return, reasons, hopes.

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Lesson 22 · How Long Will You Stay?#

Scene: Trip is confirmed. Mentu asks how long they'll be there.

Conversation: how long? → I'll stay a week → I'll work for a short while → I expect to stay three days → long time? → no, short

New words (5): ze'i, ze'a, ze'u, stali, kanpe
Also used: jeftu, djedi (recall from L14); nitcu (recall from L18)
Grammar: Duration markers after tense: pu ze'i = "for a short time (past)". le jeftu be li pa = "a one-week period". kanpe lo nu stali = "expect to stay".

Links to next: They arrive at Lifri's home → L23.

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Lesson 23 · Visiting — Welcome!#

Scene: Mentu and Linto arrive at Lifri's home.

Conversation: welcome! → come in → how was the trip? → we came by taxi → how far? → 50 kilometres → oh, what a surprise!

New words (5): vitke, fu, karce, taksi, ti
Also used: fi'i (recall from L19); ki'otre (introduced here); .ue (introduced here)
Grammar: fu marks the transport/method slot: klama fu le taksi = "go by taxi". ti/ta/tu = here/there/yonder (demonstratives).

Links to next: Lifri asks about distances in the city → L24.

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Lesson 24 · How Far? How Many?#

Scene: Walking around Lifri's city. Distances, counting things seen.

Conversation: how many people? → how far is the park? → the city is 50 km from home → near or far? → there are many shops → how many children do you have again?

New words (4): xo (recall), sepli, ki'otre (recall), ro (recall)
Also used: jibni, darno (recall from L17); barda, cmalu (recall from L17)
Grammar: xo revision with new contexts. sepli place structure: le tcadu cu sepli mi lo ki'otre be li mu no = "the city is 50 km from me".

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Lesson 25 · Opinions and Preferences#

Scene: Over dinner at Lifri's. Discussing films, food, opinions.

Conversation: what do you think? → I think it's nice → it seems good → I prefer this → which is better? → in my opinion, Lojban is best

New words (5): jinvi, simlu, zmadu, mleca, mupli
Also used: prami (recall from L21); zabna (recall from L20)
Grammar: jinvi place structure: mi jinvi lo du'u X = "I think that X". simlu = seem: ta simlu zabna = "that seems nice". zmadu/mleca for comparisons.

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Lesson 26 · Coming Back#

Scene: The morning of departure. Planning the return trip.

Conversation: after the visit I'll go home → will you go by car? → no, by taxi → when you return, call me → I'll come back soon → goodbye everyone

New words (5): di'a, pe, ba le nu … kei, coi ro do, co'o ro do
Also used: karce, taksi (recall from L23); vitke (recall from L23)
Grammar: di'a = resuming/returning to. ba le nu vitke kei = "after the visit" (kei closes the nu clause). pe = loose possessive (lighter than be): le karce pe do = "your car".

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Lesson 27 · Paying Bills — Monthly Life#

Scene: Back home. Mentu and Linto discuss monthly expenses.

Conversation: is electricity expensive? → I don't know, I don't pay → do you pay the company? → every month I pay 20 dollars → electricity is cheap here

New words (5): dikca, kagni, ca ro detma'i, pleji (recall from L12)
Also used: kargu, tolkargu (recall from L12); ro (recall from L14)
Grammar: ro + time noun = "every": ca ro detma'i = "every calendar month". ro can also quantify nouns: ro zdani = "every home".

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Lesson 28 · Because and Should#

Scene: Mentu explains why he has to leave early. Obligation, reasons, beginnings.

Conversation: I'm going home because I need to sleep → I should sleep → I'll start sleeping soon → night is coming → talking to you was a pleasure → goodbye!

New words (5): ki'u, .ei, co'a, pu'o, pluka (recall)
Also used: nitcu lo nu (recall from L18); sipna (recall from L18)
Grammar: ki'u le nu X = "because X (event)". .ei = obligation attitudinal. co'a = begin: co'a sipna = "start sleeping". pu'o = about to: pu'o nicte = "night is coming".

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Lesson 29 · Future Hopes#

Scene: One last evening conversation. What do the three hope for?

Conversation: I hope to speak Lojban fluently → it's possible → maybe I'll travel → I wish for good things → let's meet again → I love this language

New words (5): pacna, cumki, djica (recall), tcini, fenki
Also used: litru (recall from L19); lo nu (recall from L18); prami (recall from L21)
Grammar: pacna lo nu X = "hope for X to happen". cumki fa lo nu X = "it is possible that X". Nested tense: ba … ba for future-of-future plans.

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Lesson 30 · Full Spiral Review — One Year Later#

Scene: One year later. The three friends meet again at the same meetup where they first met.

Conversation: Full cumulative dialogue covering all 30 lessons. Mentu and Linto now speak confidently. A new beginner walks up and says coi — the cycle begins again.

Format: Extended opening dialogue + cumulative vocabulary table + full spiral recall tables (Lessons 1–10, 11–20, 21–29) + capstone challenge.

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Summary: What Changes and Why#

Cumulative vocabulary targets by block#

Pimsleur target: ~150 core items across 30 units. On track.