perhaps a somewhat different 'learning Bangla' post

Not really about Kolkata, but a question for Kolkatans and other Bangalis.

I have a relative in the US who wants to learn Bangla. The problem is that the available teaching methods for English speakers are awful: books by Radice and Dimock, in various editions. They seem to treat Bangla as a linguistic exercise rather than a living language. Indeed, that reflects how Bangla is taught in W. Bengal as well: esoteric Sanskritic words that no one uses, shondhis, esoteric spelling (knowing the difference between rhoshyo ee and dirghyo ee, when in fact there is no useful difference), etc. None of this is designed to appeal to someone who wants to start speaking and reading Bangla.

It's not so much a matter of "simple". It's a matter of "practical". it is not necessary to be able to read 19th century literature (or the jawbreaking vocabulary of Ananda Bazar Patrika) when first starting out. It is important to know some cholti bhasha, both spoken and written.

So with that long introduction: are there any books or materials that teach the living language to English speakers? If necessary, Bangladeshi Bangla would work also, but I haven't found anything good on the web, even though this is the language of one of the world's most populous nations.

Many thanks in advance for any suggestions (but note that I have probably already found the obvious ones).

US is a big country. Where ? One can easily start speaking benglish in Queens, NY or NYC Taxi bhery bhery phast

Yes, I suppose. But in this case, a small town in Colorado.

I looked into Skype-based tutoring, but there seemed to be nothing beyond one or two people of dubious qualifications and aspirational hourly rates.

If it is skype, then it could be anywhere from Hooker,OK to New Jalpaiguri,WB ? I am surprised there were no takers from craiglist or Bengali-outstation in University of Colorado, CS.
I'll broker a deal if the price is right (After all that is what NooYoka's do) Introduce buyers and sellers a.k.a market makers

The tutor listing her services on the net was from W. Bengal somewhere, but her academic qualifications were in some scientific subject and she was asking $20/hour. That's not high in US terms, but not reasonable for someone without reviews, references, experience or credentials.

Knowing Bangla and teaching Bangla are two different things!

There is no TESL type TBFB or TBLS certification programs for Bengali. Unfortunately, Bangla certification is now been appropriated by them neighbors across the delta. Bengalis do not need references or reviews because a typical bong mom is Sob Janta

Hey, if backpacking, dreadlocked gringa can think of teaching American/Australian/Scottish/Romanian version of English without experience, or credentials....in India; definitely a bhalo bong mom can remotely do a similar job - maybe better

http://milonee.net/