A method and system for teaching a tonal language in which the meaning of at least some words depends on the application of one of a plurality of tones. The method includes associating each of the plurality of tones with a hand position, expressing one of the at least some words and applying one of the tones to that word, and simultaneously with expressing the word, asserting a hand position associated with the applied one of the plurality of tones. Alternatively or in combination with the hand position, a color and/or a hand movement may be associated with a tone. The method may be embodied in a recorded medium such as CD or DVD.