This language course is for beginners with none or just little knowledge of Swahili. The learners will be enabled to partake in everyday life communication. In addition to an outline of some basic grammatical features of the Bantu languages, Swahili idiomatic expressions and collocations will also be introduced. Certain aspects which are essential for intercultural understanding (e.g. hierarchy, gender relations, concepts of time) will be highlighted as appropriate.
Course objectives:
To develop basic Kiswahili communicative skills. The emphasis is on conversational skills, reading and writing. At the end of one year, students should have proficiency in greetings, introduction, making requests, giving and taking directions, bargaining, simple interaction at store, bus/train station, etc. Students write simple compositions describing themselves, events, etc.
To introduce the students to various aspects of Swahili culture through written texts, video and audiotapes, and slide pictures. Students learn and discuss cultural differences between Europe and East Africa. Grammatical structures are learned as needed.