1. 5-WEEK Introductory Course
KISWAHILI
5-WEEK
Introductory Course

2. OBJECTIVES Acquire rapid foundation in spoken/written forms of the TL.
Familiarize with complexity of Kiswahili & East African cultures.
Provide comprehensive language skills for practical usage.

3. TOPICS PERSONAL: Home & Family Friends Housing Personal Interests
Entertaining

4. TOPICS (cont’d) PUBLIC: Shopping Travel Transport Health
Hotels and Restaurants

5. TOPICS (cont’d) OCCUPATIONAL: Basic working environment
Official functions
Interacting with colleagues

6. TOPIC: Personal - Samples
Greetings: Appropriate – time of day, occasions, Islamic greetings, cultural implications (M/F; young, elderly person, community leaders etc.)
Inviting guests to an event; agreeing on place/date/time. Accepting / declining invitation.
Giving thanks / apologizing.

7. TOPIC: Personal - Samples
Expressing likes/dislikes, personal views on simple matters.
Talking about the host country and USA.
Discussing day-to-day activities & routines.
Introducing self & others; asking questions / giving information about place of origin, profession, address, phone number, , etc.

8. TOPIC: Public - Samples
Shopping- asking for prices, negotiating.
Asking for travel information.
Asking where places are – giving and understanding directions.
Making travel arrangements.
Reading/understanding most common public notices and signs.

9. TOPIC: Occupational - Samples
Using Swahili military and related specialized language.
Carrying out basic, work related interview.
Conducting basic liaison interpreting and translating simple texts.
Giving and receiving basic instructions and dealing with misunderstandings (e.g. training).

10. TOPIC: Occupational - Samples
Dealing with simple administrative/clerical tasks that require contact with the public.
Arranging meetings about work related matters.
Understanding essential information in informal & brief meetings, speeches etc.
Giving short, informal speeches (e.g. thanking visitors, opening a meeting).

11. METHODS Direct method Scenarios for role-play
Listening practice (e.g. conversations)
A/V Internet material – focus on current events / topics.

12. METHODS (cont’d)
Focus on better understanding of culture beyond usual do’s and don’ts.
Focus on enabling graduates to work more effectively within Kiswahili communities both in –
East African region, and
internationally

13. LEARNING RESOURCES Tailor made worksheets, grammar, vocabulary sheets
Newspaper, tapes, DVDs/videos, texts, brochures
Briefing packages (bilingual) background information on East Africa, specialized topics, history, economy, education, politics, environment.
General and language maps of Africa.

14. RESOURCES - OTHER Radio France International BBC World Service / VOA
TV – Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda
faculty.virginia.edu/swahililanguage (scenarios to develop LC skills)
“ZanziNews” (social commentaries on national/international events)

15. THE COURSE Wk. 1: Personal Information Wk. 2: Family
Wk. 3: Cost of Living / Industry / Security / Government
Wk. 4: Customs / Trade / Land Issues
Wk. 5: Education / Health

16. One Day – Week 3 Period 1: Rvw. Of independent practice & journal
Period 2: Consolidating: military vocabulary; giving / checking directions / requests / suggestions
Period 3: Arms / drug smuggling / human trafficking
Oral/written presentations /translations/ reading comprehension

17. One Day – Week 3 (cont’d) Period 4: Army / Police Forces in E. Africa
Period 5: Security around the region
Period 6: US aid
INDEPENDENT PRACTICE (aka “Homework”):
Prepare oral report on historical commercial relations between US and Zanzibar

18. Interpreting – Week 3
Student: Official of US Embassy in E. Africa. Meeting with local Minister of Information – concerned about distorted view of VOA African Service in his/her country.
Tasks:
Exchange greetings / explain VOA is free to express opinions / offers other opinions as well / assurances etc.

19. Success !
1st student to complete three, five-week iterations
3 /3