Swahili Beginners Step 1 (Online)

This course is the first step of three progressive steps to complete our beginners level in Swahili.

This course is taught in Swahili. You will learn to introduce yourself, ask basic questions about others, talk about your daily routine and describe your family. You will need to buy a dictionary to support your learning on this course. You will find details of this in the ‘What you’ll learn’ section of the course overview. Please do not purchase any materials until your course is confirmed to run.

You will develop listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in your weekly online classes, held on Zoom, and through further interactive and independent activities, on our learning platform, Canvas.  

Class-based activities include speaking, small-group role-plays, listening to dialogues or watching video clips.  

Because language learning requires regular practice, you will consolidate your skills with vocabulary, grammar and writing exercises between classes.  

You will need access to a computer equipped with a camera and microphone, a headset or earphones and a reliable internet connection. You will be provided with all necessary course materials digitally.  

If you have fully engaged with all the learning activities and have attended regularly, by the end of the course, you should be able to:

• Introduce yourself and ask basic questions to others (e.g. What is your name? Where do you come from?)
• Talk about your daily routine
• Describe your family

The above list is indicative and may be subject to change.

You will need to buy the following dictionary:

• Ruman Swahili Picture Dictionary: Kamusi Ya Kiswahili Yanye Picha. ISBN: 9781734925197

This course is for complete beginners.  If you have previously learned Swahili and are unsure of your level, please self-assess.

We welcome all and are committed to fostering a positive culture and sense of community among learners and staff. We expect learners to treat others with dignity and respect. Learners must be aged 16+.

If you have a disability, learning difficulty, health condition, or personal circumstances which may affect your learning, please let us know so that we can make appropriate adjustments in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

Wherever possible, we mainstream adjustments in line with the University’s Accessible and Inclusive Learning Policy. 

Learners will have limited access to the University’s student support services who will signpost appropriate local sources of support.

This is a complete beginners course for those with no prior knowledge of Swahili. 

You will need to have reading, listening and communication skills, including the ability to understand detailed ideas and information presented verbally and in writing. You must be comfortable learning in English if it is not your first language. You will need basic digital skills, such as using a computer and navigating a website, to access the learning materials.

Booking is available until 23:59 the day before the course is due to start, unless the course is full or cancelled.