This Swahili language course is designed for both elementary and high school students whose first language is Swahili. It focuses on building strong vocabulary, speaking confidence, and everyday communication skills.
The course has two levels:
Level 1 (Elementary) – Simple words, short sentences, role-play and games.
Level 2 (High School) – Expanded vocabulary, full sentences, structured dialogues and short writing exercises.
Objective: Students will learn how to greet, introduce themselves, and ask someone’s name politely.
Vocabulary Focus: Hello (habari), goodbye (kwaheri), thank you (asante), how are you? (habari gani?), I’m fine (nzuri), my name is… (jina langu ni…), what’s your name? (jina lako nani?), nice to meet you (nimefurahi kukutana nawe).
Level 1 Activities: Greeting circle game, name-swap role-play, greeting song.
Level 2 Activities: Dialogue practice (meeting for the first time), short written self-introduction, cultural discussion on greeting elders vs friends.
Objective: Students can name family members and describe simple relationships.
Vocabulary Focus: Mother (mama), father (baba), sister (dada), brother (kaka), grandmother (bibi), grandfather (babu), aunt (shangazi/mama mdogo), uncle (mjomba/baba mdogo), cousin (binamu), this is my… (huyu ni…), he/she is my… (yeye ni…).
Level 1 Activities: Draw and label a family tree, “Guess who?” family game.
Level 2 Activities: Write 5–8 sentences about your family, interview a partner about their family, share cultural differences in family structure.
Objective: Students can name rooms, objects, and nearby places, and describe where things are.
Vocabulary Focus: Bedroom (chumba cha kulala), kitchen (jikoni), living room (sebuleni), park (uwanja/eneo la kupumzika), shop (duka), school (shule), church (kanisa), mosque (msikiti), near (karibu), far (mbali), next to (karibu na).
Level 1 Activities: Picture labeling of rooms, “Where is it?” object-finding game.
Level 2 Activities: Describe your house in 6–10 sentences, create a simple neighborhood map and present it.
Objective: Students can talk about daily routines using simple present tense.
Vocabulary Focus: Wake up (kuamka), eat breakfast (kula kifungua kinywa), go to school (kwenda shuleni), study (kusoma), play (kucheza), pray (kuomba/kusali), sleep (kulala), every day (kila siku), in the morning (asubuhi), in the evening (jioni).
Level 1 Activities: Routine flashcard matching, act-out daily activities.
Level 2 Activities: Write a daily routine paragraph, pair-share routines and find similarities.
Objective: Students can name common foods and drinks, ask for items, and talk about preferences.
Vocabulary Focus: Rice (wali), bread (mkate), tea (chai), milk (maziwa), meat (nyama), chicken (kuku), banana (ndizi), orange (chungwa), sugar (sukari), price (bei), I like… (napenda…), I want… (nataka…), how much? (ni bei gani?).
Level 1 Activities: “What’s in the basket?” shopping game, food tasting with naming.
Level 2 Activities: Role-play shopkeeper and customer, create a short shopping list and present it.
Objective: Students can talk about school subjects, people, and objects in the classroom.
Vocabulary Focus: Teacher (mwalimu), student (mwanafunzi), desk (meza/beni), chair (kiti), book (kitabu), pen (kalamu), math (hisabati), science (sayansi), Swahili (Kiswahili), art (sanaa), favorite (ninayependa zaidi), subject (somo).
Level 1 Activities: Classroom item scavenger hunt, “Find your subject” matching game.
Level 2 Activities: Write about your favorite subject and why, role-play a teacher–student conversation.
Objective: Students can name means of transport and places, and ask for/give directions.
Vocabulary Focus: Bus (basi), car (gari), bicycle (baiskeli), airport (uwanja wa ndege), station (kituo), turn left (geuka kushoto), turn right (geuka kulia), straight (moja kwa moja), where is…? (… iko wapi?), I’m going to… (naenda …).
Level 1 Activities: Transport picture match, role-play asking for a place.
Level 2 Activities: Draw a map and guide a partner, write a short travel plan to a chosen city.
Objective: Students can describe weather and seasons, and express preferences.
Vocabulary Focus: Sunny (jua), rainy (mvua), windy (upepo), cloudy (wingu), hot (joto), cold (baridi), spring (majira ya kuchipua), summer (kiangazi), autumn (majira ya kupukutika kwa majani), winter (baridi kali).
Level 1 Activities: Weather flashcard bingo, weather-song with actions.
Level 2 Activities: Write a weather report, compare weather in two seasons.
Objective: Students can describe basic health problems and express emotions.
Vocabulary Focus: Headache (maumivu ya kichwa), stomachache (maumivu ya tumbo), fever (homa), happy (furaha), sad (huzuni), tired (nimechoka), angry (nimekasirika), sick (mgonjwa), I feel… (najihisi…), I need… (nahitaji…).
Level 1 Activities: Feelings charades, “Doctor and patient” role-play.
Level 2 Activities: Write advice for common illnesses, discuss ways to stay healthy.
