r/swahili • u/Empty-Lifeguard1420 • 19d ago

Request 🔎 Resources to improve Kiswahili

Hi all, I am a long-time lurker, first-time poster on Reddit :) I am a Tanzanian who speaks not so great Kiswahili and I am looking for tools to improve my spoken Kiswahili. I can speak basic Kiswahili and my comprehension is decent, but I am definitely not fluent by any means and cannot hold a long conversation in Kiswahili.

At the moment, I cannot afford to pay for a tutor, so mostly looking for free online resources and would appreciate any suggestions. Thank you!

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4

u/Aranciata2020 19d ago

Somebody shared this page here a while back and it has been so helpful for me! https://www.swahilicheatsheet.com/

3

u/leosmith66 19d ago

Did you see our resource thread?
Language Transfer is a superb free grammar resource on youtube.
Language Crush has lots of free reading and listening resources.

1

u/Empty-Lifeguard1420 18d ago

I hadn't seen it. I'll check it out, thank you!

1

u/KingSnazz32 18d ago

I think Language Transfer is great for someone who is a native English speaker, but I've got to think the explanation of structure would be too simple for someone from Tanzania.

1

u/hideousdeity 19d ago

Install Swahilib on playstore

1

u/Empty-Lifeguard1420 18d ago

Done, thank you!

1

u/Fragrant-Document348 19d ago

If you are interested in languages tap me, I like talking about that topic and a few more interesting topics, exclusively in Kiswahili, I would be like a language(Kiswahili) practice partner and perhaps learn something from you too.

1

u/Empty-Lifeguard1420 18d ago

This would be great but I think I need to gain a little bit of confidence and then I'll hit you up!

1

u/Fragrant-Document348 16d ago

Once you are comfortable to talk, inform me. You don't need to be a pro max in Swahili though. It's enough exposure that makes you better everyday.

1

u/KingSnazz32 19d ago

Unaishi wapi? If you live in Tanzania, find a group of friends who speak Swahili and just force yourself to use the language all the time. It will feel strange at first, but you'll improve quickly.

2

u/Empty-Lifeguard1420 18d ago

In Kenya at the moment. Unfortunately my friends speak worse Kiswahili than me lol

2

u/KingSnazz32 18d ago

When people from Kenya say that to me, they usually mean they don't speak Kiswahili sanifu, not that they don't speak it fluently, meaning they speak Sheng, or throw in tons of English words, etc.

But you're still in an environment where there are lots of good Swahili speakers all around. I'd start watching more of your media in the language, look for a group of more educated people to join for some cultural activities. Use Swahili first whenever you meet someone, and resist using English. It will feel strange at first.

You could always book some classes on iTalki for about $6 an hour just to practice speaking with someone once or twice a week.

2

u/Aranciata2020 18d ago

I agree with everything here! Learning some Kiswahili in Kenya is still better than not learning at all. And I, too, have a teacher on italki, it is a great way to learn more and to have someone to ask more detailed grammar questions.

1

u/Fast-Ads-7587 18d ago

There's a good tutor on Preply that's about $3 per 50 min lesson. Very budget friendly.