Undergraduate Course: Introductory Swahili Language and Culture 1A (AFRI08004)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Introductory Swahili Language and Culture 1A provides a contemporary, interactive, stimulating and effective introduction to both the Swahili language, which is the most international and widely-spoken of all the indigenous languages on the African continent, and various aspects of modern and traditional East African culture.
By the end of the course, students will be comfortable interacting in Swahili in everyday situations and will have a solid understanding of around 400 - 500 items of vocabulary, the key tenses and majority of the noun class system. They will also have been introduced to several elements of Swahili culture and will have discussed the lives of several important individuals in East African history. Completion of Introductory Swahili Language and Culture 1A will qualify students to continue onto Introductory Swahili Language and Culture 1B if they wish to do so. |
| Course description |
Introductory Swahili Language and Culture 1A aims to provide students with a strong grounding in the key concepts of Swahili grammar, over 500 vocabulary items and an introductory insight into both traditional and contemporary elements of East African culture and society. The course also aims to be challenging, stimulating and interactive, providing students with ample opportunity for practice in speaking, reading, writing and listening.
Introductory Swahili Language and Culture 1A is based on a newly-designed curriculum and an innovative approach to learning that seeks to integrate an intensive and effective acquisition of the Swahili language with an understanding of the social and cultural conditions that continue to shape its development to this day. The knowledge developed through the course will not only benefit learners in everyday interactions, but also in integrating into East African culture and life and viewing their own relationship to the region from fresh perspectives.
By the end of the course, students will be comfortable interacting in Swahili in everyday situations and will have a solid understanding of basic vocabulary, the key tenses and majority of the noun class system. They will also have been introduced to several elements of Swahili culture and will have discussed the lives of several important individuals in East African history. Completion of Introductory Swahili Language and Culture 1A will qualify students to continue onto Introductory Swahili Language and Culture 1B if they wish to do so.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- By the end of Introductory Swahili Language and Culture 1A students will:
- understand over 500 items of Swahili vocabulary, including important verbs, adjectives and nouns in both singular and plural forms. - - be able to communicate using four key tenses in both the affirmative and the negative.
- - be confident in using the first ten Swahili noun classes, including how to make agreements within sentences.
- - be aware of some key figures in East African society (e.g., Wangari Maathai, Bi Kidude, Julius Nyerere), and demonstrate a working knowledge of both traditional and contemporary cultural norms in the region.
- - be confident communicating in a range of situations and on a variety of themes relevant to everyday life in East Africa.
See Supporting Documents for further detail on how the course complies with SCQF Level 08 intended learning outcome indicators (i.e., Knowledge and understanding; Practice: Applied knowledge, skills and understanding; Generic cognitive skills; Communication, ICT and numeracy skills; Autonomy, accountability and working with others).
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Reading List
- TUKI. Kamusi ya Kiswahili-Kiingereza/Swahili-English Dictionary. 2001. Dar es Salaam: Institute of Kiswahili Research.
- TUKI. English- Swahili Dictionary/Kamusi ya Kiingereza-Kiswahili. 2009. Dar es Salaam: Institute of Kiswahili Research.
- Wilson, Peter. 1985. Simplified Swahili. London: Longman.
There is no set textbook as the tutor is currently developing one specifically for the course. The materials from this will be provided to the students by the tutor. The textbook will be complete by August 2015. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Swahili Kiswahili Language Culture Africa Kenya Tanzania Uganda |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Thomas Molony
Tel: (0131 6)50 6976
Email: Thomas.Molony@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Emma Thomson
Tel: (0131 6)50 3932
Email: Emma.Thomson@ed.ac.uk |
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