Print Page | Close Window

Remainder of Swahili Course

Printed From: FSI Language Courses
Category: Learning Languages
Forum Name: General Discussion
Forum Discription: Discussion about studying languages using the FSI courses. If you would like to see a specific language forum not listed below, just let us know.
URL: http://fsi-language-courses.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=385
Printed Date: 16 January 2009 at 3:14am


Topic: Remainder of Swahili Course
Posted By: Alew
Subject: Remainder of Swahili Course
Date Posted: 30 April 2007 at 5:29pm
Hello All,

First I'd like to thank everyone who has made this site possible!  I have been using the site for a while now--especially the Spanish, Chinese, and more recently, Swahili courses.

Which brings me to my question:  I understand that gdfellow is very busy and appreciate everything he does to maintain this site.  There is no hurry, but I was wondering when we might be seeing the second half of the Swahili audio uploaded.  If demand is not high, of course, please focus on more popular courses first.  I had just noticed that the course had not been updated in a while and that the files were available.  I am only just nearing the end of Unit 21, so as I said before:  no hurry whatsoever!  Just asking.

Thanks!
Alew



Replies:
Posted By: gdfellows
Date Posted: 30 April 2007 at 7:42pm
Actually, I have posted more units in the Swahili course over the past few months than for any other course.  I'll try to keep an even flow until we get to unit 150!


Posted By: Alew
Date Posted: 01 May 2007 at 6:29pm
Oops --- sorry!  I guess I just haven't been paying much attention!

Thank you so much for all the great work you do on this site!
Alew


Posted By: cah2129
Date Posted: 16 October 2007 at 2:44pm
Yes, thank you for all the great work on this site!  Its super helpful as I'm trying to polish my swahili for some language bonus points so that I can join the FS.

I greatly appreciate all your effort and hope you'll be able to post the rest of the Swahili audio lessons!

Cheers,
Craig


Posted By: Plato the Young
Date Posted: 03 January 2008 at 10:21pm
Hello Everyone! I'm glad there are quite a few people out there who want to learn Swahili. If anyone needs any help with any of the units, just let me know as I am a native speaker of the language.

@gdfellows: I was wondering if there was any way we could assist you so as to expedite the process of getting audio files online (not just for Swahili but other languages as well). Is there anything we could do? e.g. donations, recordings, scanning, etc. Thanks as always for the good work and for keeping up this site! :)


-------------
Cheerio!

Plato the Younger


Posted By: dionis1976
Date Posted: 28 January 2008 at 6:30am
Dear All!
      I'm just a beginner in Swahili and I'll so much appricite if anybody share his or her own experience in studiing the language.
Thanks in advance.
 


-------------
with the best regards
Denis Derevyanko, MD, BA


Posted By: Palomnik
Date Posted: 28 January 2008 at 2:09pm
Dionis:  I learned Swahili 25 years ago when I lived in East Africa.  Believe it or not, it is really not very difficult to learn. 
 
As far as pronunciation goes, Swahili speakers tend to speak slowly and clearly.  There are no diphthongs in Swahili, so don't try to make some!  A word like kawaida has four syllables: ka-wa-i-da.  The rather difficult initial sound ng' is actually very rare in Swahili, so don't worry about getting stuck on it.
 
In fact, if you get out to Africa and actually start using Swahili, the major hurdle you'll have is that most people who speak Swahili don't follow the grammar very closely!  Bear in mind that although Swahili is spoken over a large area, only a few people along the coast speak it as their native language; for most other people their native language is their tribal language, and the rest learn Swahili in school or when they start to work, if they move to a big city.


Posted By: dionis1976
Date Posted: 31 January 2008 at 2:08am

PALOMNIK: THANKS FOR YOUR EXPLANATION I'M SURE IT'LL BE VERY USEFULL FOR ME.

 



-------------
with the best regards
Denis Derevyanko, MD, BA



Print Page | Close Window