My name is Umuhoza Karen, I teach Swahili and Kinyarwanda, I am really passionate about teaching languages, traveling, wildlife, making new friends, singing, dancing, working out and cooking. I am a very fun person and I love to spread positive energy wherever I am, I’m a little bit obsessed with traveling and learning new cultures, I enjoy dancing. I find working out very helpful to my health, mind and body, so I try to do it on a daily basis. Are you also obsessed with working out? I can say I am an East African girl because I had the opportunity to live in all of the East African countries including Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi. I was born in Tanzania, started my Primary school there then later moved to Rwanda where I did my high school. One year later, I moved to Kenya for University, where I took Urban and Regional Planning. I am currently a teacher based in Kenya, but I have been traveling to West Africa, I really love their food and I must say that Jollof rice and Plantain are my go to. If I was an animal, I would definitely be a GIRAFFE. What is your spirit animal?

Hi italki users, How are you getting along with your teacher? Would you like to know more about your teacher? Maybe he or she is a photographer, an IT Tech guy, or a cat lover. If you haven't found your perfect match, maybe you can take this opportunity to find a teacher who better matches your personal needs. Why not head over to the #KnowMyTeacher page to browse teachers with different personalities?

Do you know how many new English words are created every day? In the modern world, approximately 14.7 new words are generated per day. As the social media savvy, you must have acquired some new trending words. Let’s explore these slang words together and present the trendy side of you! Join our #TrendingWords event and introduce at least one word to us. Context explanation in the form of pics is highly recommended to stimulate other language learners to catch up with the trending culture. Everybody who enters has a chance of winning $10 in italki credits.

Hi italki teachers, Your shining points and styles are highly valued by italki. Under the topic #KnowMyTeacher, you can share your name, your teaching language, your passion and everything about yourself with the students so they'll know what a charming person you are. You can post your academic background, teaching experience and style, personality, and achievements on italki, etc. Anyway, try to make the post fun and creative, with no limits to content, pics, and even voice messages. Please remember to add the #KnowMyTeacher hashtag in your post(s). This is your time to shine and show the best of you to your students!

It’s fairly sunny today. In my class, I learned needs and wants, and how to spend our money wisely. In my opinion, it’s easier said than done. I think my mom has a difficulty to define what are needs. To her, everything she wants are needs and the others' needs are wants. Even I can tell the utility bills and mortgage payments must be dealt with first. She could have managed things better if she had learned this lesson at my age. God bless her heart.