Smartphone apps often have mistakes in their Kiswahili programs. 😱 For example, one of the most popular language learning apps teaches "Ninasema Kiingereza" (I say English) 🙄 rather than the correct "Ninaongea Kiingereza" (I speak English). Learning these mistakes early can be difficult to correct later. 😪 And finding quality learning materials for Kiswahili is not easy when starting out. 📲📚For example, most apps and books fail to teach colloquial, everyday Kiswahili. One example: the subject marker is sometimes contracted (fused) with the tense marker. Most frequent is: NI + NA = NA. So, "Ni-na-soma" becomes "Na-soma." Remember: in FIRST PERSON, PRESENT TENSE, just combine NA + VERB STEM: "Nasoma" (I read), "Nafanya" (I do), etc. 🤓 Constantly saying, for example, "Ninasoma" or "Ninafanya" will advertise that you are either a tourist or don't know Kiswahili. 🙃 It would be like speaking English without ever using contractions! 😱 People would understand, but they would know that you are still struggling to speak conversationally. 🫠 All languages have colloquial, or conversational, speech. Kiswahili has a long oral tradition. It is a high-context, social language based in verbal communication. You wouldn't want to speak Kiswahili like a walking textbook or Duolingo Owl. Check out my quizzes to "up your street cred" when greeting in Kiswahili. 😎 Or, book a $5 Trial Lesson with me for 1-hour. We will use real-life, conversational Kiswahili beginning with the first lesson. 🗣️💬 Karibu!