Visited 2 hours ago
Mwalimu Tina
Smart Lesson
Community TutorTeaches
English
Native
Swahili
Speaks
French
Spanish
Kiswahili is My Second Language 🇹🇿 Fulbright Scholar🌐 Educator📚 Anthropologist🌍 Linguaphile💬
Teaches
English
Native
Swahili
Speaks
French
Spanish
Kiswahili is My Second Language 🇹🇿 Fulbright Scholar🌐 Educator📚 Anthropologist🌍 Linguaphile💬
About Me
Me as a Teacher
My lessons & teaching style
Resume & Certificates
From United StatesLiving in Kigoma, United Republic of Tanzania (23:13 UTC+03:00)
About Me
italki teacher since Oct 13, 2023InterestsTravelMusicWritingReadingHistory
Swahili is my second language through full immersion while living in Tanzania for many years. As an anthropologist, I bring a love for language and culture to my lessons. I acquired Swahili using a self-directed approach—with the leading resources, and through daily conversations with those close to me from Tanzania and DR Congo. This foundation allowed me to conduct postgraduate research in Swahili and complete my Master’s thesis/degree from the University of Dar-es-Salaam. I teach Swahili with the same supportive, friendly methods that helped me become fluent. As you build confidence in Swahili or English, we’ll read and converse to connect language with everyday life, family, and culture!Me as a Teacher
I bring the most unique perspective to Swahili instruction—I navigated the process and became fluent at the C2 level from the ground up, so I understand the challenges learners face. I use and develop evidence-based strategies to guide progress. My Swahili methods work—they are practical, clear, and rooted in experience. For six years, I've taught Swahili to refugees and relatives of Swahili speakers abroad, with prior roles in music education and university instruction. I keep lessons down-to-earth and to the point—I also embrace the importance of humor in the learning process! My goal is to help you feel confident, capable, and equipped to meet your Swahili and English goals—step-by-step. My lessons & teaching style
I specialize in teaching relatives of Swahili speakers using the leading language resources I’ve found through my research and my own immersive experience. I also teach researchers and travelers. My lessons prioritize conversational Swahili, from greetings (a key cultural custom)—to the most practical phrases—to your objectives and life passions. We emphasize listening, speaking, and reading—naturally integrating intonation and grammar—like noun classes, tenses, and verb extensions. My curriculum is centered on real, everyday Swahili—NOT rote memorization of random phrases or outdated tourist Swahili. I love teaching English and Tanzanian Swahili—it's fun and accessible to learn and speak!My teaching material
- PDF file
- Text Documents
- Presentation slides/PPT
- Audio files
- Image files
- Video files
- Articles and news
- Quizzes
- Graphs and charts
- Homework Assignments
Certificates
TEFL – Teaching English as a Foreign Language - Fullcircle - 2023
Fulbright Scholar - U.S. Fulbright Program - Fulbright U.S. Student Program - 2020
Teaching experience
2020 - Current
Kiswahili Tutor
Education
2014 - 2018
Bachelor’s - Cultural Anthropology, Anthropological Linguistics
2020 - 2023
Master's - Swahili Language, Anthropology, Music Culture
Work Experience
2022 - 2023
Volunteer English-Swahili Linguist
2022 - 2023
Volunteer English-Swahili Translator
2019 - 2020
Anthropology Researcher & Music TeacherConducted research and interviews in Kiswahili language about music culture through community immersion; Facilitated community Music & Debate Classes in Kiswahili language without use of English, interpreters or translators.
5.0
Rating
55
Students
401
Lessons
99%
Attendance rate
100%
Response rate
Swahili Lessons
Swahili
English
Trial Lesson
26 lessons completed
USD 11.00+
Mazungumzo kwa Kiswahili 💯 Real Conversations 🇹🇿 Speaking, Listening Comprehension, Advanced Grammar, Reading 🗣️📖 (Levels B1-C2)
B1 - C2Conversation59 lessons completed
USD 12.09+
Package with 10% off
🔑 UNLOCK KISWAHILI 🚪 Customized Curriculum for Communication 🇹🇿 Step-by-Step Kiswahili Acquisition for Real-Life (A1-B2)
A1 - B2Language Essentials181 lessons completed
USD 12.09+
Package with 10% off
📚 Grammar Mastery: Noun Classes, Verb Extensions, and Tenses ✚ Customized Language Services 📝 (Levels B1-C2)
B1 - C2Language Essentials25 lessons completed
USD 17.60+
Package with 10% off
Swahili for Two: Study Together 🌱 Grow Together 👩🏼💻👨🏾💻🧑🏻💻 (NEW!) Levels A1-C2
A1 - C2Language Essentials6 lessons completed
USD 18.14+
Package with 10% off
Travel and Cultural Consulting for Visitors and New Residents of East Africa (NEW!)
A1 - C2Conversation0 lessons completed
USD 12.09+
Package with 10% off
Availability
My creations
Vocabulary (2)
Quiz (3)
59 Reviews
All
Swahili
English
Lisa Badger
11 Swahili lessons
Teacher’s pick
Mwalimu Tina is an exceptional teacher. She has self-designed a curriculum that she trusts, merging several sources. But she is also adaptable. She can pivot to focus on topics you want to discuss. Best of all, I feel that she truly cares about her students’ progress. She is the only language teacher I have ever had who keeps notes on each of your lessons, sends a written reminder of homework and has a WhatsApp group for you to connect with her other Swahili students. 👍🏼
Oct 14, 2025
Kiki Morgan
22 Swahili lessons
Teacher’s pick
Mwalimu Tina is perhaps the most dedicated swahili teacher on the platform right now. Her knowledge of what tools and methods adult learners need for learning a language have been more than helpful in my learning journey. She energetic and adaptive, and designs her lessons around the interests of her students. Highly recommended for any beginners in Swahili!
Jul 27, 2025
Bob Payne
3 Swahili lessons
Mwalimu Tina provided the structure and clarity that I need for beginning Kiswahili. She is friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and made the process clear.
Apr 18, 2026
elisa b
25 Swahili lessons
Teacher’s pick
I'm very happy with Tina. She makes a personal plan for you. my Swahili improves every time! I am very happy with her, she is very creative, which makes the lessons interesting and fun.
I'm going to Tanzania next month so we'll adjust it accordingly. I got a lot of good tips for when I go there. she really thinks along!!!
Aug 19, 2025
Tara G
2 Swahili lessons
I love how class with Tina encourages me to get out of my comfort zone and speak more. As a student we tend to understand a bit more than we speak and are afraid to make mistakes speaking. But this class is a great environment to speak and stretch yourself little by little with swahili. Thanks Tina!
Apr 25, 2026
Tara G
2 Swahili lessons
Really enjoyed my first lesson with Mwalimu Tina. She is intuitive and very helpful to work with my learning style. I am very encouraged to continue learning Swahili with her.
Apr 17, 2026
Trial Lesson
USD 11.00
Your final payment will be made in USD