⚠️ ENGLISH STUDENTS MUST BE AT INTERMEDIATE (B2) LEVEL OR ABOVE. 
🇹🇿 Swahili students can be complete beginners to advanced level. 🇰🇪
🇫🇷 Je parle français intermédiaire. 🇨🇩

I offer a full 1-HOUR trial lesson. This is YOUR customized Swahili or English trial lesson– whether you want help with a certain area of the language, or if you want to see if I am the teacher for you. 🤓 

With my curriculum and materials, I generally work with motivated students for the long term, especially students who have partners, friends, and relatives who are Swahili or English speakers. It's fulfilling to help connect families across cultures. Before our Trial Lesson, send me a message to tell me about your language journey so I can prepare for our first lesson. 

⚡ Get to know each other– brief Teacher/Student introductions
⚡ Discuss WHY you are studying this language– family, work, travel, volunteering, etc.
⚡ Your OBJECTIVE: what YOU want to know– what GOALS you want to FOCUS on
⚡ Tell me the LEARNING style you prefer– conversational, organized step-by-step, or both
⚡ What TOPICS you like, want, or need to be able to discuss in the language
⚡ Assess your CEFR language LEVEL– what apps, materials, classes you have taken
⚡ Recommend a course PATH for you & the best way to develop YOUR Swahili or English
🔥 Demo teaching: Dive right into a lesson on the first day and start speaking! 🗣️ 
⚡ Summary, Homework, and our Next Lesson plans
💥 For Swahili: You will leave with my customized Introductory PDF "packet"

You will walk away from this lesson with a specific language goal in an established amount of time. For example, "I want to be able to speak Swahili with native speakers within ____ months" or "I want to prepare a work presentation in English within ____ weeks."  

Karibu! Bienvenue! ¡Bienvenido! Benvenuto! Bem-vindo! Добро пожаловать! Welcome!

⚠️ I DO NOT TEACH BEGINNERS IN ENGLISH (ONLY SWAHILI BEGINNERS). ENGLISH STUDENTS MUST BE AT INTERMEDIATE LEVEL B2 OR ABOVE. ⚠️

Step into a stress-free, fully Tanzanian Kiswahili environment with guided conversation practice designed to build your confidence and fluency. 🗣️💬 This course is perfect if you are approaching B1 level: you can already manage basic conversations and understand slowly and carefully spoken Kiswahili directed toward you. No English needed 🗑️—it's time to dive in! 🔥

👉 What we'll talk about: Daily routines, recent activities and events, language learning, music and movies, popular culture, history, current world events, and more! You’re also welcome to bring specific grammar areas you would like to strengthen through conversation practice. I especially enjoy discussing culture, society, anthropology, history, and global affairs — and I'm always excited to learn something new from you too.

👉 What we'll do together: Explore original stories, comics, and graphic novels in pure Kiswahili. 💥📚 Take "virtual tours" of real places around Lake Tanganyika — towns, villages, and farms I came to know during my years of research and living in Kigoma, Tanzania. 📸🌴Use Virtual Reality, 360º photographs, and Google Maps to bring language learning to life! 🗺️

👉 We will naturally develop more advanced grammar, such as: Verb extensions, Conditional and compound tenses, Negative tenses in past and future, The location noun class, Comparing noun classes, Expanding your professional and academic vocabulary for research or work. My goal is to help you reach a strong B2-C2 level, where you feel comfortable communicating fully in Kiswahili with native speakers — without needing English.

👉 I use Comprehensible Input (Krashen) and Total Physical Response (Asher) methods to make language acquisition natural and interactive. 💡🙌 Expect lots of visuals, dynamic gestures, miming, props, and storytelling to make every lesson memorable. After each session, I’ll send you a document summarizing new vocabulary and key phrases. 📄

Karibu sana! Let’s bring your Kiswahili to life together.

Mazungumzo kwa Kiswahili 💯 Real Conversations 🇹🇿 Speaking, Listening Comprehension, Advanced Grammar, Reading 🗣️📖 (Levels B1-C2)

In this course, you will build the foundations for navigating daily life on your Kiswahili safari—your personal language journey. 🌍 I’ve designed a structured, no-stress curriculum using the leading Kiswahili resources, combined with my own immersion experiences and research.

✅ Conversational Kiswahili— natural, everyday language. No outdated textbook phrases, no "tourist Kiswahili."
✅ Structured and Personalized Curriculum— a clear, customized plan that naturally integrates grammar, conversation, and culture. 📚
✅ Supplemental Learning Aids— online resources, videos, and songs delivered to your inbox, personalized to your interests. 🎶🍛
✅ Teacher-Created PDFs and Audio— exclusive materials with simple, real-world stories to reinforce your learning. 📄🎧
✅ Personalized Feedback and Homework— after each lesson, you’ll know your next steps. ✏️
✅ Support Between Lessons— send me messages or voice notes anytime for questions, corrections, and encouragement. 📱💬
✅ Monthly Group Lessons— meet other students and practice together in a supportive environment. 🧑‍💻🧑‍💻🧑‍💻

🔵 Beyond Coastal Kiswahili: Most resources focus only on coastal dialects. My curriculum includes continental Kiswahili—the everyday language of inland Tanzania and Eastern Congo. 🌍

🔵 Proven Language Methods: I use Comprehensible Input (Krashen) and Total Physical Response (Asher) techniques, making learning intuitive through visuals, gestures, and storytelling. 💡🙌

🔵 Immediate Communication: From your first lesson, you’ll start building sentences and speaking naturally in Kiswahili. 🗣️ I understand the challenges of being an adult learner—I’ll teach you the strategies and shortcuts that few people are shown. 💯

Through real conversations, videos, music, and stories, we will immerse ourselves in Swahili culture, history, and politics—all at a pace tailored to you. By the end of this 28-lesson course, our goal is for you to confidently communicate with your first conversation partner! 🚀

🔑 UNLOCK KISWAHILI 🚪 Customized Curriculum for Communication 🇹🇿 Step-by-Step Kiswahili Acquisition for Real-Life (A1-B2)

Master the core elements of Kiswahili grammar that are essential for intermediate and advanced learners: Noun Classes, Verb Extensions, and Tenses (including Compound Tenses). This course breaks down these complex grammar areas into clear, easy-to-understand terms specifically for English speakers. 🌍 🇹🇿 🇨🇩 🇰🇪

In each lesson, we will unlock the patterns that make Kiswahili grammar approachable — so you can "level up" your fluency and move towards advanced proficiency. I teach from my own experience of acquiring Kiswahili as a second language in Tanzania, and I understand the challenges learners face as adults.

Why This Course?

👉 Customized Learning: Whether you need to focus on one area or all three (Noun Classes, Verb Extensions, and Tenses), I tailor the lessons to your specific needs.

👉 Simple, Clear Explanations: I break down complex grammar into digestible, pattern-based lessons that are easy to apply in real conversations. 🗣️

👉 Proven Methods: Learn through practical examples and structured lessons, combining both theory and application for real-world Kiswahili use.

Special Customizations Available: 

If you have specific needs outside the standard course content, I offer personalized arrangements based on your learning goals. Previous customizations have included:

✔️ Translation & transcription support
✔️ Research preparation & consultation
✔️ Cultural consultation
✔️ Focus on Congolese Swahili
✔️ East African music integration
✔️ Lessons for adolescents (14+)
✔️ Self-study independent curriculum
✔️ In-person meetings and consultations

If you'd like a different study plan or have unique objectives, please contact me before booking to discuss your needs and pricing.

Let’s work together to enhance your Kiswahili grammar and build a deeper understanding of the language’s structure and nuances! 🚀

📚 Grammar Mastery: Noun Classes, Verb Extensions, and Tenses ✚ Customized Language Services 📝 (Levels B1-C2)

Hi, I'm Tina! I'm from California 🏖️🏞️, but I live in East Africa, where I teach Swahili and English. In 2024, italki gave me the opportunity to help students not only with Swahili, but also with my native language— American English! 

This is a guided conversation class that is 100% in English. 🗣️💬 It’s perfect for Intermediate to Advanced learners (B2–C2) who want to improve their fluency, pronunciation, rhythm, and speaking confidence in American English.

🌟 What You Can Expect:
✅ Natural Conversation Practice customized to your level, interests, and goals
✅ Corrections in grammar, pronunciation, rhythm, and natural stress patterns of American English
✅ Friendly and clear feedback to help you sound more fluent and natural
✅ New vocabulary and idiomatic expressions introduced naturally through conversation
✅ Notes after class with corrections, vocabulary, and next steps
✅ Neutral, standard American English accent

🎯 Topics and Activities:
✔️ Read and Discuss: Short stories 📖 and photography 📸 from around the world—including people of the United States 🌍 We can explore places together through Google Maps! 🗺️
✔️ Grammar & Vocabulary Practice: Work on advanced grammar (compound tenses, phrasal verbs) and build professional or academic vocabulary
✔️ Custom Materials: Bring your own article, story, or area of English you'd like to improve! 📝
✔️ Exam Speaking Practice: Get ready for IELTS and TOEFL speaking sections with supportive coaching

As an anthropologist, I understand how language connects with culture and thought—and I’ll help you approach English from the perspective of your native language. I have helped people from around the world reach new levels of English fluency.

I love to laugh while learning and enjoy discussing ideas— from society, history, and anthropology to archaeology, philosophy, and geography. What about you? What would you love to talk about?

⚠️ I DO NOT TEACH BEGINNERS IN ENGLISH. ENGLISH STUDENTS MUST BE AT B2 LEVEL OR ABOVE.

Conversation Practice 🗣️ with Corrections 🇺🇸 in American English (Levels B2-C2)

Save money by studing Kiswahili together with a partner, family member, friend, or colleague — while staying motivated together! 🎯✨ Learning together often makes the journey more fun, more serious, and more successful.

In these semi-private lessons (maximum 2 students), we will follow my structured curriculum for Kiswahili acquisition, while customizing the lessons to fit the levels, goals, and interests of each student.

🌟 What’s Included:
✅ Personalized group learning plan adapted to both students
✅ A private group chat for homework, feedback, and questions 📚
✅ Practical focus on real conversation and cultural understanding
✅ Curriculum adjustments for special topics like family language, cultural connections, or professional needs

One of my greatest passions is helping students who have personal or family connections to East Africa. Whether your goal is to:

☑️ Speak with your partner and your partner's family and in-laws
☑️ Reconnect with a parent's native language
☑️ Prepare for research, work, or life in East Africa alongside a colleague

I have personally experienced two of these journeys myself, and I’m excited to help you achieve your goals. 🤝🌍

Note: This course is designed for two students maximum.
Please message me before booking so we can ensure the best fit for both of you!

Karibuni sana— welcome! 🌟

Swahili for Two: Study Together 🌱 Grow Together 👩🏼‍💻👨🏾‍💻🧑🏻‍💻 (NEW!) Levels A1-C2

Whether you are planning to visit Tanzania, Congo or Kenya for a few weeks, many months, or you are moving here, in this class, I want to answer all your questions and advise you based on my years of experience. I have experienced the beauty and the disappointments. Come prepared with questions, but I can also help you with:

–Language "faux pas" or taboos
–Cultural "faux pas" or taboos
–Dress "faux pas" or taboos

My goal is that I want to help you. I want you to experience all the beauty and build wonderful memories. But I also don't want you to make the same mistakes I made, or worse, unknowingly have trouble you didn't see coming. Other things we can discuss are:

–Local prices for goods, food, transport and lodging
–How "street slang" can help you integrate 
–Connect you with honest contacts in East Africa

If you purchase at least 1 package (either this package, or a Kiswahili language package), I will be there to answer questions via chat anytime during your travels. 

This course comes from my expert knowledge as a cultural and linguistic anthropologist, as well as being a normal human being with the same concerns and dreams as you. I have been there. I did this before you, and I would love to help through travel and cultural consulting! We can do the class in English only, Kiswahili only, or we can mix the languages. Let's address your concerns and expectations together!

Travel and Cultural Consulting for Visitors and New Residents of East Africa (NEW!)

Conducted 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.