Xavery Mpombo

English speakers who want to learn Swahili - Xavery is 100% your best option!! I went from not speaking a single word of Swahili besides “hakuna matata” to being able to make small talk and have surface level conversation in only a few short months to prepare for a trip to Tanzania. He has a VERY excellent grasp on how to teach a language effectively, and a very good instinct for understanding common mistakes from English speakers because he is also a great English speaker himself who has learned from the other direction. I have had many language teachers over the years and I can tell you Xavery is one of the best I’ve had. Truly a great teacher who communicates concepts effectively, and on top of that, is an incredibly kind and patient person! Look no further!! Xavery should be your Swahili teacher!

I'm so thankful and grateful to be formally learning noun classes with a native certified Swahili teacher! For me, this is the trickiest part of learning Swahili and Xavery is the best teacher to help guide you through this. I love his verb perspective approach, it is helping to unlock the mysteries of this new grammatical concept for me. Asante sana kwa kazi yako, Xavery. Wewe ni mwalimu bora!

These Swahili lessons with Mwalimu Xavery are an absolute joy! I learn so much while he patiently guides me and helps me correct any of the mistakes I'm making while speaking in Swahili. In addition to getting a thorough introduction and review to all of the aspects of Swahili grammar over the past three years, I have learned so much from Mwalimu Xavery about Swahili expressions as well as Tanzanian culture. It prepared me so well for my recent trip to Tanzania where I was able to have real conversations in Swahili with Tanzanian colleagues and the people I met in the hotels, restaurants, streets, etc. When they asked me how I was able to speak to them in Swahili I told them proudly that I had the best Swahili teacher who gave me the gift of Swahili. Asante sana kwa kipindi chetu cha leo, Xavery. Wewe ni balaa kubwa na nashukuru sana kwa kazi yako!

This is my son's 15th lesson - starting weekly lessons with Xavery some months ago to learn Swahili. Not only is my son extremely motivated (we are going back to volunteer again in Tanzania this July) - but Xavery has been fabulous in getting my son to the stage where he can have simple conversations across a range of subjects. More progress to come but this is one of my son's favorite things to do! Thanks so much Xavery.

Xavery began teaching our elementary school age children about a year and a half ago. They knew no Kiswahili. He worked with them for about half an hour 2-4 times per week. They are now conversational. He is patient and engaging. He continually tries to think of new ways to explain and engage our children. He is encouraging and kind!

I have finally made it to Tanzania after years of wanting to come here for work. I can’t tell you how much Mwalimu Xavery has prepared me for this trip! Thanks to him I was able to converse with the driver who picked me up at the airport, I was able to talk to the gentleman who installed a SIM card into my work phone and I have already had multiple conversations with hotel staff, all in Swahili. This is proof that Mwalimu Xavery’s teaching 1000% works. It is incredibly gratifying and rewarding to be able to have these conversations with Tanzanians in Swahili and not in English. Asante sana kwa kazi yako, Xavery. Nimefurahi sana kuweza kuzungumza kwa Kiswahili na Watanzania na nakushukuru sana kipindi chetu cha leo, Asante sana kwa kuja!