WSSU one of 100 institutions to offer Swahili

Have you ever wanted to learn more about African languages?  Seeking to fulfill your foreign language requirement? Consider Swahili elementary and intermediate level courses. 

According to the Stanford University Web site www.stanford.edu, an estimated 100 institutions teach Swahili in the United States, and Winston-Salem State is the only school in the Triad offering courses in the native African language. Swahili was first offered in fall 2008 when Dr. Leonard Muaka came to WSSU, and the class enrollment has steadily been increasing.

Swahili is spoken in several East African countries including Kenya, Tanzania and Somalia. The elementary levels of Swahili introduce the basic level of language. In these courses, students read stories and sing songs in Swahili and are taught grammar and communicative skills by talking to native Swahili speakers. 

Students who have never been exposed to the language or culture say that they appreciate the cultural exposure they are gaining by taking Swahili. 

Paige Watts, sophomore, justice studies major from Rocky Mount took Elementary Swahili I last spring. Watts said she was interested in learning Swahili because of her dream of studying abroad. 

"I would like to study abroad in Kenya next summer," Watts said. "I knew that learning Swahili would enable me to communicate in Kenya." 

Although Watts studied another foreign language in high school, she said it was completely different learning Swahili. 

"[In Swahili] We started off learning sentences, singing songs and watching TV clips," Watts said. "Within the first semester we were already having conversations and writing papers in Swahili." 

Watts participated in out-of-class activities to enhance her learning and to practice the language. During a foreign language informational meeting, Watts read a poem in Swahili. 

Kenneth Fishe, senior, marketing major from Charlotte, is enrolled in Elementary Swahili I. Fishe said he took Swahili to learn about the African culture and because the course counted as an elective. 

"I used Swahili at work [Best Buy] to have a basic conversation with a customer who was a native speaker," Fishe said.

"I added this [my proficiency in Swahili] to my resume because it will help me to standout when I'm interviewing for jobs. I know Spanish is what makes the world go around, but everyone is learning to speak Spanish." 

"I don't want to be average. I want to be the needle in the haystack during an interview, by being the only person who can speak Swahili," Fishe said. 

Most likely if you've seen the 1994 movie The Lion King, you are familiar with one popular Swahili phrase "Hakuna Matata," which means "no worries."

Kwanzaa, the African American annual holiday, is based on the Swahili culture. 

"By taking this course you can expand your horizon," Muaka said. "Through this language one can see how Africans do things. Swahili serves as a window through which they [students] can see the continent of Africa."

Muaka said the biggest obstacle for students taking the course is not being able to practice Swahili outside of the classroom. However, there are numerous incentives to learning Swahili. 

"Knowing the fundamentals of Swahili can assist you when applying for jobs," Muaka said. "It is a useful skill for the military, immigration offices for careers in the federal government, and when traveling abroad."

Muaka says students should study Swahili instead of other foreign languages so that they can be exposed to its diverse opportunities. 

"Being fluent in Swahili is something that's special…or different," Muaka said. 

"There are challenges when learning a foreign language, but the rewards are greater. Allow yourself to take the challenge of learning something unique."