Introduction to Swahili and East African Culture

This course introduces students to Swahili, the lingua franca of East Africa. Students will acquire a foundation for speaking, reading, and writing Swahili, and will learn how to use it appropriately in East African culture. The use of English in the classroom will be kept to a minimum after the first meeting. Students will also be introduced to the geography, history, politics, and lifestyles of East Africa. This course is particularly useful for students who intend to do study abroad programs or tourism in East Africa because its linguistic and cross-cultural training will give them the resources to maximize such an experience.