Learn Swahili with Us
We provide comprehensive, personalized instruction in a classroom setting in Tanzania and online to students worldwide
Swahili lessons to fit your needs... and more
Real-time online lessons anywhere in the world via Skype or WhatsApp video chat
Real-time online lessons anywhere in the world via Skype or WhatsApp video chat
Real-time online lessons anywhere in the world via Skype or WhatsApp video chat
Enjoy one-on-one sessions from your own home or office. Video chats allow students to interact with their teacher as if they were together in the classroom in Tanzania. As you and your teacher get to know each other, you'll practice conversing in Swahili and you won't just learn the language, you'll make a new friend in Tanzania!
Private or group classes on-site in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Real-time online lessons anywhere in the world via Skype or WhatsApp video chat
Real-time online lessons anywhere in the world via Skype or WhatsApp video chat
If you are in Dar es Salaam for work or pleasure, sign up for individual or group lessons with colleagues or friends in a classroom setting. It also usually possible to make arrangements for your teacher to meet you at your hotel, office, or other location that you might prefer.
Cultural training, Interpreting, Translation and Liaison Services
Real-time online lessons anywhere in the world via Skype or WhatsApp video chat
Cultural training, Interpreting, Translation and Liaison Services
We can help you understand how things work and help you get things done, even if you're located in a different country. Whether you just have a question about cultural nuances, need a document translated, need an interpreter to accompany you in the field, or someone to hand-deliver documents for you, we are here for you.
Activities
Enhancing cultural understanding while having fun!
We love seeing our students here in Tanzania (especially Dar es Salaam) whether they work here or come to visit. In addition to language lessons, we offer guided activities that are both fun and educational. Activities include visits to:
- Kariakoo Market - Dar es Salaam
- Bagamoyo - Pwani
- Dar es Salaam Zoo - Kigamboni
- Pugu Hills
- Art centre
- Mbudya Island
- Bongoyo Island
- Picnics on weekend
- Other activities as and when available.
Ask your teacher for more details.
Interpreter, Translation, and Liaison Services
With SwahiliPlus, you have a partner on site in Tanzania to help you understand how things work and to help you get things done, even if you're located in a different country. Whether you just have a question about cultural nuances, need a document translated, need an interpreter to accompany you in the field, or someone to hand-deliver documents for you, we are here for you.
Interpreter services
In large cities like Dar es Salaam and Dodoma, it is usually possible to do business in English, but this is not the case once you travel to smaller towns and villages. If you don't speak Swahili at all or are not yet confident that you're fluent enough to go it alone, call on SwahiliPlus to join you in meetings, focus groups, fact-finding trips, etc. to act as your interpreter.
Pricing of interpreter services assumes the work will be done outside of Dar es Salaam. Special rates may apply for interpreter services that don't require travel.
Interpreter Services: TZS 220,000/US $99.00 per day (assumes 5 hours or more)
PLUS
Travel to sites where interpreter service to be performed: TZS 110,000/US $49 per day (assumes travel time 5 hours or more)
Translation services
Call on SwahiliPlus for those times when you need business or personal correspondence or other documents to be written in Swahili. We can also proof documents that you have written or had translated into Swahili to make sure they convey the desired information correctly.
Translation Services: $0.05/Word
Subtitling: $5.00/Minute
Editing: $0.025/Word
Proofreading: $0.02/Word
Liaison Services
Doing business in Tanzania has its challenges, especially for companies located in other countries who may need things done in between trips to Dar es Salaam. For example, it's often preferable or just plain necessary to submit hard copy documents to government agencies and other organizations. And especially if you need things done quickly, having a person on the ground who is willing and able to speak in person with officials and other contacts can be a huge advantage. SwahiliPlus can help. Contact us today to discuss your needs.
Rates for liaison services start at TZS 23,000/US $10.50 per hour.
Testimonials
Excellent teaching, wonderful personality
Yusuph is an excellent teacher. I first met him at the Swahili Dar language school where my colleague and I went to take classes on our first trip to Tanzania. We were very impressed by his teaching methods and his wonderful personality. I was happy to learn that I could continue to study with Yusuph via Skype or WhatsApp video calls after I returned to the US, and we have continued to have regular lessons for over a year now. I am very happy with the progress I've made and truly enjoy our lessons.
--- Nancy Wahl-Scheurich, Millennium Microgrid, USA
Warm, joyful, charismatic and effective teacher
I took Swahili classes with Yusuf when I visited Dar es Salaam in the summer of 2018. Yusuf speaks English well and explains Swahili concepts clearly. Even though I only had 2 months to study with Yusuf, I was able to learn a lot from him. As a person, Yusuf is warm, always joyful and charismatic, and I always looked forward to Swahili lessons with him. I was also able to learn a lot about Tanzanian culture from him. I would definitely recommend learning Swahili with Yusuf!
--- Sally, Stanford University, USA
Great teacher!
Yusuf has been a great teacher! I was a total beginner when I started learning with him, but after one month I was already able to hold a basic conversation in Kiswahili. He explains grammar, but also includes many reading and speaking exercises that are key for being able to use the language in everyday life!
--- Mark, Stanford University, USA
What a wonderful teacher!
Yusuf has been a wonderful teacher and has helped me to learn Swahili both in person and through online lessons. His lessons are always well structured, interesting and informative. Yusuf’s knowledge on the rules and grammar of Swahili are excellent and he is able to explain and simplify the language in ways that help you speak and understand it quickly. He has been a great help in assisting me to develop a strong foundation in Swahili, improve my pronunciation as well as gain a better understanding of Tanzanian culture. He has also been very accommodating to my timetable which has made attending lessons easy on a busy schedule. I highly recommend Yusuf as a teacher from Swahili Plus!
--- Jessica Chen
Valuable Interpreter, Translator, and Liaison
In addition to teaching us Swahili, Yusuph has been an Important asset for our company. He accompanied us on a field visit to a village where he served as interpreter and translator so that we could conduct focus groups to learn villagers’ use of electricity. We couldn't have done it without him. Since we don't yet have an office in Dar es Salaam, we are grateful to be able to call upon Yusuph to act as liaison when we need to communicate or interact with government agencies and other stakeholders.
--- Nancy Wahl-Scheurich, Millennium Microgrid, USA
Why speak Swahili?
One of the most widely spoken languages in Africa
Swahili is used as a lingua franca throughout East Africa and is an official language of Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya. It is also spoken in Burundi, Congo, Mayotte, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, and South Africa.
If you are planning a safari in Tanzania or Kenya, you will enhance your enjoyment of the place and the people by being able to speak Swahili even though you may meet many people who also speak English.
If your work brings you to East Africa, especially outside of major cities, knowing Swahili gives you a major advantage and makes it possible to connect to customers and stakeholders and to better understand the culture in order to get things done.
The good news is, Swahili is not too hard for English speakers and other Westerners to learn—unlike many African languages, Swahili doesn’t use tones and, and it uses the Latin alphabet. With a good teacher and lots of practice, you will be able communicate in Swahili in no time!
Swahili is more than just a language
Swahili is the most widely understood language in Africa after Arabic. Many people consider it to be means of unification for Africa, and it recently became an official language of the African Union. In Tanzania, many people believe that the work of Julius Kambarage Nyerere, the first president after independence, to promote the use of Swahili by all Tanzanians is the reason for the stability and peace enjoyed in Tanzania to this day. Nyerere is known as a crusader for peace, justice and unity, and the Swahili language was one of his most important tools.
Videos
Video chat on Zoom, WhatsApp, or Skype
Video chat on Zoom, WhatsApp, or Skype
Video chat on Zoom, WhatsApp, or Skype
Enjoy one-on-one sessions from your own home or office. Video chats allow students to interact with their teacher as if they were together in the classroom in Tanzania. As you and your teacher get to know each other, you will practice conversing in Swahili and you won't just learn the language, you'll make a new friend in Tanzania!
Click the image above to see a video of a typical video lesson.
One-on-one lessons via Zoom
Video chat on Zoom, WhatsApp, or Skype
Video chat on Zoom, WhatsApp, or Skype
Students can choose their preferred platform for one-on-one sessions from home or office. Students learn through conversations about assigned lessons - grammar and reading - and simply talking about their lives. Lessons are full of important content, but fun and relaxed at the same time.
Click the image above to access links to videos of see a videos of typical on-line lessons.
Lessons from anywhere in the world
Video chat on Zoom, WhatsApp, or Skype
Lessons from anywhere in the world
Students can enjoy one-on-one lessons via Zoom from anywhere in the world. Students already in African countries where Swahili is spoken can easily connect with SwahiliPlus to study the language, tailoring their lessons to focus on the topics they need to be able to discuss in Swahili.
Click the image above to see another video of a typical in-person lesson.
Private lesson in Tanzania
Why these students study Swahili
Lessons from anywhere in the world
If you are in Dar es Salaam for work or pleasure, sign up for individual or group lessons with colleagues or friends in a classroom setting. It also usually possible to make arrangements for your teacher to meet you at your hotel, office, or other location that you might prefer.
Click the image above to see a video of a typical in-person lesson.
Testimonial
Why these students study Swahili
Why these students study Swahili
Hear a student provide his testimonial and recommendation of working with teacher Yusuph - in Swahil!
Why these students study Swahili
Why these students study Swahili
Why these students study Swahili
Students discuss (in Swahili) why they decided to study Swahili and why it's an important language worth learning.
Safaris in Tanzania
New Terminal 3 at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam
New Terminal 3 at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam
Just a sample of the beautiful safaris you can enjoy in East African countries like Tanzania and Kenya where your Swahili language skills will make your trip even more memorable.
New Terminal 3 at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam
New Terminal 3 at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam
New Terminal 3 at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam
Travel to Tanzania just got easier with the opening of the brand new Terminal 3.
New Terminal 3 at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam
See why so many people come to Tanzania and keep coming back.
Photo Gallery
