Swahili (Teach Yourself Languages) - Tapa blanda

This course in Swahili is designed for anyone who wants to progress quickly from the basics to understanding, speaking and writing Swahili with confidence. Aimed at those with no previous knowledge, it can also be used by anyone wanting to brush up existing knowledge or refresh rusty language skills for a holiday or business trip. Key structures and vocabulary are introduced in 18 thematic units, progressing from basic greetings and introductions yourself and dealing with everyday situations to writing a formal letter and business communications. The emphasis is on communication throughout with important language structures introduced through dialogues on the accompanying recording. There are plenty of exercises to practise the language as it is introduced and tips throughout to help with pronunciation and grammar. Cultural information boxes give advice and information for anyone planning a trip. There is also an English-Swahili vocabulary and a Swahili-English vocabulary. Two CDs are included which give pronunciation guidance and listening material.

Joan Russell was born in London and taught there for a few years before leaving for Tanzania, where she taught in various institutions over the next seven years, at the same time acquiring the basics of Swahili. Her interest in the language continued during a two-year attachment to the Curriculum Development and Research Centre in Nairobi. On her return from Kenya she completed a degree in Language and Linguistics at the University of York and stayed on there to carry out sociolinguistic research on Swahili and its functions. This entailed regular extended visits to eastern Africa. She became Senior Lecturer in linguistics and African studies at the University of York.