Intensive Language Study: Beginning Kiswahili

Transcription

1 Intensive Language Study: Beginning Kiswahili SWAH (4 Credits, 60 class hours) SIT Study Abroad Program: Tanzania: Wildlife Conservation & Political Ecology PLEASE NOTE: This syllabus represents a recent semester. Because courses develop and change over time to take advantage of unique learning opportunities, actual course content varies from semester to semester. Course Description This beginning language course is designed to prepare students for daily social and academic demands and to provide access into the Tanzanian host culture. The course is designed to enhance all aspects of the experience abroad by expanding student ability to function effectively in the host language during field methods exercises, while conducting fieldwork for the Independent Study Project, and when interacting with homestay families and local contacts. Classes and field-based language activities are taught by native-speaking Kiswahili teachers using oral proficiency-based methods. Students with prior Kiswahili study are placed into appropriate language levels based on in-country oral proficiency interviews. These placements may not directly correspond to the student s level at the home institution as SIT courses focus on communicative competence and linguistic functional ability. Course grades provide an assessment of students performance in meeting the requirements of the language class while oral proficiency interviews, conducted toward the end of the semester, provide an informal measurement of students overall linguistic progress. Kiswahili training, initiated during orientation, is continued and completed in the village of Bangata, just outside Arusha at the foot of Mt. Meru. Students receive a total of 60+ hours of formal in-class instruction, with additional hours for testing, assignments, and individual tutoring. Learning Outcomes Upon completion of the course, students will have the ability to: Demonstrate functional proficiency in spoken Kiswahili, Tanzania s national language, as the primary tool needed for entry into Tanzania s many cultures; Utilize strong listening comprehension, performance and interpersonal communication skills; and Apply language confidently and effectively in everyday situations, and extend the usage within the context and demands of the Independent Study Project. Course Schedule

2 *Please be aware that topics and excursions may vary to take advantage of any emerging events, to accommodate changes in our lecturers availability, and to respect any changes that would affect student safety. Students will be notified if this occurs. Orientation Language Module (9 contact hours) Note: Only in-class assignments with verbal feedback during Orientation Kiswahili Classes Sessions 1 & 2 (Ndarakwai Ranch) Greetings Simple constructions List of useful words including names of Tanzanian wildlife Introduce the pronouns and noun classes Session 3: (Arusha) (Arusha) Group introduction Greetings and responding to greetings Review homework assignment Introducing others and talking about present activities 11:00am 12:30pm Introducing one s self (giving names, nationality and professions) 11:00am 12:30pm Useful phrases and cultural issues, e.g. Dos and Don ts Bangata Language Module Week one (20 contact hours) Session 1: General Review Counting numbers Useful prepositions & conjunctions. Session 2: Continue present tense affirmative & negative tense Review - Talking about past activities Memory Game (people, nationalities and professions) At the hotel: Ordering food and drinks and requesting the bill and paying; At the post office: buying stamps & post cards and sending letters Reference days & days of the week Role play at the hotel & post office; Language Game Introduce past tense

3 Session 3: Town trip - Language application - Verbal HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT Reading: Family Session 5: Verbal assignment about town trip Introduce: noun classes & agreement of noun classes Verbal exercises: talking about family members Time telling Reading: daily activities Exercises: talk about daily activities & Time Machine Game Short Written and Verbal Weekend HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT Bangata Language Module Week two (20 contact hours) Session 1: Session 2: Conversation on weekend verbal assignment General review of first week Introduce present perfect tense Continue with future and present perfect tense Mixed verbal exercises & Memory Game (Verbs) Introduce object pronouns Role play: Purchasing, bargaining at the market and identifying items at the market and shop Introduce market/shop vocabulary

4 Session 3: Trip to the market - Verbal HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT Cooking practical Session 5: Verbal assignment about market trip Introduce imperatives Quiz Test Yourself Introduce locatives Language application: giving and receiving instructions Verb to have and to be (at the place) with other tenses & Bingwa Game Short Written and Verbal Weekend HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT Bangata Language Module Week three (11 contact hours) Session 1: Introduce po (as when) & ki (as if) Conversation on habari za wikiendi General overall review Tetemeko Game Session 2: General review (conversations) Reading: transportation in Tanzania Written narration of a story from pictures Verbal presentation of a story Session 3: Private & directed study Preparation of activities for the homestay party & translation for Mid Term portfolio Mid-Term oral proficiency exam Mid-Term oral proficiency exam

5 Session 5: Farewell Party Course Requirements Students are required to participate in all instructional activities, which include an average of 4 hours of daily formal classroom training during the Bangata homestay. Students are further encouraged to use Kiswahili in non-instructional settings, such as the village homestay in Bangata, and in daily encounters with the host society (e.g., shopping, restaurants, games). Evaluation and Grading Criteria Evaluation is based on the language instructors assessment of the student s proficiency in Kiswahili and participation in formal instruction, together with the Academic Directors evaluation of proficiency and efforts to use Kiswahili outside the classroom. Final grades are assigned by the academic director, in conjunction with the language coordinator, using a rubric. Intensive Language Study: Beginning Kiswahili Assignments Timely completion of all language assignments is expected. Class attendance is mandatory. Students are evaluated on preparedness and participation in class and in field assignments. Students receive oral feedback from the instructors throughout the course. They are evaluated on the extent and quality of their written and oral participation during the course and their performance on exams and the final evaluation exercises. The academic director assigns final grades in collaboration with the language Instructors. Oral Proficiency Exams (Mid & Final): 50% Instructor Evaluation: 40% Language Usage: 10% Oral Proficiency Exam: At the end of the intensive language period, students will be given an oral proficiency exam to test their language skills. The exam consists of a brief oral interview that is designed to evaluate student speaking abilities and comprehension of spoken Kiswahili. A final oral proficiency exam is given a week before students depart the program. Instructor Evaluation: The language grade also reflects the Kiswahili instructor s evaluation of student grammar, vocabulary, accent, and class participation (including tardiness, absences, comportment, and active engagement in class). This assessment occurs on all written assignments returned the following day, immediately on verbal assignments and weekly using a matrix for each individual student examining the past weeks overall content. The students complete 10 written assignments, 4 verbal assignments, and various exercises including readings, role-plays, and games, in addition to the formal classroom instruction of the required Kiswahili language components. Language Usage: The final 10% of the grade is a reflection of student use of Kiswahili during fieldtrips, in homestay, and during general interactions with Tanzanians. Grading Scale % A Excellent 90-93% A % B % B Above Average

6 80-83% B % C % C Average 70-73% C % D % D Below Average below 64 F Fail Grading Criteria An A grade for an assignment entails superior (not just very good ) performance in terms of structure and organization of assignments, analysis, logical argumentation and consistency, and the provision of factual, numerical and/or historical evidence. In terms of class participation, an A grade refers to full attendance, punctuality, evidence of having completed assigned readings, attentive listening and active engagement in all lectures, discussions, field visits and other activities. It also means polite and respectful behavior. The level, frequency, and quality of the students` participation will be monitored and taken into account Expectations and Policies Class Participation Participation in class refers to attendance, punctuality, attentive listening and active engagement in all lectures, discussions, field trips and other activities. It also means polite and respectful behavior. In addition, the following are expectations of all participants: Show up prepared. Be on time, have your readings completed and points in mind for discussion or clarification. Complying with these elements raises the level of class discussion for everyone. Have assignments completed on schedule, printed, and done accordingly to the specified requirements. This will help ensure that your assignments are returned in a timely manner. Ask questions in class. Engage the lecturer. These are often very busy professionals who are doing us an honor by coming to speak. Comply with academic integrity policies (no plagiarism or cheating, nothing unethical). Respect differences of opinion (classmates, lecturers, local constituents engaged with on the visits). You are not expected to agree with everything you hear, but you are expected to listen across difference and consider other perspectives with respect. Please refer to the SIT Study Abroad handbook for policies on academic integrity, ethics, warning and probation, diversity and disability, sexual harassment and the academic appeals process. Also, refer to the specific information available in the Student Handbook and the Program Dossier given to you at Orientation.