Week 2: Swahili and Video [March 19, 2012, 12:31 p.m.]
Remember to check the Logistics Task for any updates and to ensure you are on schedule!
Training Goals:
1. Swahili Week 2 (Arusha and Zanzibar volunteers)
Keep practicing the greetings from last week:
Mambo vipi? ---> Poa
Hujambo? ---> Sijambo
Habari yako? ---> Nzuri
Shikamoo? ---> Marahaba
Now let's take a look at a sample conversation between you and an elderly man using the greetings we learned.
You: Shikamoo? (Hello, how are you? [Formal])
Elder: Marahaba! (I'm very well.)
Elder: Hujambo? (How are you?)
You: Sijambo. (I'm good)
You: Habari za leo? (How is you day going?)
Elder: Nzuri, habari yako? (Good, how are you?)
You: Nzuri, asante. (Good, thank you)
Elder: Kwa heri. (Goodbye)
You: Kwa heri (Goodbye)
Note that often when someone responds with "marahaba" they will then use a form of the Jambo greeting to the younger person (this greeting is usually used for younger people or possibly peers as an initial greeting). Also note that this coversation used a few different greetings that ask basically the same thing; this is very commonly done by native speakers to ask more thoroughly how a person is doing and to extend the conversation (you are unlikely to hear short greeting exchanges between native speakers).
Conjugating Verbs
2. Amandla! A Revolution in Four Part Harmony (South Africa volunteers)
Amandla! A Revolution in Four Part Harmony is a documentary by Lee Hirsch that features South African poets, musicians, and activits as they recall the struggle against Apartheid from the 1940's-1990's. The film depicts the important role of music, specifially "freedom songs", as a form of non-violent social protest against the oppressive, discriminatory regime that stripped black South African citizens of nearly every basic human right.
The documentary can be viewed for free on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9BXqbxC9tA&feature=watch-now-button&wide=1
Or on Hulu at: http://www.hulu.com/watch/206701/amandla-a-revolution-in-four-part-harmony
Listen to this song: Tinariwen "Aman Iman" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YhynhACbRY. Enjoy!