Students learn and discuss cultural differences between America and East Africa. Grammatical structures are learned as needed. Students write simple compositions describing themselves, events, etc. Videos, audio tapes, newspapers, magazines and the internet provide resources for the content of materials of the students interests as well as exposure to more advanced language. They are encouraged to discuss culture as well as news from Africa.
Students begin to read short novels, plays, poetry, and essays.
Students are assigned advanced readings selected according to their interests and future research projects. Two years of Swahili satisfies the foreign language requirement for the undergraduate student in the College of Arts and Letters and in James Madison College. Two years of study also counts towards a specialization in African Studies. This specialization, which appears on the student s transcript, may be particularly appealing to the student who wishes to pursue a career in the foreign service, in development agencies, or in non-governmental organizations. Studying a foreign language opens doors to different ways of living, eating, interacting, believing, and celebrating.