Learning a language vs. learning about a language

 

For an English speaker, learning to speak Kiswahili may pretty much be learning to think differently. An example of this is the blog post on reading time in Kiswahili; others may be syntactic structure of sentences as well as etymology.

Modeling Kiswahili on English makes it appear that Kiswahili is an elaboration on English. This is not the intention of this blog; hence the posts will be as simplified, brief and as clear as possible to avoid convolution and demoralization. Kiswahili is a language unto itself and does not require the mediation of English. Children in East Africa learn it all the time and afterward learn English as well.

Although learning about Kiswahili may seem to indicate what is required to know the language, this knowledge is firmly housed in Kiswahili language itself.

All human beings have an innate capacity for language acquisition. In the face of obstacles, humans learn language and become fully conversant members of speech communities, but not because they already know how this is done. People learn about language after learning a language. The intention of this blog is to immerse the reader in the world of Kiswahili from the reader’s first language (English), as a steppingstone in learning Kiswahili itself. If interested in learning Kiswahili, reach the author on kiswahilikuntu@gmail.com for classes. For adults, there’s a three-level intensive curriculum of 8 classes each via abibitumi.com, after which the student will be able to hold conversations in Kiswahili as well as gain a deeper understanding about the language. For children, there's a continuous curriculum taught via ispeaklanguage.org

 

Reference:

Swiderski, R.M., (1993) Teaching Language, Learning Culture. Westport, Conn.: Bergin & Garvey