Forming group for Kiswahili classes at the Language Center

Hi!

I just saw your post and thought I might reply. I live in Nairobi and work at an international school in Karen. I have been thinking about furthering my Swahili but hadn't decided on anything. What you suggested sounds great but I would only be available after work or on the weekends. I could leave work around 4:30 at the earliest and therefore get to the place around 5:30 I would say.
You mentioned that it's around Junction/Toi in Westlands. Did you mean Junction or Toi- are there 2 Language Centers? Junction and Toi are not in the same place but are a few minutes away from each other. Also, not in Westlands as that's far from those two places! I might have read wrong but just wanted to check as I live near Junction and Toi but not near Westlands! It would be possible for me if it were near Junction (ideal) and Toi but I couldn't do it if it was Westlands.

Looking forward to possibly organising something!

Rebecca

Hi Rebecca,

Thanks for getting back to me!  Sorry about the confusion regarding location!  By Westlands I meant the administrative division (which includes all of Lavington), not the mall/ clubbing area.  I guess no one really describes that area as "Westlands" though.  Sorry!  Specifically, it is located between Argwings and Ngong between Old Dume Rd and Ndemi Road.  If you google map it, (although the google map location differs slightly from the website's location... it is north by a few blocks), it is around the area labeled "Kilimani Estate."  Basically if you drew a straight line between Yaya Centre and Junction it would be around the middle.  Here is their website, with a slightly more specific map that pops up when you click "directions" at the top: language-cntr.com

I would definitely be willing to work around your schedule - to be honest, my only issue with frequent evening classes is that it is unsafe to take matatus at night and I am hoping to avoid paying too much by taking taxis home.  I don't know how you feel about it, but maybe we could try having at least one session on the weekend (Sundays would work best for me, as I sometimes teach an art class in Kawangware on Saturdays) and then start out with just one at 5:30 during the week (maybe Wednesday?) and see if that is enough.  Then we could always change the schedule if that is not working for any reason.  I'm sure I will also be less cheap about taxis once I have a job
 
My (now fluent) friend took Swahili classes at the Language Centre and said it was quite good, so I'm really looking forward to going there!  Let me know if you're still interested and what would work for you.  I would love to organise something soon!  Hopefully we can find at least one more person interested to bring the cost down.

Cheers,
Laney

Hi guys! I am definitely interested in learning  kiSwahili.
Have you guys started yet?

Hi!

Thanks for your interest! No, we have not started yet.  Would both of you be interested in trying to start a class on Sunday?  Please let me know if you are - I'd love to start this week if we can!

Laney

Hey guys! I would start on Sunday but I'm in Australia until 30th August! I am happy to do Sunday's though as this works for me well. And I think the idea of one class during the week is also a good idea - totally understandable about taxis. I don't want to spend more either! I'm really sorry that I'm not there at the moment but as soon as I get back I'll be there!
Does this make this really difficult for you both?

Hi Laney and Rebecca,
Just saw your posts and am also very interested in taking Kiswahili lessons.  I just moved to Nairobi this week and am in dire need of at least picking up the basics.

I happen to live / work fairly close to Yaya, so The Language Center would be quite convenient. In terms of schedule, my work hours may vary from week to week but I should be able to do Wednesdays at 5:30 and then a Sunday session.  What time would work well for you both on Sunday? I have church with my host family / colleagues on Sunday morning so afternoons might be best for me.  Looking forward to hearing back, and hope this works out!

Emily

Hey Emily!
I would definitely rather the afternoon as Sunday is one chance I get to sleep in a little!! Well, it looks like we have some interest!

Hey Rebecca
I think i'm also not gonna be around, going to South Africa around then and unfortunately will only be back on the following Sunday, (4th September)
THis is not good rite ? lol
Don't want to hold you guys back if you're ready to start, since it's beginner's stuff i'm sure i can catch up on 1 class?

Hi guys,

This sounds great!  Sunday early afternoon would be good for me too.  I think that there might be a way for all four of us to do the class despite our odd schedules.  Let me know what you think; if it sounds too complicated or as if someone might fall behind, please say so. 

I was thinking that since I would really like to start learning some basic things soon (and it sounds like Emily would too, since she used the phrase "dire need"), we could start the class one week before Rebecca gets back (maybe Wednesday the 24 and Sunday the 28), then she can catch up on what we learned the first week (Rebecca, I think the teacher could do a first-week review session at the beginning of the class when you start since we would be the only students and should be able to chose what to do... also I would be willing to summarize and go over it with you, which would probably help me to get it down better as well), then we can move on in our lessons for the week that RehanMC (sorry, I don't know your real name) is gone and he can do the same thing to catch up.  Then we will all be able to participate without waiting for everyone to be done with their holidays, and we will learn quite a bit.  We would also have three people per class, which is the minimum required.

What does everyone think?  If that doesn't sound reasonable, I won't be offended!  I am also willing to just wait until everyone is fully available!

Cheers
Laney

Hi Laney, that sounds good to me! Best solution for a bit of complicated situation.

I'll be in South Africa from the 26th (Friday) till the (4th), so i'm sure i'll miss a class or two. I'm sure at such a beginner phase it wont be hard to catch up.
Sorry if this has been mentioned before, but what day's have you guys decided on, and where exactly is it ? i'll be coming from UpperHill

PS: I'm Rehan, or Rey. watever's easier

Hi! 
Sorry it took me so long to respond - I picked up typhoid and have been a bit out of it for the past week or so, but all better now!  So if Emily isn't free to start until after Rehan has left, then we should just wait until Rebecca is back because then we will have three people.  Rebecca, do you think you would be up for starting a class maybe on Wednesday the 31st?  Or is that too soon after you return?  And Rehan, would it be okay if we start and you catch up as you'd suggested earlier?  Let me know what you guys think and I can contact the school and try to set this thing up!  So excited! 

P.S. Rehan - we decided (tentatively) on Wednesdays and Sundays.  It's located between Junction and Yaya Centre.

Hi All,
I'm keen to join you in your lessons too.

After 5 on Wednesdays and most Sundays will work for me.  I have to make a trip to Uganda in the next couple of weeks (don't know what dates yet) but I'd be keen to join up with the lessons when I can.

Thanks,
Andrew

Hey guys,
sorry for my delay in response too and sorry Laney for being sick Hope you're ok?
I don't think I'll be able to start on the Wednesday as it's the day after I arrive and I'm working that day too. I think I'll be okay for the Sunday though....but it looks like we have enough people so that's great!
Thanks for setting this up!
Rebecca

Hi Laney,
Thanks so much for organizing, hope you're feeling 100% better. I'm up for starting on Wed. the 31st.  Does that still work? It seems like with our schedules all over the place it might be best to just pick a date and start...
Emily

Hey guys,
Thanks!  I am much better now, and I really appreciate the good vibes! 
Man, this is complicated. So Emily, I would also be down to start on the 31st, but if Rebecca is not ready to start then and Rehan will be out of town, that just leaves two of us, which is not enough to create a class.  It also seems like we might as well just wait for Rebecca to be ready so that she does not have to miss the intro class and Rehan would only have to catch up on one (if you're still interested). 

So, perhaps we should just start the following Sunday when Rebecca is free?  Sept. 4th?  Sorry this is so complicated!  Way more coordination than I thought. Let me know if that sounds good and I'll do my best to solidify this with the school.  From then on, maybe if anyone has something going on and can't make a class, they can work out with us or with the professor to catch up.  Also, are there any exact time restraints for Sundays?  I was thinking maybe 2-4 pm.  Would that work?  We can always switch it up as it goes if we find issues with anything.

Andrew- I'll update you (all) once everything is set and you'd be more than welcome to join us if/ when you're free.  Hopefully you could make it to the first class?

Looking forward to meeting everyone and learning some Kiswahili!

Laney

Hi

Have you started the Kiswahili class?
I am looking for a teacher muyself but I do not live permanently in Nairobi...so the option of a three month program does not suit my needs. In Sarit center there are lost of ads on people proposing Kiswahili tuition... Have you tried any?
I am in Nairobi till 12th september

Best

Pascale
0772264278

Hey Guys,
I just moved to Nairobi and would love to start lessons too. I live around junction area so this would be perfect. I am away the weekend of the 4th Sept but would be keen to join you all the following weds? I've done a few basic beginner lessons when I first got here so hopefully I won't miss much. Do you happen to know the workbook title yet?

Melissa

Hello folks,

I would also be interested in the classes. How far have we reached with setting it up?

I could do Sunday afternoon but would much prefer Wednesday evening after 6 pm to keep my weekends free. With all the interest there is maybe we could have two classes, one of Sunday and one on Wednesday evening?

Regards

Heidrun

Hi all,

Thank you to everyone who showed interested!  Obviously it is difficult to coordinate around so many different schedules, and it turns out that the Language Center does not teach on Sundays. Sorry about that, I should have checked sooner.  Three of us have decided to go ahead and begin, but changed Sunday Sept. 4th to this Saturday Sept. 3rd for a session from 2-4PM.  None of us are super thrilled about a Saturday afternoon class, so we will be discussing alternatives for the following weeks at lunch beforehand.  The second class (Rehan, will you be joining us for this?)  will be on Wednesday the 7th from 5:30-7:30 PM.  Again, we may decide to switch away from weekend classes to two (or possibly even one, depending on how the first weeks go) evening classes during the week or something.  Even if the final schedule does not wind up working for you, you are welcome to join us this Saturday if you want to register at the Language Center and begin learning. 

I do hope that we will be able to work out something that includes most of you interested, but I just want to warn you that as a group we may not be able to accommodate everybody's needs in the long term.  If the schedule doesn't work out for everyone interested, then you can always do private/ semi private/ another group class at the center.

For those interested in coming this Saturday, once again here is the relevant cost information:

Registration fee (payable once): Ksh.1,150/=
Caution deposit (refundable): Ksh.850/=
Course textbook: Ksh.600/=
Hourly rate (for this group class): Ksh.315/= per hour per student (so this will total Ksh 630 for Saturday's class)*

If you would like to come to the class, please send me a message just so we can be sure to include everyone.  We will meet for lunch at 12:30 beforehand nearby, so please also let me know if you want to join us and I will send you details.

Cheers,
Laney

*Note: those of you wishing to do a semi-private or private tutoring at the same center would pay Ksh.500/= or Ksh.625/= per student per hour, respectively.  See language-cntr.com   for more information.

Hi Laney,

Thanks for coordinating this. I would be interested in the Wednesday class. Can I basically just turn up on the 7th or do I need to register before then? I have also written to the language center who replied they would get back to me on the evening class.

Best

Heidrun

Hi Heidrun,

I'm not sure about the registration.  I assumed we just register before the class, so I would guess you can just get there early and do it that day... but I recommend contacting them directly as I'm sure they would have a better idea than I do.  See you on Wednesday!

Laney

Hi Laney,

Thanks, I will contact them to confirm. See you then!

Heidrun

Hey Heidrun,

I tried to send you a message but couldn't figure out how!  I just wanted to let you know that today we covered Lesson 1 in the workbook, but the workbook doesn't really explain things on its own... it seems to be more for homework. If you go to the Center and register, you can buy the book any time, and could do a private tutoring session to cover what we learned in the first class.  Since it was just the first class, though, I bet you would be fine if you don't have the chance to catch up beforehand.  See you on Wednesday!

To anyone else interested in joining later: New additions are welcome, but please catch up with the book and private tutoring sessions (our teacher is named Mary) before joining, just because repeating everything will really stall the class and our progress.  I hope you understand.  Thanks again for all the interest, and feel free to get in touch if you have any questions.

Laney

Hello.

I'm new to Nairobi and will be in town for at least the next 3 months. I would like to join your classes. I know a little Swahili and can certainly catch up on my own.

When are the classes? How frequent? Also, how much?
Thanks,

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to let you all know that, at least for now, we have decided as a group to have class just once per week on Wednesdays from 5:30-7:30 (although we are considering tweaking the exact time in the future, depending on traffic issues and work schedules). 

HSH: I put the pricing info already in an earlier post, check it out and send me a message if you have any further questions or plan on joining!   

To all: I will probably stop following this forum now that we have enough people and the classes are running, but if you would like to join us late, just send me a message so I can let you know of any schedule changes! Thanks!

Cheers,
Laney

Hi everyone,

Just to let you know that I too registered for Swahili lessons at the Language Center, starting next year (when I arrived in Nairobi 3 weeks ago it was already too late to begin classes straight away).

Maybe see some of you there?

Cheers

hi everyone, since swahili's one of my basic languages i would be glad to help anyone who needs to practice, though i still advise the classes to help one grasp the language structures