LangMedia "Language by Country" Websites: Swahili

Read below for more information about these websites or use one of these links to begin using the materials:

    Swahili in Kenya    Swahili in Tanzania     Combined Swahili Index

About LangMedia: LangMedia provides examples of authentic language spoken in its natural cultural environment so that students of all ages can better understand the interplay between a language and its culture. International students shot most of the video in their home countries using handheld camcorders and microphones provided by the Center. The video and audio quality varies. We have tried to remain true to the language our subjects actually uttered. Therefore, students should be aware that we have not corrected grammatical errors and that the videos sometimes show highly colloquial language, local slang, and regional specific speech patterns. At times, we have noted the preferred or more proper forms in parentheses. Most of the transcripts and translations were prepared by the same students who filmed the video, although in some cases the transcripts have also been edited by a language expert.

LangMedia was made possible by grants from The Fund for the Improvement of Post-Secondary Education (FIPSE) of the United States Department of Education, 2001-2002 and The The National Security Education Program, 1999-2000.

Accessing Video and Audio with RealOne Player: The video and audio materials on LangMedia require RealPlayer. The most recent version of the player is called RealOne Player. RealOne Player is available as a free download from http://www.real.com. RealNetworks also makes a "Plus" version of their RealPlayer which has more features, but also requires payment by credit card before downloading. The "Plus" version of the player is not required to access the material on this site. The most current RealOne Player will run on Window 98, NT, 2000, and XP, as well as on Macintosh OSX. Users running older computers with Windows 95 or with Macintosh OS8 or OS9 will need to download older versions of the player. The free download page at the Real website includes a link to "previous versions" of the player.

Local Institutional Copies: This is a local institutional copy of a portion of the LangMedia website found online at http://langmedia.fivecolleges.edu. Local institutional copies are available at reasonable cost and allow an educational institution to make the materials widely available on campus as long as access is restricted to the institution’s own students and no one is charged for that access.

The following are appropriate uses of local institutional copies. 1) Distribution over a campus or language lab web server as long as access is restricted to students and staff of the institution either through IP address restrictions or password protection. 2) Installation of individual copies on multiple machines in language labs, classrooms, or libraries under the control of the institution. 3) Reproduction of multiple copies on CD-R or other media for use by classroom instructors as long as the copies remain the property of the institution and no one is charged for their use. 4) Reproduction of multiple copies on CD-R or other media to be available at a language laboratory or library reserve desk for hourly or overnight check-out to students as long as the copies remain the property of the institution and no one is charged for their use.

The following are NOT appropriate uses of local institutional copies. 1) Distribution over a campus or language lab web server in such a way that the materials are available off-campus to the general public. (The general public can access the online version of LangMedia materials.) 2) Reproduction of multiple copies on CD-R or other media which would be given or sold to instructors and would become the property of the instructor. 3) Reproduction of multiple copies on CD-R or other media to be given or sold to students and would become the property of the student. 4) Reproduction of multiple copies on CD-R or other media for long-term check-out to students. Check-out to students should be controlled through standard and limited reserve desk terms such as hourly or overnight lending only.

For more information see:
http://langmedia.fivecolleges.edu or e-mail fclang@hfa.umass.edu