Dialogue

Vocabulary

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Lesson Notes

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Lesson Transcript

INTRODUCTION
Michael: Hi, everyone, I'm Michael.
Medina: And I’m Medina!
Michael: And welcome to Culture Class: Essential Swahili Vocabulary, Lesson 18! In this lesson you'll learn five essential words related to health and emergencies. These are five common types of disasters in Swahili. Hand picked. You can find a complete list of vocabulary at SwahiliPod101.com.

Lesson focus

Michael: Medina, what’s our first word?
Medina: mafuriko
Michael: flood
Medina: (slow) mafuriko (regular) mafuriko
Michael: Listeners, please repeat:
Medina: mafuriko
[pause - 5 sec.]
Michael: The heavy rainfall season in Kenya runs from mid-April through May, and the short rain season runs from September to November. The areas that are usually prone to flooding are around the Lake Victoria Basin in the surrounding areas of Budalangi along the river Nzoia; the Kano plains along the river Nyando; and the surrounding areas of the Tana river.
Michael: Now let's hear a sample sentence using this word.
Medina: (normal) Mafuriko katika eneo ya nyando ilizidi masiku kadhaa.
Michael: Floods in the Nyando region lasted for some days.
Medina: (slow) Mafuriko katika eneo ya nyando ilizidi masiku kadhaa.
Michael: Okay, what’s the next word?
Medina: njaa
Michael: famine
Medina: (slow) njaa (regular) njaa
Michael: Listeners, please repeat:
Medina: njaa
[pause - 5 sec.]
Michael: Severe drought ranks as the main cause of famine in Kenya, especially in the northern areas. This has often resulted in food crisis that threatens the livelihoods of people and their livestock.
Michael: Now let's hear a sample sentence using this word.
Medina: (normal) Serikali inahofia kuwa watu thelathini wamekufa kwa njaa.
Michael: The government is concerned that about 30 people have died because of famine.
Medina: (slow) Serikali inahofia kuwa watu thelathini wamekufa kwa njaa.
Michael: Okay, what’s the next word?
Medina: ugonjwa wa mlipuko
Michael: epidemics
Medina: (slow) ugonjwa wa mlipuko (regular) ugonjwa wa mlipuko
Michael: Listeners, please repeat:
Medina: ugonjwa wa mlipuko
[pause - 5 sec.]
Michael: In the list of epidemics that hit Kenya, malaria has the highest mortality rate. Almost every Kenyan is at risk of malaria. It is the main cause of death among children, the most vulnerable group, followed by pregnant women.
Michael: Now let's hear a sample sentence using this word.
Medina: (normal) Dawa ya malaria, yakimezwa mapema, ni kinga bora ya maradhi ya malaria.
Michael: Anti-malaria medicine, when taken in advance, is good for preventing malaria infection.
Medina: (slow) Dawa ya malaria, yakimezwa mapema, ni kinga bora ya maradhi ya malaria.
Michael: Okay, what’s the next word?
Medina: poromoko
Michael: landslides
Medina: (slow) poromoko (regular) poromoko
Michael: Listeners, please repeat:
Medina: poromoko
[pause - 5 sec.]
Michael: Landslides in Kenya occur mostly during the rainy season and are intensified by flooding. They have gotten worse as a result of deforestation and are triggered by rapid saturation of the soil, which reduces cohesion, surface tension, and friction.
Michael: Now let's hear a sample sentence using this word.
Medina: (normal) Ni muhimu serikali ikabiliane na ukataji miti ilikupunguza kesi za maporomoko.
Michael: It is important that the government restricts the cutting of trees to reduce landslides.
Medina: (slow) Ni muhimu serikali ikabiliane na ukataji miti ilikupunguza kesi za maporomoko.
Michael: Okay, what’s the last word?
Medina: tufani
Michael: rainstorms
Medina: (slow) tufani (regular) tufani
Michael: Listeners, please repeat:
Medina: tufani
[pause - 5 sec.]
Michael: It is not unusual for Kenya to get heavy storms during the rainy season. During this time, blackouts, damage to buildings, and trees falling on cars, buildings, and roads is common.
Michael: Now let's hear a sample sentence using this word.
Medina: (normal) Tufani kwa wingi huja kwa ghafla.
Michael: Many times, rainstorms come abruptly.
Medina: (slow) Tufani kwa wingi huja kwa ghafla.
QUIZ
Michael: Okay, listeners, are you ready to be quizzed on the words you just learned? Medina will give you the Swahili – please say the English meaning out loud! Are you ready?
Medina: mafuriko
[pause]Michael: flood
Medina: njaa
[pause]Michael: famine
Medina: ugonjwa wa mlipuko
[pause]Michael: epidemics
Medina: poromoko
[pause]Michael: landslides
Medina: tufani
[pause]Michael: rainstorms

Outro

Michael: There you have it – five disasters that are common in Kenya! We have more vocab lists available at SwahiliPod101.com, so be sure to check them out. Thanks, everyone, see you next time!
Medina: Kwaheri ya kuonana.

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