Dialogue

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Vocabulary

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Lesson Transcript

Eric: Top 25 Swahili Questions You Need to Know - Lesson 7 “Where did you learn Swahili?” (In each lesson of this 25 part series, you'll encounter a common question for Swahili learners, then learn how to answer it like a native. You'll learn how these key phrases work by breaking them down into each component. Then, through repetition and new vocabulary, you'll expand your understanding of the question, its answers, and any variations.)
In this lesson, you'll learn how to respond to the common question “Where did you learn Swahili?” In Swahili this is
Medina: Ulisoma Kiswahili wapi?
Eric: The first word in the question is
Medina: Ulisoma
Eric: meaning “you learned” in English.
Medina: (Slow, by syllable) ulisoma
Eric: Listen again and repeat.
Medina: ulisoma
{Pause}
Eric: This pattern of first introducing a word at natural speed, providing the translation, breaking it down, and then giving it again at natural speed will be repeated throughout the series. Try to speak aloud as often as possible. The next word in the question is
Medina: Kiswahili
Eric: meaning “Swahili”
Medina: (Slow, by syllable) Kiswahili
Eric: Now repeat.
Medina: Kiswahili
{Pause}
Eric: Listen to the first two words of the question and repeat.
Medina: Ulisoma Kiswahili
{pause}
Eric: And next is
Medina: wapi
Eric: meaning “where”
Medina: (Slow, by syllable) wapi
Eric: Now repeat.
Medina: wapi
{Pause}
Eric: Listen to the entire question and repeat.
Medina: Ulisoma Kiswahili wapi?
{pause}
Eric: (You will hear this common question again and again throughout your studies.) Master the following pattern and responses to the question “Where did you learn Swahili?”
Medina: Nilisoma shuleni.
Eric: "I learned in school.” Listen as we say it again, slowly. Repeat the phrase.
Medina: (Slow) Nilisoma shuleni.
{pause}
Eric: Let's break it down from the beginning. The first word is
Medina: Nilisoma
Eric: meaning “I learned”
Medina: (Slow, by syllable)Nilisoma
Eric: Now repeat.
Medina: Nilisoma
{Pause}
Eric: And next is
Medina: Shuleni
Eric: meaning “in school”
Medina: (Slow, by syllable) shuleni
Eric:Now repeat.
Medina: shuleni
{Pause}
Eric: Listen to the speaker say “I learned in school” and then repeat.
Medina: Nilisoma shuleni.
{pause}
Eric: To expand on the pattern, replace “in school” with “at home.”
Medina: nyumbani
Eric: “at home”
Medina: (slow) nyumbani (regular) nyumbani
Eric: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “at home.”
Medina: Nilisoma nyumbani.
Eric: It mostly stays the same, just replace “in school” with “at home.” Now say, “I learned at home.”
{pause}
Medina: Nilisoma nyumbani.
Eric: For more practice, replace “at home” with “by myself.”
Medina: mwenyewe
Eric: “by myself”
Medina: (slow) mwenyewe (regular) mwenyewe
Eric: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “by myself.”
Medina: Nilisoma mwenyewe.
Eric: It’s almost the same, just replace “at home” with “by myself.” Now say, “I learned by myself.”
{pause}
Medina: Nilisoma mwenyewe.
Eric: To expand on the pattern, replace “by myself” with “at university.”
Medina: katika chuo kikuu
Eric: at university
Medina: (slow) katika chuo kikuu (regular) katika chuo kikuu
Eric: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “at university.”
Medina: Nilisoma katika chuo kikuu.
Eric: Again, just replace “by myself” with “at university.” Now try. Say “I learned at university.”
{pause}
Medina: Nilisoma katika chuo kikuu.
Eric: Now it's time for a quiz. Imagine you are visiting Kenya and someone asks you where you learned Swahili. You learned Swahili in school. How will you answer?
Medina: Ulisoma Kiswahili wapi? (five seconds) Nilisoma shuleni.
Eric: Now, imagine you learned at home. Respond to the question.
Medina: Ulisoma Kiswahili wapi? (five seconds) Nilisoma nyumbani
Eric: Imagine you learned by yourself. Answer the speaker's question.
Medina: Ulisoma Kiswahili wapi? (five seconds) Nilisoma mwenyewe.
Eric: Imagine you learned at university. How would you answer?
Medina: Ulisoma Kiswahili wapi? (five seconds) Nilisoma katika chuo kikuu.
Eric: Now you want to ask someone where they learned Swahili. Ask the question.
(5 seconds)
Medina: Ulisoma Kiswahili wapi?
{pause}
Eric: This is the end of Lesson 7.

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