(This is an intermediate level course. For our beginner course, click here.)
You’ve done a beginner course in Xhosa, like Speak Xhosa in Eight Weeks (or you have cleverly taught yourself), and you can compliment, complain, congratulate, commiserate and wish people all the best. You are starting to impress others and yourself, and a part of you is happily becoming Xhosa. People say “Ndiyavuya ukukwazi” (Pleased to know you) and really mean it!
But now, naturally, you want MORE! You want to get fluent – to speak easily and confidently and to listen with real comprehension.
In Intermediate Xhosa, I explain the grammar to you (simply) as it occurs in natural conversation (using video and sound clips, dialogues, advertisements), and immediately you enhance your Xhosa skills.
For example, you tell the class what frustrated you last week (the fridge broke, the geyser leaked, you had to do your taxes), and what you are looking forward to (a holiday, exciting sports event, massage, TV series, great book). As you speak, I gently correct any glaring mistakes you might be making and give you the missing vocabulary or additional grammar you may need. Each week we track your progress to help keep you motivated and give you a sense of moving forward.
I want you to think of these classes as conversations that just happen to be in Xhosa. To quote Irish polyglot Benny Lewis, “You don’t know a language, you live it. You don’t learn a language, you get used to it.”
Conversation topics include:
Grammar topics include:
At each 90-minute weekly session, Tessa will expertly and entertainingly present new material. After that, you’ll practise what you’ve seen and heard.
You’ll receive PowerPoint presentations, notes, sound files, and a course manual with practical exercises to complete at home.
There are no formal assessments, but Tessa will help you track your progress each week, to keep you motivated and give you a sense of moving forward.
If you or your organisation may need a more focused course, covering specific communication needs (e.g. medical, financial, safety), then let us know. Courses can be tailor-made to suit your requirements.
We won’t ever sell your details. We’ll just send you helpful info about fantastic courses.
Quick links
Quick links
Tessa Dowling has been described by a leading language academic as “both erudite and hilarious”. She has taught businesspeople, politicians, doctors, and many other adults how to speak Xhosa, and has written textbooks for learners of African languages.
Tessa holds a Distinguished Teacher Award from UCT, where she lectures. She writes prize-winning academic articles and lighter humorous pieces on African languages, is a popular speaker at conferences, and is often asked to comment in the media on language issues.
Having begun her study of Xhosa at the age of twenty-five, Tessa is living proof that an English-speaking South African adult can master an African language.
In her Speak Xhosa in Eight Weeks course, Tessa takes participants from zero knowledge of the language to “breaking the ice” level. She gives participants the building blocks of the language, enlivened by songs, videos and activities.