(Looking for a group option? You can find our eight-week beginners’ course, Speak Xhosa in Eight Weeks, here.)
Ready to expand your Xhosa knowledge at your own pace with personal attention? This course is for students who have a solid understanding of basic Xhosa grammar and are ready to take their skills to the next level.
These personalised lessons with renowned educator Dr Tessa Dowling are tailored to your individual level and goals. With over thirty years of experience as an acclaimed, award-winning Xhosa teacher, Tessa knows exactly what it takes to help students become confident, capable speakers who truly love the language.
Each Xhosa lesson is one hour long and is held online, with focused instruction from Tessa that is just right for you.
During your sessions, you will:
In your first lesson, Tessa will discuss your level and goals with you.
One-on-One Xhosa classes allow you to ask Tessa to slow down, repeat sections or entire lessons, provide detailed explanations or offer further practice. These sessions also give you the space to practise your skills for the full hour and get immediate feedback.
Choose from packages of 4, 8, 12 or more lessons.
(VAT is not applicable to these fees.)
We are confident you’ll love your lessons with Tessa! But just to reassure you: in case you aren’t happy after your first session, let us know, and you will receive a full refund of your package.
Tessa has supplied some questions and answers about her lessons:
Where will I start?
You will start just where you feel comfortable; so if you want to revise other material you have studied in a beginner course (like mine) akhongxaki! no problem!
What will the One-on-One lessons look like?
Once you feel ready for the fresh material, we start by slowly working through some grammar and reading texts that are designed to help you with the kind of Xhosa that you will hear and use every day.
Will there be grammar?
Yes, when it’s relevant and you will practise it immediately in easy exercises. There will also be short listening activities that showcase grammar in natural speech.
How will I avoid forgetting stuff I learnt in a previous lesson?
Every lesson incorporates previously taught vocabulary and grammar and builds on it incrementally.
Why Tessa?
My over thirty years of teaching Xhosa, both at university and privately, has proved to me that students who end up speaking and understanding the language most happily are those who are motivated and get sufficient exposure and practice. I will give you these, plus my insights into how people use the language in real life.
Delivery: Online
Duration: 4 hours (4 one-hour lessons)
Cost: R3,700 (i.e. R925 per hour)
Delivery: Online
Duration: 8 hours (8 one-hour lessons)
Cost: R7,280 (i.e. R910 per hour)
Delivery: Online
Duration: 12 hours (12 one-hour lessons), or more as required
Other info: If you'd like to purchase more than 12 hours, you'll have a chance to let us know when you request a booking.
Cost: R10,740 (i.e. R895 per hour), or more than 12 hours at the same hourly rate
We won’t ever sell your details. We’ll just send you helpful info about fantastic courses.
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.