This course will give you the Xhosa you need to have a conversation: handy vocabulary, everyday phrases, and key grammar. You’ll enjoy the sessions, feel challenged but not overwhelmed, and discover a warm and respectful new way to connect with fellow South Africans. (This is an introductory course. For our intermediate Xhosa course, click here.)
Each week covers a different topic, with easily achievable goals:
At each 90-minute weekly session, Tessa Dowling 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 provide constant feedback.
After completing Speak Xhosa in Eight Weeks, you’ll boost your work performance by:
Delivery: Online or in-person
Duration: 12 hours
Other info: Click "Ask a question" to find out more; or "Request a booking" to arrange an exclusive course for your team. Group discounts and online or in-person options are available.
Cost: Best price guaranteed
Duration: 12 hours
Start date: 14 January 2025
End date: 4 March 2025
Timing: Every Tuesday, 17h30-19h00, for eight weeks
Cost: R2,995 (incl VAT). Best price guaranteed
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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.