V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University Announces Enrolment for a Swahili Language Certificate Programme

V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, in cooperation with Summit International Institute (Republic of Burundi), has developed a certificate programme in Swahili. The programme will be delivered online, is free of charge for participants, and will include instruction with the participation of a native speaker.

Swahili is one of the most widely spoken languages in Africa, used by more than 200 million people. It plays an important role in international trade, tourism, cultural exchange, and professional communication in East Africa. Learning the language may provide an additional opportunity for those interested in international relations, business, science, culture, and the countries of the region.

The programme was developed by Summit International Institute instructors Samuel Irungu Njau and Peter Mwangi Githae. The course covers levels A1–B1 according to the international CEFR framework and is taught in English.

The programme is open to:

• students;
• university teaching and administrative staff;
• anyone interested in learning Swahili and gaining a deeper understanding of East Africa.

The course runs for 24 weeks and consists of six modules:

1. Basics and Greetings (Weeks 1–4) — alphabet, sounds, greetings, numbers, time, family, noun classes.
2. Everyday Life (Weeks 5–8) — food, the market, locations, adjectives, daily routines.
3. Past and Future Tenses (Weeks 9–12) — verb tenses, negation, letter writing.
4. Social Interaction (Weeks 13–16) — pronouns, imperative constructions, polite requests, health-related vocabulary.
5. Intermediate Level (Weeks 17–20) — complex sentences, the passive voice, proverbs, formal writing.
6. Cultural Immersion (Weeks 21–24) — dialects, traditions, poetry, final project.

The programme will be delivered online, allowing participants to attend classes regardless of their location. Upon successful completion of the programme, participants will receive a certificate.

To participate, please complete the registration form.

For further information, please contact cic.team@karazin.ua.