Swahili Courses to Start Soon in Qatar
To commemorate World Kiswahili Language Day, Qatar may soon offer Kiswahili (Swahili) classes to non-speakers, according to the United Republic of Tanzanian ambassador.
The schools that already teach Arabic, French, and other languages have been taken into consideration, and they have expressed interest. Some members of our community have children who are unable to speak Swahili. Therefore, they would likely be the first clientele eager to have their kids speak Swahili, according to Dr. Mahadhi Juma Maalim.
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According to UNESCO statistics, the language has more than 200 million speakers, making it one of the top 10 most widely spoken languages worldwide. Given the enormous number of expats from various African nations living in Qatar, thousands of people there speak it as their mother tongue.
The language hasn't yet been taught in the Gulf country, though.
During a meeting to commemorate language day in Doha, the official announced that embassy workers and community volunteers could teach the language using a professional curriculum from Tanzania.
"We have the embassy employees, and we've already spoken with a few community volunteers, some of whom have teaching experience. We'll follow a curriculum and read books written by specialists back home. The ambassador said, "We're just doing it with the resources we have here.
He continued, "So that, by itself, is boosting cultural understanding and interchange."
Resolution 41 C/61, which highlighted the contribution of the Kiswahili language to the advancement of cultural diversity, was approved by the General Conference of UNESCO's 41st session last year. This led to the establishment of July 7 as World Kiswahili Language Day.
The language, which has its roots in Tanzania and Kenya, is extensively used in a number of East, Central, and Southern African countries, as well as the Middle East and Uganda (Yemen, Oman). In addition, it is taught in the best colleges and universities around the globe.
The UN's recognition of Kiswahili Day, according to Maalim, is a tribute to Tanzania's efforts and will aid in language preservation because it is the first African language to receive such recognition from the organization.
The language is taught and studied in numerous colleges across the world, thus receiving this recognition at the UN level is significant. I believe it elevates it and may encourage others to keep learning about and teaching it, he continued.
The diplomat revealed that South Africa had already begun teaching Kiswahili.
As part of the celebration, Tanzania and South Africa will sign a deal to send experts to teach Swahili in South African classrooms.
"Botswana had also done that. Namibia is, in my opinion, in the process. As a result, Kiswahili is promoted, and Maalim believes that other nations will follow suit.