Listening Exercise: Unit 8 Dialogue 1

 

Jibu maswali haya baada ya kusikiliza:

1. Kwa nini wazazi wa Sandra wanakuja Tanzania?
2. Wazazi wa Sandra watakaa kwa muda gani?
3. Wazazi wa Leila watafika lini?
4. Wazazi wa Sandra wako wapi sasa?
5. Sandra ataenda kuwaona lini?
6. Baba ya Sandra anataka kufanya nini Arusha?
7. Kwa nini mama yake hatapanda Mlima Kilimanjaro?

Picture Story: A Day at the Market

Instructions

• Look at each picture carefully.

• Describe what you see.

• Answer the questions in full sentences.

Think & Talk

• Use colors, people, objects, and actions in your answers.

Tell Me the Story! Instructions

• Look at all the pictures.

• Now, tell me the story from the beginning to the end.

• Use these words to help you: kwanza (first), halafu (then), kisha (next), baada ya hapo (after that), mwishowe (finally).

Naomi Wambui Kamau – Administrative & Research Virtual Assistant

📍 Mombasa, Kenya | ✉️ omikamau@gmail.com | 📞 +254 721 258 664

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About Me

I am a bilingual (Swahili-English) administrator with strong experience in research, scheduling, and supporting creative professionals remotely. Highly organized, detail-oriented, and proactive, I excel at managing multiple tasks, tracking opportunities, and keeping operations running smoothly. I am passionate about supporting creative businesses behind the scenes so they can focus on what they do best.

Key Skills

• Online Research & Event Tracking
• Scheduling & Calendar Management (Google Calendar, Calendly)
• Data Organization & Spreadsheets (Google Sheets / Excel)
• Invoicing & Basic Bookkeeping
• Website Updates (Wix) & Content Coordination
• Bilingual Communication (Swahili ↔ English)
• Process Improvement & Multi-tasking

Professional Highlights

Administrator & Bookkeeper – Isapet Veterinary Clinic | 2014 – Present

• Managed daily operations, scheduling, correspondence, and record-keeping.
• Handled invoicing, payments, and financial tracking.
• Organized workflows and ensured deadlines were met.

Founder & Principal – Kiswahili Learning Platforms | 2020 – Present

• Managed online courses, lesson planning, and structured educational content.
• Coordinated student schedules and assessments.
• Check out my teaching video on Kiswahili School.
• Visit my blog for lessons and cultural content: Swahili with Wambui.

Online Swahili Tutor & Curriculum Designer | 2017 – Present

• Verbling Profile – 5-star ratings and testimonials from international students.
• Delivered personalized lessons and maintained detailed student records.

Interpreter & Translator (English ↔ Swahili) – Freelance | 2014 – Present

• Provided accurate oral and written translations with cultural sensitivity.

Sample Work & Tools

• Event & Opportunity Trackers – spreadsheets with dates, submission deadlines, fees, and audience details. 
• Scheduling – coordinated lessons and meetings using Google Calendar & Calendly.
• Website & Content Updates – basic edits, blog uploads, and content organization on WordPress.
• Research Reports – structured findings for creative events and opportunities.

Testimonials

"Naomi is highly organized, patient, and professional. Her lessons are always clear, and she keeps everything running smoothly behind the scenes." – Student, Verbling

"She has a real talent for managing schedules and content. I always know deadlines are met thanks to her attention to detail." – Client, Kiswahili School

Availability

• Part-time or full-time remote support
• Flexible hours aligned with US & European time zones

Portfolio Links

• Kiswahili School – Video Introduction
• Swahili with Wambui Blog
• Verbling Profile – 5-Star Ratings

Travel Swahili: Must-Know Phrases for Beginners

 

Scenario & Situation	Must-Use Words / Key Vocabulary	Practice Questions / Tasks
✈️ AIRPORT (ARRIVAL / HELP DESK) Just arrived in Tanzania and needs help	Words / Phrases: samahani, tafadhali, naomba, nisaidie / unaweza kunisaidia, iko wapi Key Vocabulary: uwanja wa ndege, choo, mizigo, hoteli, teksi	• Ask where the toilet is • Ask for help with luggage • Ask where to get a taxi • Ask how to find the hotel
🚖 TAXI / BODA / TRANSPORT Needs to get to her hotel	Words / Phrases: samahani, naomba, tafadhali, unipeleke / nipeleke, hadi Key Vocabulary: hoteli, bei, pesa, safari, karibu / sawa	• Ask the driver to take you to the hotel • Ask how much the fare is • Ask how long the trip will take • Confirm if the price is OK
🏨 HOTEL CHECK-IN Arrives at hotel reception	Words / Phrases: samahani, naomba, tafadhali, nina / sina, asante sana Key Vocabulary: chumba, funguo, maji, choo, Wi-Fi	• Ask if a room is available • Ask for the room key • Ask if the room has water and a toilet • Ask if there is Wi-Fi
🍽️ RESTAURANT / FOOD Ordering food politely	Words / Phrases: naomba, tafadhali, niletee, nina njaa, nina kiu Key Vocabulary: chakula, maji, chai, ugali, wali, nyama	• Order a drink • Order food • Ask for a specific dish (e.g., ugali & sukuma wiki) • Ask for the bill
🗺️ ASKING FOR DIRECTIONS Lost and asks a stranger	Words / Phrases: samahani, tafadhali, unaweza, iko wapi, asante Key Vocabulary: choo, hoteli, benki, duka, barabara	• Ask where the hotel is • Ask where the bank is • Ask where the toilet is • Ask where a shop is
🛒 SHOP / MARKET Buying something small	Words / Phrases: naomba, tafadhali, nipe, bei gani, asante Key Vocabulary: maji, matunda, ndizi, pesa, chenji	• Ask for an item (e.g., ndizi) • Ask the price • Ask for water • Ask for the change
⚠️ PROBLEM / CLARIFICATION Didn’t understand / something goes wrong	Words / Phrases: samahani, sijaelewa, tafadhali rudia, polepole, nisaidie Key Vocabulary: tena, kidogo, vizuri, sawa	• Ask someone to repeat • Ask them to speak slowly • Ask for help politely • Indicate you don’t understand

QUICK NOTES: “TO BE” (kuwa) and “TO HAVE” (kuwa na)

1. “TO BE” — kuwa

A. Present tense: NI (am / is / are)

In Kiswahili, ni is used to talk about:

• who someone is
• what something is
• what something is like

Examples you may use while travelling:

• Mimi ni mgeni.
  (I am a visitor.)
• Mimi ni rafiki wa Asha.
  (I am Asha’s friend.)
• Huyu ni rafiki yangu.
  (This is my friend.)
• Huu ni mradi wa wanawake.
  (This is a women’s project.)
• Chakula hiki ni kitamu.
  (This food is delicious.)
• Wanawake ni wachapa kazi.
  (The women are hardworking.)

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B. Past and Future (for understanding)

• alikuwa = was
• atakuwa = will be

Examples:

• Mradi ulikuwa mzuri.
  (The project was good.)
• Chakula kitakuwa tayari kesho.
  (The food will be ready tomorrow.)

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C. Negative “to be” — SI

• Mimi si mtalii.
  (I am not a tourist.)
• Hii si hoteli.
  (This is not a hotel.)
• Wao si wauzaji.
  (They are not sellers.)

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2. “TO HAVE” — kuwa na

This verb is very useful for travel.

Structure:

Subject + na + thing

Examples you may use:

• Nina pasipoti.
  (I have a passport.)
• Nina rafiki Tanzania.
  (I have a friend in Tanzania.)
• Tuna chakula.
  (We have food.)
• Wanawake wana mradi.
  (The women have a project.)
• Wanawake wana chakula endelevu.
  (The women have sustainable food.)

Negative:

• Sina pesa nyingi.
  (I do not have much money.)
• Hatuna muda.
  (We do not have time.)

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3. COMMON PHRASES YOU CAN SAY

• Mimi ni mgeni, lakini nina rafiki hapa.
  (I am a visitor, but I have a friend here.)
• Tunatembelea mradi wa wanawake.
  (We are visiting a women’s project.)
• Wanawake wana chakula cha watalii.
  (The women have food for tourists.)

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4. PRACTICE EXERCISE

Use NI / SI / NINA / TUNA / WANA

1. Mimi ___ mgeni.
2. Mimi ___ rafiki Tanzania.
3. Huu ___ mradi wa wanawake.
4. Wanawake ___ chakula endelevu.
5. Chakula hiki ___ kitamu.
6. Mimi ___ mtalii.
7. Sisi ___ chakula cha kuuza.
8. Wao ___ pesa nyingi.

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Make your own sentences

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