Pitt in Tanzania: Swahili, Culture, & African Socialism is a program which is created by the Center for African Studies (CAS) in collaboration with the Less Commonly Taught Language (LCTL) Center. The program is designed to offer integrated and comprehensive training in the Swahili language and interdisciplinary hands-on experiences of the culture, history, geography, politics, development, and social and economic realities of the East African region. The Summer 2024 program will be a six-week program and it will be situated in Arusha, Tanzania, with other activities expected to take place in Nairobi, Kenya, Dar es Salaam, Bagamoyo, and Zanzibar.
The program consists of two distinct but related components: (1) a two-week pre-travel orientation phase to prepare and equip participants with Swahili language and basic knowledge and skills needed for travel and study in a foreign country – Tanzania (East Africa). One of the two weeks will be offered remotely; and (2) a six-week overseas phase in the host country that will offer intensive Swahili language training, lectures on selected interdisciplinary topics by guest speakers, fieldwork, community activities, excursions, and field trips.
Overseas Visits and Stays: Arusha will be our host city, in which most of our activities will take place. We will be in Arusha for a total of 28-eight inconsequent nights, of which 8 nights will be spent at homestays. We will take a two-night trip to Nairobi, Kenya, to experience the culture and language in a different East African country. We will take a two-night trip to Tarangire and Ngorongoro National Parks for safari, and sightseeing. We will also take a five-day trip to explore Tanzania’s largest city, Dar es Salaam, and one of the oldest Swahili cities, Bagamoyo. Lastly, we will take a three-night trip to Zanzibar to learn about the major Swahili islands. Enriching excursions and cultural activities will be incorporated into all the places that will be visited.
What You'll Accomplish:
This program will facilitate an African Studies educational experience and allow participants to engage in a unique, credit-worthy experience (10 credits), and assist them in developing the tools and global outlook to effectively incorporate African studies into their teaching professions. All credits can apply towards the certificate in African studies and the minor in Swahili.
The specific objectives of the project are to:
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Enhance participants’ language proficiency of the most widely spoken African language, Swahili, and its culture through classroom instruction and immersion activities.
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Formulate a broader understanding of the East African historical/political/cultural context through encountering places and peoples firsthand.
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Gain global perspectives by experiencing the language, culture, and society through building cross-cultural relationships
Arusha
The program will be located in Arusha, Tanzania. Arusha is a city located at the base of volcanic Mt. Meru, at 4566m above sea level. Arusha is known as a gateway to some of the world’s popular destinations, such as Ngorongoro, Serengeti, and Kilimanjaro. Africa's highest peak and the world’s tallest free-standing mountain, Mt. Kilimanjaro (5,895m), lies some 100 kilometers northeast. To the west lies Manyara, Ngorongoro, and Serengeti National Parks, which are home to wildlife, including elephants, lions, rhinoceros, buffaloes, giraffes, and leopards. Dubbed as the Geneva of Africa due to hosting the African Court of African Union, Arusha is Tanzania’s main diplomatic city, serving also as the headquarter of the East African Community with seven member states – Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and D.R. Congo. The Arusha metro area is home to over 500,000 residents of different ethnic groups from the surrounding regions and the entire country. Approximately 12 miles from the city center lies a well-established college known as MS Training Centre for Development Cooperation (MS TCDC). The MS TCDC is one of the most famous institutes for hosting international students in the country and has hosted several nationally recognized programs for decades. That is where this program will be housed.
Students will stay in shared accommodations at the MS TCDC.
You can expect the following:
- Double rooms
- Bedding
- Shared bathrooms
- Breakfast
- Wi-Fi
- Laundry service – extra fee
You will be required to stay with a host family for a total of 5 days, usually over the weekend. Days for homestays will be provided on the program itinerary. The host families have years of experience in hosting foreign students, therefore you will enjoy your stay while experiencing culture and family life in Tanzania.
You will take three courses on the program.
All these courses will be counted towards the certificates in African Studies and Global Studies, and minor in Swahili. If you are seeking to count these courses towards any other major, minor, or certificate requirement, please meet with your respective advisor to discuss the program and what the courses will fulfill for you.
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SWAHIL 0111 & 0112: Beginning Swahili Abroad (8 Credits)
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SWAHIL 0113 & 0114: Continuing Swahili Abroad (8 Credits)
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AFRCNA 1083: Introduction to East Africa: Culture and Society (3 Credits)
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SOCIAL WORK: African Socialism & Family Dynamics and Community (3 Credits)
SWAHIL 0111 & SWAHIL 0112: Beginning Immersive Swahili Abroad
This foundational Swahili course is designed to introduce students to basic communicative situations, essential vocabulary, and fundamental grammar in Swahili. Students will immerse themselves in the culture during the 6-week study abroad program in Tanzania, with two weeks of the course taking place before their departure. The course aims to equip students with the skills to comprehend and creatively express themselves in both spoken and written Swahili.
Through cultural immersion, students will experience practical applications of the learned skills, enabling them to describe everyday experiences and enhance interpersonal interactions within the Tanzanian context. The course predominantly employs East African texts, including reading passages, music, and videos, to foster students' understanding and appreciation of the Swahili language and culture.
While the primary focus is on enriching students' comprehension of African culture through Swahili acquisition, students will be encouraged to connect Swahili culture with their day-to-day experiences. Throughout the course, students will be expected to memorize vocabulary and utilize it in both speech and writing. This course is equivalent to two semesters of Swahili, totaling 8 credit hours.
SWAHIL 0113 & SWAHIL 0114: Continuing Immersive Swahili Abroad
This course is tailored for students with prior experience in Swahili and is aimed at advancing their language skills in a culturally immersive environment during a six-week study abroad program in Tanzania. The course, comprising 8 credits, commences with two weeks of preparatory instruction before students travel to Tanzania, where they will continue their learning journey.
Building upon foundational knowledge acquired previously, this course delves deeper into spoken Swahili, advances functional grammar, and enriches understanding of Swahili culture. The primary objective is to nurture communicative proficiency, empowering students to make comparisons and articulate abstract ideas. The course places a significant focus on dialogue and cultural topics, enabling learners to develop skills in expressing opinions and constructing logical arguments. By the end of the course, students will be capable of understanding the main ideas from diverse general topics and providing explanations and instructions on related subjects. They will also have the ability to express their opinions and reactions to a range of topics within a Swahili-speaking environment.
AFRCNA 1083: Introduction to East Africa: Culture and Society (3 Credits)
This course will offer a comprehensive introduction to the culture and society of East Africa, with a particular focus on Tanzania. Through a combination of lectures, discussions, immersive field trips, and experiential activities, students will embark on a journey to uncover Tanzania's rich cultural heritage, contemporary challenges, and its unique social fabric. The course will encourage students to draw comparisons between these cultural elements and their own backgrounds, fostering a deeper appreciation for both similarities and differences.
Course materials, including readings, lectures, immersive experiences, and discussions, will shed light on both the broader processes of social change and continuity at a macro-level and the daily experiences of individuals navigating these dynamic contexts. By the end of this course, students will possess foundational knowledge of East African culture and society, with a particular emphasis on the unifying role of the Swahili language in promoting cohesion and unity.
SOCIAL WORK: African Socialism & Family Dynamics and Community
This comprehensive course delves deep into the relationship between African socialism and family dynamics, revealing how these ideologies shape both family life and broader societal structures. With a specific focus on the field of social work, this course provides students with a unique lens through which to understand the fundamental aspects of African societies, including social roles, caregiving, and the provision of essential social services.
Held in the distinctive cultural setting of Tanzania, through a combination of lectures, discussions, immersive field trips, and experiential activities, students will embark on a journey to explores the profound impact of Julius Nyerere's Ujamaa, Utu, and Undugu, as well as other influential African socialism ideologies like Ubuntu and Harambee. These philosophies are rooted in the idea that individuals are interconnected and interdependent, emphasizing qualities such as compassion, empathy, and shared responsibility. These values play a significant role in shaping the well-being of the entire community.
Throughout the course, students will be challenged to gain a deep understanding of how these ideologies intricately shape Tanzanian society and their influence on crucial aspects of family life. This includes child development, educational practices, collaborative economic approaches, healthcare delivery, addressing cultural stigmas, expressions of spirituality, marital customs, the dynamics of aging, rituals surrounding death, community development, and evolving perspectives on gender roles.
This course will introduce students to East Africa--the people, culture and society in comparative perspective. It will explore the historical and cultural transformations that have occurred in the context of economic forces and social processes responsible for shaping the everyday existence of the people in the region and particularly in Tanzania. Class field visits to sites in Dar es Salaam will include a number of the following: visit to a local school, local orphanage, among others.
Beginning Swahili Abroad
Continuing Swahili Abroad
The program will be managed both locally at the MS TCDC in Tanzania and at the University of Pittsburgh through the Center for African Studies, the LCTL Center, the Global Experiences Office, and with oversight from the program director, Filipo Lubua. In-country activities will be coordinated by the local coordinator, Yusta Violet Mganga. Courses will be taught by Swahili instructor Mr. Said Omar from MS TCDC, and the project Director will also offer the Introduction to East Africa course.
Anna-Maria Karnes
Anna-Maria Karnes is the Advisor for graduate and undergraduate students at the Center for African Studies at the University of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Filipo Lubua
Dr. Lubua hails from Tanzania and holds a Ph.D. in Instructional Technology and a master’s in Applied Linguistics from Ohio University. He holds a Bachelor of Arts with Education from the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He joined the Linguistics Department at the University of Pittsburgh in 2016, where he currently works as a lecturer and Swahili Program Coordinator. As Project Director, he will ensure that all activities in Pittsburgh and the host country are completed according to the plan. He will also teach the Introduction to East Africa Culture course.
Items Billed by Pitt |
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|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | |
| Program Cost | $8390 | $8590 |
| Study Abroad Fee | $300 | $300 |
| Total Billed by Pitt | $8690 | $8890 |
Estimated Additional Out-of-Pocket Costs |
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|---|---|---|
| Vaccinations and any required prophylaxis | $400 | |
| Personal Expenses and Meals | $500 | |
| Airfare | $1500 | |
The program cost includes the following:
- Tuition
- Housing
- Daily meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
- International Health Insurance
- Excursions
- Airport transfers
- Class related activities
- Program related performances
- Accommodation at Pitt the 2nd week of the program, if needed
Program Dates
Pre-departure Orientations:
- Virtual Orientation (Mainly Swahili Language) - 06 - 10 May
- In-person Orientation in Oakland 13 - 17 May
- Departure - May 18 (Arrival on May 19)
Oversea Program
- May 19 - June 28
- Departure to the US - June 29
- The first week of the program is virtual, and the second week of the program takes place in Pittsburgh.
- Due to the nature of the program, the schedule is subject to change. There may be instances where a guest speaker or visit needs to be rescheduled. We ask for your patience and understanding in advance.
- Remember that this is an intensive summer seminar and that you should expect to invest the same amount of time and effort in your courses abroad as you would on a course at Pitt.
- All scheduled activities and excursions are part of the seminar and classes you are taking. They are mandatory.
