Unisa Offers Free Online Courses in African Languages. Unisa, the University of South Africa, is providing an exciting opportunity for language enthusiasts by offering free online courses in various African languages. With these courses, learners can immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of African cultures from the comfort of their homes.
Unlocking African Language Proficiency with Unisa
Unisa’s innovative approach allows individuals to access valuable language lessons at no cost. By participating in these courses, you can acquire fundamental language skills in different African languages. This initiative opens doors to linguistic diversity and cultural understanding, fostering a deeper connection with the continent’s heritage.
What You Can Learn
Unisa’s free language courses cover the following African languages:
- Northern Sotho
- Tswana
- Zulu
- Southern Sotho
- Xhosa
Learning with a Purpose
The courses are thoughtfully structured to guide learners systematically through language acquisition. Each course centers around specific themes, ensuring that learners build a robust vocabulary relevant to practical, real-world situations.
Unisa Perspective
Unisa emphasizes that the phrases taught in these courses are tailored to South Africans who wish to acquire basic proficiency in African languages. The courses are designed to make the language learning journey exciting and accessible.
How to Enroll in Unisa’s Free Language Courses
Getting started is a simple process:
- Visit the Unisa website.
- Click on the ‘Unisa Open’ tab.
- Navigate to the ‘OER @Unisa’ tab.
- Choose ‘Learn to speak an African Language’ from the options provided.
Exploring Language Diversity
Unisa’s courses highlight the fascinating linguistic diversity of African languages. While there are differences among them, it’s worth noting that these languages share common origins and are often referred to as “Bantu” languages, stemming from a proto-language form known as Ur-Bantu. Although the term “Bantu” faced controversy during the apartheid era, it remains widely recognized internationally.
South Africa’s African languages can be broadly categorized into four main groups:
- Nguni, including Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele, and Swati
- Sotho, encompassing Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, and Tswana
- Tsonga
- Venda
Structured Learning Themes
To facilitate effective language learning, Unisa has organized the courses around thematic categories. These themes encompass a wide range of topics and practical scenarios, including:
- Greetings and Courtesies
- Asking for Help and Handling Emergencies
- Numbers, Days, Months, and Quantities
- Question Words, Weather, Seasons, and Time
- Banks, Taxis, and Restaurants
- Transportation and Navigational Skills
- Touring and Socializing
- Navigating a Filling Station
- Discussing the Human Body and Ailments
- Shopping and Sports
Conclusion
As an added bonus, each theme in the online course includes video clips that showcase the vocabulary in context, making the learning experience engaging and practical. Join Unisa’s free language courses today and embark on a fascinating journey into the world of African languages.