Preface

Elementary Swahili I is an open educational resource (OER) designed for college students who are beginning their study of the Swahili language. These modules are appropriate for learners enrolled in elementary-level Swahili courses and is structured to support development in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and intercultural competence. While the primary audience is students in 3- or 4-credit courses, the material can easily be adapted for 5-credit language courses or independent study. The course comprises 33 lessons and over 120 interactive activities created with H5P, providing students with ample opportunities to practice and reinforce key concepts in engaging and varied formats. Grammar instruction is embedded in meaningful context, allowing students to learn structures as they naturally occur in communication, rather than in isolation. Instructional design is based on the principles of Backward Curriculum Design, with clearly defined communicative and intercultural outcomes aligned with the World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages. These standards emphasize five goal areas: Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities, and guide the development of each unit. Lessons are built to help students achieve real-world communication tasks and develop cross-cultural understanding. Every chapter includes Interactive components (e.g., vocabulary matching, pronunciation practice, grammar drills, and cultural reflections) that offer immediate feedback to support formative learning. This OER is designed for flexibility and can be used as a primary textbook or supplementary resource in higher education settings. It supports both face-to-face and online instruction and is adaptable to different course formats and institutional needs.