| Swahili is the national language of East African | | | | Democratic Republic of the Congo, the world's |
| countries. The word itself means "the coast" in | | | | nineteenth most populous country according to the |
| English. This was the name given by the Arab traders | | | | UN. It is the largest country to have French as an |
| who were in contact with the African people in these | | | | official language as well. The Congo has a rich history |
| places for three centuries. The language itself has | | | | and heritage, a fact that made it more appealing to |
| been highly influenced by the Arabic language and | | | | the outside world. If you are to look back to its |
| later has included some French, English, Portuguese, | | | | history, it has been ruled by many European nations, |
| and even German. Like these major languages, Swahili | | | | the first of them are the Portuguese. Before it |
| is considered the lingua franca of countries bordering | | | | became the Republic of Congo, it used to be the |
| the Indian Ocean, particularly that of East Africa, in | | | | Belgian Congo. |
| which some places made it mandatory to include | | | | These are just examples of places you should check |
| learning Swahili in its curriculum. | | | | out on in Africa apart from Lake Victoria which they |
| Swahili is spoken by the millions of people in three | | | | say is connected to the Nile. Africa is not popular |
| countries namely Kenya, Tanzania, and the Congo. It | | | | being the second largest continent next to Asia. For |
| is said that Swahili has no lexical tone which is a | | | | one it should be known by all that Africa is regarded |
| trademark of being a sub-Saharan language. But | | | | by the scientific community as the origin of humans, |
| enough about the language. Why don't we take it in | | | | having found the earliest remains of hominids, which |
| the context of the African culture? Why would | | | | started the human species family tree. Perhaps the |
| anyone be interested about learning this African | | | | most attractive part of Africa's culture is that of the |
| language if he is not going to be a volunteer teacher | | | | widest range of freedom it allots to wild animals. |
| for some African kids or be an AIDS prevention | | | | There are thousands of wild animals roaming freely in |
| advocate in one of its remote places? You would be | | | | the non-private lands of the continent. That is also |
| surprised to find more reasons to go to Africa and | | | | what the international public adores. |
| discover the mystery veiled by its dark history. | | | | So if you are one of those people who seek for |
| Kenya for example is famous for its animal reserves. | | | | adventure and a lifetime of learning from travels, you |
| It is home to numerous species of animals that are | | | | have to go to Africa and in order for you to enjoy it |
| not found anywhere in the world. It also has the | | | | the most, learn the Swahili language. You can do it at |
| second highest peak in Africa from where it got its | | | | your own pace through a Pimsleur language learning |
| name: Mount Kenya. | | | | program found in The Talking Bookstore. |
| Another country that might captivate you is the | | | | |