Chichewa classes that also integrate cultural studies and Malawian history for adults
Good afternoon!
I left Malawi soon after entering my teens and moved back home about 15 years later. I used to be fluent as a child. Never learnt Chichewa in school, but I spent all my time playing with my adopted siblings (nanny’s kids). I laugh now, but I remember when we’d play “teacher teacher“, I’d sometimes teach them Chichewa lol.
Anyway, I’m not shy, and speak broken Chichewa openly and confidently. I’ve improved a lot over the past few months, but honestly, I’m exceptionally terrible still. Along with all that, I’ve also forgotten Malawian history and cultural nuances. I talk to the staff at home about these things, for example Chewa culture is matrilineal and Gule Wankulu is a secret society within it, where as Lomwe are shifting more to speaking Chichewa, and many cannot speak their own dialect anymore. As lovely as it is, these conversations are very limited because of my vocabulary. I depend on my mum to translate for me.
I think taking classes and practicing with someone who also knows English may help me find the words I’m trying to express. Also to help me use ch, mu, ku, ti, li before words better. I’ve recently started tutoring 2 of their kids, aged 6 and 10. I love the impact I’ve been able to have on them. It would make a world of a difference with the 10 year old especially if I understood Chichewa more. I can’t always understand if he comprehends the meaning because he can’t express it well in English, and I can’t understand it well if he explains in Chichewa. For example I asked him if he knows what “true” means. He said yes, and gave me the Chichewa word for it. I don’t think I’ve ever heard that word in my life lol