No Rosetta Stone Swahili Lessons? We’ve Got You Covered

Anyone planning to visit countries like Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania should definitely consider learning Swahili. It’s widespread use and supposedly easy phonetics make it a good choice to try before your stay in the region. However, one of the more popular options for learning new languages seems to have neglected Swahili in their modern line up. Why is there no Rosetta Stone Swahili and what alternatives are there for learning it? They also don’t have Thai course in this app. That is what we are looking to find out today.

There Is No Rosetta Stone For Swahili?

Swahili seems to be another language option that Rosetta Stone has left by the wayside. It had launched lessons for Swahili since its original launch years ago. So while the ‘popular’ languages like Spanish have seen updates and revisions, you will find that, if you are even able to get your hands on Rosetta Stone Swahili, it is short and not of great quality. So how did this happen?

It Is Not A Popular Language To Learn

Despite being an official language in five different countries and having over 120 million native speakers, it seems that the demand to learn the language is not there. Africa in general seems to be overlooked as a destination. At the same time, those who do visit may not be choosing to learn Swahili, using English, French, or another language where possible. 

All of these factors have led to reduced demand for Rosetta Stone Swahili lessons, which could explain why they are not updating their previous offering. This may change, of course, if they see a surge in demand or an opportunity to grow their user base by doing so.

There Are Many Alternatives Available

Many people seem to opt for different methods of learning the language. For example, you can see online that some prefer to wait until they arrive in the country and use immersion to help them learn, or use local services. As you can imagine, immersion makes for a great way to learn a new language, in a way forcing your hand to do so. Likewise, learning through local options is probably going to work out cheaper too.

Whatever the reason, it may be some time before we see Rosetta Stone bringing back their Swahili lessons. In the meantime, you should consider some alternatives for learning Swahili from the comfort of your own home or when you are out and about. Here is a couple to get you started:

What Are The Alternatives To Rosetta Stone?

Ling

I am glad you asked. There is one very obvious recommendation that can be made here, and that is the Ling Swahili app. Ling uses native Swahili speakers to help you learn Swahili, just like it will sound in the country.

Through the gamification of learning, it also makes the whole process much more engaging. You can see yourself progress as you make your way through the different topics and tests that come along with it.

Then there is the chatbot feature that simulates conversations and makes for great practicing your Swahili language skills. For an introvert like me, it helps to build up my courage to eventually feel confident enough to use it when out and about.

While these mobile apps do share a common goal of making language learning fun and accessible, what sets Ling apart is the focus on practical vocabulary, sentences, and phrases that you will use in everyday speech.

Read what people are saying about Ling: Ling App Review.

Simply Learn

simply learnThis one is actually a part of the same family as Ling. Simply Learn Swahili is a phrasebook in app form, giving you all the benefits that come with that. You can listen to the words and phrases being spoken by native Swahili speakers, along with the Swahili and phonetic spellings of the words.

It makes for a great companion both when practicing and when you are in the region. It makes use of flashcards and the spaced repetition learning technique that is said to really improve language learning.

It may not be the top choice if you want a deep understanding of the language but helps you start out with pronunciation and basic grammar like word order.

Read this review of Simply Learn app.

Other Resources

There are quite a few different apps and websites that work great with helping you to learn Swahili. Each one goes about its own way to replace the hole made by the lack of Swahili on Rosetta Stone. Ultimately, it is a case of finding which option works best for your case.

Like we said before, it is good to make a language learning plan and mix things up if you are serious about learning Swahili. If you are just looking for a more casual experience to learn a few phrases before traveling, then apps might be the best option for you.

Try Learn Swahili With These Alternatives

The previous Rosetta Stone Swahili lessons have become outdated. If there is still any availability left, you will find the lessons to be basic, short, and not up to the usual standards of the service. So why do they not update or renew the Swahili lessons? Well, it could be any number of reasons, including what we speculated above or otherwise. If you are looking to learn Swahili, try out the alternatives above and see which works best for you. Rosetta Stone may not offer it, but Ling and some others certainly do.

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