The CLS Swahili Program in Arusha, Tanzania is hosted by the MS Training Centre for Development Cooperation (MS-TCDC). The academic program is highly interactive and designed to meet the needs of students from a variety of language levels and backgrounds. Students’ learning culminates in a final project and presentation focused on a topic of their interest related to Swahili or East African culture.

Outside of formal classes, students engage with the local community through a variety of hands-on activities. In the past, these activities have included a visit to a coffee farm, meeting with Tanzanite miners, and discussions with representatives from youth organizations. Students can expect to spend a lot of time outdoors, whether playing volleyball on campus after class, shopping at the colorful markets in Arusha, or hiking.

Students live with host families, where they experience life in a Tanzanian family and practice Swahili in a relaxed environment. Students develop a deep understanding of daily life in Tanzania by regularly joining family conversations over breakfast and dinner. Many students also spend weekends with their host families learning to cook Tanzanian food, celebrating birthdays and other special occasions, and discussing family history as well as local and global events.