Kinyarwanda

Kinyarwanda Learning Resources

allisonfisher

Online resources

“Kinyarwanda Lessons” PDF by Betty Ellen Cox and Gakuba Faustin – includes a lot of basic information and simple lessons about common phrases, grammar components, tenses, modifiers, and more! (Note: I went through some parts of this with my mentor and we noticed some misspellings/typos, so double check what you find in here)

https://kigalinews.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/learn-kinyarwanda.pdf

University of Indiana’s recording archive for Kinyarwanda – Includes archived audio materials: literature (plays) and music. Helpful for getting accustomed to the sounds and rhythms of Kinyarwanda. Can be used for listening exercises for those with better comprehension.

https://celt.indiana.edu/portal/Kinyarwanda/recording_archive.html

Omniglot – an open-source webpage including pronunciation guides, sample text, video, and helpful links about Kinyarwanda (recommended by the University of Indiana)

https://www.omniglot.com/writing/kinyarwanda.htm

Peace Corps Trainee Kinyarwanda book PDF – a very thorough source for learning the basics and everyday Kinyarwanda skills. It is tailored for health volunteers.

https://files.peacecorps.gov/multimedia/audio/languagelessons/rwanda/RW_Kinyarwanda_Language_Lessons.pdf

Video lessons

Theoisback Youtube channel – many helpful videos to teach Kinyarwanda with spelling and phonetic pronunciations from a native speaker. Also has videos about cultural norms, travel tips, dancing, and much more!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZCuHpFhuaQ

Learn Kinyarwanda Youtube channel – Numbered lessons for learning Kinyarwanda. He gives written spelling on screen but not phonetic spelling so it’s better for practicing aloud than taking notes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9XpysIfzH0&list=PLo2atMclIcYiI-57c2Vxp0tL0y_ZzJjdv

Books 

“Le kinyarwanda : initiation à une langue bantu” by Shimamungu, E. M – Available at Memorial library but in French

“Kinyarwanda language : the Kinyarwanda phrasebook and dictionary” by Yves Bemeriki – I requested to loan from UW Oshkosh