Course Syllabus
Indiana University
Department of Linguistics & African Studies Program
The African Languages Program
Z 201/501 – (Intermediate Zulu)
Fall 2016
Course Information:
Class Schedule: T/TH 12h15—13h30pmpm.
Instructor/Facilitator: Mpolokeng Lesetla
E-Mail: mlesetla@indiana.edu
Tel.: (812) 3602158
Venue: BH 121
Office Hours: SGIS T/TH 1h30-14h30
Tutorials M/W SAC: TETER from 07h00pm-09h00pm
Course Description
Zulu (also known as IsiZulu) is a language spoken in the southern part of Africa, including South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Lesotho, Mozambique and Malawi. In South Africa there are about 38 million people consisting of numerous ethnic groups, each with their own unique languages. There are a total of 11 official languages and several dialectical variants. Among these official languages is a group of Nguni languages (IsiZulu, IsiXhosa, Siswati and IsiNdebele), which are spoken by over 20 million people. IsiZulu is the most widely spoken of all the Nguni languages, followed by IsiXhosa. Although only approximately 8 million people of South Africa can speak, read and write IsiZulu the majority of South Africans who cannot speak IsiZulu fluently can understand it. One of the advantages of learning IsiZulu is that it forms the basis for understanding other Nguni languages. IsiZulu is spoken by over 13 million people of the world. This course introduces learners to the language and cultures of the Zulu people and it will also integrate the five Cs of the National Foreign Language Standards: Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities. There will be tutorial help twice a week at the Academic Support Center. There will also be weekly conversation sessions. Information on days and time will be posted on CANVAS. Towards the end of the semester, there will be a language festival that will bring together students from different IU African language classes to share language experiences. The class as a group will do a presentation of their choice. Family and friends are invited and food will be served.
Course Goals
- To develop communicative competence and confidence in the use of Zulu. This will build up on the first level where learners got acquainted to Zulu, as well as some more aspects of its culture.
- To further equip them with some basic issues and some fundamental structural idiosyncrasies of Zulu – in all four language skills.
*Attainment of the Intermediate low-mid level tasks based on the ACTFL scale, namely, ability to:
- participate in simple, direct conversations on generally predictable topics related to daily activities and personal environment;
- obtain and give information by asking and answering question;
- initiate, sustain and bring to a close a number of basic, uncomplicated communicative exchanges, often in reactive mode;
- create with the language and communicate personal meaning to sympathetic interlocutors by combining language elements in discrete sentences and strings of sentences;
- satisfy simple personal needs and social demands to survive in the target language culture. For more information: see the Writing Tutorial Services website In accordance with IU policy, suspected incidents of academic misconduct will be discussed in a meeting between the instructor and student. Additionally, faculty is required to report all such incidents to the university. Academic misconduct can result in sanctions, such as receiving a zero for the assignment or failing the course
- http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml).
- Academic honesty: The Indiana University Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct defines academic misconduct as “any activity that tends to undermine the academic integrity of the institution . . . Academic misconduct may involve human, hard-copy, or electronic resources . . . Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to . . . cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, interference, violation of course rules, and facilitating academic misconduct.” (II. G.1-6). According to the IU Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct, cheating is an “attempt to use or provide unauthorized assistance, materials, information, or study aids in any form and in any academic exercise or environment” (p. 7). Examples of cheating include: • Using books, notes, or electronic devices on an examination or quiz without permission from the instructor • Submitting a paper or other assignment written for a previous or another concurrent class • To plagiarize is to present “ideas, opinions, theories, formulas, graphics, or pictures of another person without acknowledgment”; i.e., to steal or pass off, in whole or in part, the work of another person as one’s own (IU Code, 8). If you use any material from another source, including lesson plan ideas, activities, pictures or other material from a website, etc. the source must be cited appropriately.
- Method: The Communicative approach to learning will be adopted in a very informal and conversational manner, as much as possible. The performance based method will also be the focus of this course calling upon learners to perform most of the work in and outside the class and grading will reflect this. More grammatical exposition will be given on a broader scale than the first level and this will be the learners’ responsibility to read both online and the Learner’s Reference Grammar (Mbeje: 2005). Students will be expected to participate actively during classes. The classes will engage in a lot of oral and written exercises.
- *The Intermediate low-mid level will be the ceiling, with the Elementary high level tasks as the floor.
Grading System:
Attendance and class participation 10%
Assignment and homework 10%
Quizzes x6 20%
Total 40%
Midterm exam: Listening 10%
Speaking 10%
Writing 10%
Total 30%
Final exam: Listening 10%
Written 10%
Speaking 10%
Total 30%
Overall total 100%
Online Course Materials:
IU Zulu on-course materials
http://IsiZulu.net Zulu on-line dictionary;
http://africanlanguages.com/zulu/
http://salanguages.com/isizulu/
Recommended texts
Muller, B. and Mthethwa B. (1993) Sanibona II A Beginner’s course in Zulu.
Durban, South Africa: Noel Glass Press. ISBN 0-620-06972-4
Cioran, S.D. and Nxumalo, T (2000) Funda isiZulu: Learn Zulu: An Introduction to Zulu. South Africa: Juta Gariep.
Mbeje, Audrey (2005) Zulu Learner’s Reference Grammar NALRC Press, Madison, WI. ISBN 1-59703-0007
Dent, G.R. and Nyembezi, C.L.S. (1995) Scholar’s Zulu Dictionary. Pietermaritzburg, South Africa: Shuter and Shooter. ISBN 0-7960 0718 7
Sanneh, Sandra (2005) IsiZulu sanamuhla Elementary Level and Intermediate Levels
Other resources will be available from the Instructor including her own materials, newspapers, magazines, feature films, sitcoms and documentaries.
IsiZulu sanamuhla: Mbeje A.N. and Sanneh S. (A WEBSITE)
How to get to Mbeje and Sanneh’s website:
- Go to www.cls.yale.edu/zulu
- Log in as a non-Yale user
- Enter the username: zulu@cls
- Enter the password: sawubona
Language Festival:
Before the end of the semester students will participate in the language festival. The instructor will provide you with more information as the course progresses.
Tentative Schedule
Iviki lokuqala
NgoLwesibili Agasti 23
General Introductions,
Discussing the syllabus, talking about final project idea
A revision of greetings! Let’s talk about the summer vacation. The greatest focus will be passed tense: Wenzeni ngamaholide ehlobo? Ngamaholide ehlobo ngiye olwandle.
Read Sanibona 2 on page 3-6
Homework: Write about the holidays
NgoLwesine Agasti 25
Izolo, namuhla, kusasa (Yesterday, today and tomorrow)
Ngempelasonto sonke isikhathi (What happens every weekend)
Reading Sanibona 2 page 1 - 7
Lists of twenty verbs and twenty nouns to use
Positive and negative statements
Homework: Umsebenzi 1 and Umsebenzi 2 on page 7 of Sanibona 2
Iviki Lwesibili
NgoLwesibili Agasti 30
Practice: Listening to Funda isiZulu audios – Lesson 1 - 4
Reading: Sanibona 2 pages 9-10 (Impelasonto).
Answering questions
NgoLwesine Septhemba 1
Listing new words from the story and translating them into English
Homework: Finishing the class work on page 9 – 10 and constructing short and simple sentences using the words on pages 11 - 12
Iviki Lwesithathu Quiz1
NgoLweisibili Septhemba 6
Discussing recipes and planning a meal
Buying ingredients to use when cooking
Funda IsiZulu audio Lessons 14 and 15
Online search for “ukudla” and “Iziphuzo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0fzsMGw9-Q (lalela izindaba).
NgoLwesine Septhemba 8
Sizopheka ukudla kwesiZulu: Ipapa, umfino, inyama/ isobho, amafethikuku
noma amahewu
Sizodla Ukudla kwesiZulu
Sizophuza amahewu esiZulu noma Kool Aid -pending
Iviki Lesine
NgoLwesibili Septhemba 13
Reading: Isifundo 2 –Esikoleni
Listen to the audio on this lesson
Writing: Umsebenzi 1-3 on pages 25-26
Homework: Finish Exercise 1-3
NgoLwesine Septhemba 15
Reading ‘Esikoleni’
Changing the dialogue into our own words
Writing the new dialogues derived from ‘Esikoleni’ on pages 17 – 24
Homework: Write an email to Mama Dlamini telling her about your isiZulu lesson
Iviki lesihlanu
NgoLwesibili Septhemba 20
Listen to the video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBDhQFV89GE (speech)
NgoLwessithupha Quiz 2
Septhemba 22
Asking various types of questions in isiZulu
Funda isiZulu audio Lessons 12 to 16
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMDGOMaP5ys (Sgudi snayisi 2)
Homework: Write in isiZulu about Sdumo’s 2. What is the video talking about?
Iviki lesithupa
NgoLwesibili Septhemba 27
Reading: Abafundi will read “NginguThabane” in Sanibona 2 page28 - 34
We will extract new words from the text and construct our own sentences using them.
Writing: Abafundi will write answers to the questions.
Homework: Abafundi will write paragraphs that will be telling more about
themselves in a way similar to Thabane.
NgoLwesine Septhemba 29 Quizz 3
Umndeni wesiZulu (Zulu family)
Abafundi will read Masikhulume isiZulu page 41 – 45
Writing: They will write answers to the listed questions
We will listen to Ladysmith Black Mambazo “Two Shelen”
Abafundi will make vocabulary cards portraying family relations.
Homework: Abafundi will sing “Two shelen” and substitute Bhekizizwe’s words with
what is relevant to their own lives
Assignment: Design your family tree and write two paragraphs about your family.
Iviki Lwesikhombisa
NgoLwesibili Okthoba 4
Reading: ‘Funda indaba’ –“Izitha zikamama” in Sanibona 2 page 44 and (adverbs and
locatives) page 53 – 55
NgoLwesine Okthoba 6
Writing; Imibuzo 6 – 10 p. 45 any 5 in Umsebenzi V on page 46; 6-10 in Umsebenzi C & D p. 47
Homework: Imisebenzi I – IV pages 56 – 57
Fall break 7-9
Iviki Lesishiyagalombili
NgoLwesibili Okthoba 11 -13
Mid-Term Examination, listening and speaking and writing.
Iviki Lesishiyagalolunye
NgoLwesibili Okthoba 18
Speaking: Abafundi will read Sanibona 2 page 61 “a telephone conversation” and
discuss the role play. They will make oral responses to imibuzo on page 60 – 61.
Reading: ‘Liphi ikati” pages 59 – 60
Listening: Viewing the ‘Ubambo’ video
Writing: Imisebenzi VII & IX page 67 [reviewing question words ‘nini, phi, kanjani,
etc. and adverbs derived from adjectives – e.g. kamnandi, kabuhlungu, etc.]
NgoLwesine October 20 Quiz 4
Listening: Comprehension (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gosk12dwLeU)
Family bonds
Writing: Abafundi will write a dialogue between the birthday person and party attendees
Abafundi will list all the presents gogo received on her big day.
Homework: Abafundi will listen to the folktale again and list ten more words. They
will construct sentences using the words they have extracted from the folktale.
Iviki Lweshumi
NgoMsombuluko October 25
Reading: Abafundi will read and then act the role play between Themba and Dudu in
Sanibona 2 page 64 – 66.
Writing: Abafundi will do imisebenzi VIII – IX
Listening: Abafundi will view the video “Ubambo”
Homework: Abafundi will make a list of ten vocabulary flash cards related to
“ubambo”
NgoLwesine October 27
Writing: Write a story of your own.
See notes about the recent past on page 31 – 34 of IsiZulu sanamuhla
Speaking: Role play and Indaba
Read page 91 – 97 and write Imisebenzi I-IV page 98 -99
Iviki Leshuminanye
NgoLwesibili Novemba 1
Reading: a) “Ziphi izibuko zikagogo” page 89 – 90
Funda indaba page 102
Phendula imibuzo at the end of indaba on page 102
Write about any person [not necessarily an aunt]
Listening: “ubambo” video
NgoLwesine November 3 Quiz 5
Listening/ Viewing: “Hlala kwabafileyo” movie.
Abafundi will take notes and a vocabulary list as they watch the movie
Homework: Abafundi will translate the words they have collected.
Iviki Leshuminambili
NgoLwesibili November 8
We will discuss the theme of death among amaZulu. We will do a culture comparison
on the death theme between amaZulu and American cultures.
Writing: Abafundi will write a paragraph about death in isiZulu.
Homework: Write a paragraph about your weekend.
NgoLwesine November 10
Reading: Sanibona 2
Speaking: Abafundi will work on Imsebenzi VIII & IX
Writing: Abafundi will write answers to Imisebenzi VIII & IX
Iviki Leshuminantathu
NgoLwesibili November 15
Abafundi will take turns to do the role play between Sipho and Nkosikazi.
Reading: Abafundi will read ingxoxo on page 108 – 109
Writing: Abafundi will do Imisebenzi I, II and III (PAGE 110).
Homework: Write your own dialogue with the topic ‘Ngiyaxolisa”
NgoLwesine November 17
Listening: Abafundi will listen to Mama Dlamini’s “Ngiyabonga” song
and translate its lyrics from isiZulu to English.
Abafundi will learn and sing the “SIYABONGA” chorus and then list personal things
they are thankful for.
Writing: Abafundi will write “Happy Thanksgiving” Cards and Postcards in isiZulu
Iviki Leshuminane
Thanks Giving Break Novemba 20-27
Iviki Leshuminanhlanu
NgoLwesibili November 29
Speaking: Abafundi will discuss in pairs and determine what the people in
pictures are doing in Sanibona 2 page 115
Adjectives: Abafundi will list the words that modify the animals as well as the
animals’ names. They will construct simple sentences using the names of the
animals. Reading and writing: Abafundi will do Imisebenzi I, II, III, IV & V.
NgoLweisbili Decemba 1
Abafundi will make presentations of their projects.
We will eat Ukudla kwethu kwaseMelika nokudla kwesiZulu!
Revision Week
Iviki Leshuminanesithupha Decemba 13 -15
Final Exam Week
Listening to write, speaking and writing.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|