Overview of the Chinyanja Basic Course

The Chinyanja Basic Course presents all the essential grammar of the spoken language of Malawi. The Chinyanja Basic Course is divided into 63 Units, many of which are composed of dialogues, notes, and supplemental vocabulary. The course assumes the student has no prior knowledge of Chinyanja and is fully self-instructional. This means that while an instructor/native speaker would be helpful, it is not imperative to learn Chinyanja with this course. There are 15 CDs and a 376 page textbook or 1 DVD with all Units on MP3 with the textbook in a PDF file format.

Unit 1: 'What is your name?'

Unit 2: 'Where are you from?'

s Unit 3: 'Where is your present home?'

Unit 4: 'When did you arrive?'

Unit 5: 'When did you arrive?' (continued)

Unit 6: 'When did you arrive?' (continued)

Unit 7: 'By what mode of transport did you arrive?'

Unit 8: 'How old are you?'

Unit 9: 'When were you born?'

Unit 10: 'Where (or into what family) were you born?'

Unit 11: 'Where do your parents live?'

Unit 12: 'Do you have any brothers and sisters?'

Unit 13: 'Are you married?'

Unit 14: 'Do you have any children?'

Unit 15: 'What kind of work do yo plan to do?'

Unit 16: 'Do you like it here?'

Unit 17: 'How long are you going to stay here?'

Unit 18: "Where are you living at present?'

Unit 19: Dialogue

Unit 20: Dialogue

Unit 21: Dialogue

Unit 22: Dialogue

Unit 23: Dialogue: Clearing up confusing questions

Unit 24: Dialogue: The verb prefix /-nga-/

Unit 25: Dialogue: The 'directional' prefixes used with verbs

Unit 26: Dialogue:

Unit 27: Dialogue:

Unit 28: Dialogue: Verb extensions

Unit 29: Dialogue:

Unit 30: Dialogue: Imperatives with /ta`--ni/ . the Subjunctive

Unit 31: Dialogue: comparison of the uses of /-li/ and /ndl/ ; Negative of verb forms with the stemv/-li/

Unit 32: Dialogue: Demonstrative enclitics ; The linking prefix

Unit 33: Dialogue: Shift of stress with enclitics

Unit 34: Dialogue: Vowel 'coalescence' with the stem /~ina/ The prefix /-zi-/ with meaning of obligation

Unit 35: Dialogue:

Unit 36: Dialogue: Use of /ci-/ and /mu-/ class prefixes with the same stems

Unit 37: Dialogue: The prefix /-ka`-/ 'if, when'

Unit 38: Dialogue: The 'diminutive' concord classes; The relative constructions with /~mene/

Unit 39: Useful questions and Answers

Unit 40: Useful questions and Answers

Part II (Longer Dialogues, more comprehensive notes)

Unit 41: Dialogue: A Peace Corps volunteer is asked about his work

Unit 42: Dialogue: A Peace Corps volunteer asks an acquaintance about his work

Unit 43: Dialogue: Two fellow workers look forward to quitting time

Unit 44: Dialogue: C has just arrived in town and is looking for work

Unit 45: Dialogue: C is still looking for work

Unit 46: Dialogue: 'How's the work going?'

Unit 47: Dialogue: A conversation on the way home from work

Unit 48: Dialogue: Prospect of a business trip out of town

Unit 49: Dialogue: Plans for the evening

Unit 50: Dialogue: Street and road directions

Unit 51: Dialogue: Road directions: to the Blantyre Road

Unit 52: Dialogue: Directions to a rural school

Unit 53: Dialogue: Directions within a town

Unit 54: Dialogue: An unsuccessful attempt to get directions

Unit 55: Dialogue: October weather

Unit 56: Dialogue: December weather

Unit 57: Dialogue: February weather in Malawi

Unit 58: Dialogue: April weather in Malawi

Unit 59: Dialogue: June weather in Malawi

Unit 60: Dialogue: August weather in Malawi

Unit 61: Dialogue: Buying maize

Unit 62: Dialogue: Buying peas

Unit 63: Dialogue: Buying tomatoes