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NairobiNairobiConversational
“Native Swahili teacher with international teaching experience”
Real-life Swahili lessons, with cultural immersion
Jambo! I'm a native Swahili speaker and a professional educator from Kenya with extensive experience teaching students of diverse ages and backgrounds. I have taught in Kenyan schools and at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the United States, where I helped university students develop practical Swahili language skills and a deeper appreciation of East African culture.
My lessons are designed to help you use Swahili confidently in real-life situations. Whether you're learning for travel, business, academic studies, work, or personal interest, I'll create lessons tailored to your goals and learning style.
Beyond vocabulary and grammar, you'll gain cultural insights into Kenya and East Africa, including everyday conversations, customs, traditions, etiquette, and expressions that native speakers use naturally. I believe that understanding the culture is essential to mastering the language.
My classes are interactive, supportive, and enjoyable, with a strong emphasis on speaking and building confidence from the very first lesson. Beginners are welcome, and I also enjoy helping intermediate and advanced learners refine their fluency, pronunciation, and communication skills.
I look forward to helping you achieve your Swahili learning goals. Karibu sana—welcome to your Swahili journey!
In the classroom
Video · Whiteboard · WordsLessons with Hillary happen in your browser: video, a shared whiteboard, and a Words panel where new words go straight into your list for flashcard practice. After each lesson Hillary can leave notes and homework on your dashboard.
20 minutes, free, once per tutor. In Hillary's own words:
Hillary hasn't described their first lesson yet.
Teaching approach
“My teaching approach is student-centred, interactive, and tailored to each learner's goals. Whether you are learning Swahili for travel, work, business, academic study, or everyday conversation, I design lessons that match your pace, interests, and proficiency level. I believe language is best learned through meaningful communication. My lessons combine speaking, listening, reading, and writing with practical vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and real-life situations. I also incorporate authentic Kenyan and East African culture to help students understand not only the language but also the people who speak it. I encourage students to speak Swahili from the very first lesson, building confidence through guided practice and constructive feedback. Lessons are engaging, supportive, and adapted to individual learning styles, with regular progress checks to ensure continuous improvement. As an experienced educator who has taught in Kenyan schools and at the university level (University of Wisconsin-Madison) in the United States, I bring professional teaching techniques, patience, and enthusiasm to every lesson. Students can expect a friendly learning environment, clear explanations, personalized lesson plans, and practical skills they can use immediately in real-life situations.”
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5.0
Based on 1 student review
Susana
Lessons with Hillary
3 Nov 2026
“Hillary is a fantastic teacher. In only one lesson I've learnt a lot of swahili. I absolutely recommend him, cause he knows exactly what are the student's needs and tailor his classes to them. I'm sure you will not regret to take his classes. Susana”
What Hillary told us. Marks say verified only where our team checked the document.
Bachelor of Education (Arts) – University of Nairobi, Kenya (Specialization in Kiswahili/Linguistics and Literature). Teachers Service Commission (TSC), Kenya – Fully registered and licensed teacher. TSC Registration Number: 932256. Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), USA – Licensed Substitute Teacher. Entity Number: 917504. Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA), 2024–2025 – Successfully taught Kiswahili at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, gaining valuable experience in language instruction, cross-cultural communication, and teaching students from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Experienced in teaching Kiswahili to learners of different proficiency levels, using communicative, learner-centered, and culturally responsive teaching methods in both classroom and online settings.
$7 / hour1st lesson free