Take online Zulu lessons

Zulu Lessons Online: All the Benefits

In a country that boasts a whopping 11 official languages, opportunities abound for South Africans to become multilingual. Furthermore, it goes without saying that in such a culturally rich location, multilingualism is the open door to opportunity.

Even though English is the most widely spoken language in the world, and one of South Africa’s official languages, in South Africa, it is the home language of only 1 in 10 people. On the other hand, isiZulu, spoken by almost a quarter of the population, is the country’s largest spoken language. This is followed by isiXhosa which is spoken by 16% of South Africans.

In fact, because Zulu and Xhosa are so similar, even mutually intelligible, it is not uncommon for many second and third language students to weigh up the benefits of either taking isiXhosa or online Zulu lessons. If this is you, your decision could depend on where you live. For instance, if you live in the Eastern or Western Cape and intend to study or work there, then learning isiXhosa makes sense. However, if you are in other parts of South Africa, particularly KwaZulu-Natal, then Zulu should be your choice.

If you decide that online Zulu lessons are the way to go, you’ll find out along the way that it bears many similarities to Xhosa. In fact, the two languages share many words which mean different things. Don’t let these confuse you:

• Ncokolo:  to chat (Xhosa); to tease (Zulu)
• Nzima:  heavy (Xhosa); difficult (Zulu)
• Sela: to drink (Xhosa); a thief (Zulu)
• Thetha: to talk (Xhosa); to shout (Zulu)
• Phuza: to kiss (Xhosa); to drink (Zulu)
• Cinga: to think (Xhosa); to search (Zulu)

Perhaps you are already a Zulu student and need extra academic support from a private tutor?

IsiZulu Online Lessons for Matric Students

If you made the decision to take isiZulu as a Grade 12 subject and have been met with difficult hurdles along the way, then you are not alone. Whether you are taking first language or third language Zulu, it is a complex language that usually requires extra academic help.

Are You Reading Impi Yabomdabu Isethunjini?

If you are in Grade 12 you might be wanting extra help with Impi Yabomdabu Isethunjini which is CAPS approved Zulu literature. For Grade 11 students, this is a piece of writing that you can look forward to.

The book is about a divided family. In the story, the Ngubane family’s oldest son, Mbhabhadisi lives an extravagant life with his own family in Umlazi. Linono is Mbhabhadisi’s sister who marries a sugar cane farmer and whose in-laws don’t accept her fatherless children. As a result, her uncle Ndosi Cele looks after her children until he succumbs to community pressure to send the children to the city. However, Mbhabhadisi refuses to step up to the responsibility and he and his wife are portrayed as the story villains who make one mistake after another. 

This book, as well as other Grade 12 Zulu set work and poetry can be difficult to master especially when it comes to writing essays to demonstrate your comprehension. This is where online Zulu lessons with a private tutor can help ensure that you achieve the highest marks possible.

What about isiZulu Online Lessons for Beginners?

If your native language is not a derivative of the Nguni languages, then learning isiZulu will be a completely foreign concept. So, if you are considering taking isiZulu online lessons what can you expect to learn?

In short, you could begin to learn the complex grammatical structure of the language as well as how to perfect those clicks! In exploring Zulu grammar, a huge part of your tutor’s job will be to deconstruct the language’s root word and prefix combinations and this can easily be achieved in Zulu lessons online. Furthermore, don’t forget that much of the history of the isiZulu language is in the art of storytelling which is why metaphors and proverbs are such an important part of the language’s tradition.

Who Teaches Zulu Lessons Online?

Depending on your current ability, the level of Zulu you want to achieve, and the budget you have for Zulu lessons online, there are many different types of tutors available, especially if you know where to look.

When you are prepared to take isiZulu online lessons there are literally over 2000 tutors in South Africa available on Superprof to support you. All of the credentials of these tutors have been pre-verified for your peace of mind and most will offer a free introductory lesson so that you can make sure that you are also a good personality fit for each other.

In terms of budget, the range is varied depending on the qualification and background of the tutor. You could find a teacher with a qualification in Education, a first language Zulu student or an ordinary Zulu speaking person who is qualified to teach conversational basics. The flexibility is all yours and it’ll cost around R123 per lesson.