Title: Exploring Factors Hindering Kiswahili Proficiency Among Burundi's University Graduates
Authors: PAMPHILE BIGIRINDAVYI
Volume: 9
Issue: 3
Pages: 195-206
Publication Date: 2025/03/28
Abstract:
This study is based on the observation that university graduates in Burundi, even if they have learned Kiswahili, have difficulties in communicating using this language. This work aims to identify, analyze and explain the factors that hinder kiswahili proficiency among Burundi's university graduates. Our work will focus on the graduates of the University of Ngozi and the Ecole Normale Supérieure du Burundi. To achieve this objective, we collected quantitative data through the questionnaire administered to some graduates of the Ecole Normale Supérieure du Burundi and the University of Ngozi (2014-2023) as well as qualitative data through interviews with some Kiswahili teachers in the university of Ngozi and Ecole Normale Supérieure. On the theoretical level, this work is guided by the theory of second language acquisition, the theory of communicative competence as well as the theory of language policies. The results of the data analysis proved that the factors behind the communication barrier in Kiswahili among the graduates of the Ecole Normale Supérieure and the University of Ngozi are (1) the insufficient number of hours allocated to Kiswahili in the universities, (2) the quality of Kiswahili teaching which needs to be improved, the country's language policy, (3) the high number of students in classrooms that do not encourage the practice of the language, not to mention (4) the negative perception of Kiswahili in Burundian society.