Do the villagers in Kenya speak English?
English is considered the official language, while Kiswahili is the national language. In addition, there are over 42 ethnic languages also spoken in Kenya. Although local schools are taught in English, you will find that the villagers will mainly speak their native languages, such as Dholuo, Luhya, or Maasai. Volunteers give villagers an opportunity to practice their English while at the same time they will likely want to teach you their language.
English is considered the official language, while Kiswahili is the national language. In addition, there are over 42 ethnic languages also spoken in Kenya. Although local schools are taught in English, you will find that the villagers will mainly speak their native languages, such as Duoluo, Luhya, or Maa. Volunteers give villagers and opportunity to practice their English while at the same time they will likely want to teach you their language. Although it is not essential to learn the native languages, it is extremely useful and appreciated if you make an effort to learn the basics. Village Volunteers offers basic Kiswahili, Duoluo, and Maa Language Guides in the online orientation materials (which volunteers can access after they have applied, been accepted, and submitted a program deposit).
