Many of the conversations you need to have in isiZulu are things you can prepare for in advance. This assignment is quite straightforward:
Step 1: Choose your situation
Step 2: Decide what you want
Step 3: Research your words
Step 4: Check what you want to say
Step 5: Be brave, and practise with someone in the real world!
Step 1: Situation
a. Ordering Coffee / Something to drink at a bar
b. Filling up at a petrol-station
c. At the counter / till
d. Home Affairs
e. Emergencies & First Aid
f. anything you want (DIY)
Step 2: What do you want to do there?
Decide what role you are playing, and what you want. Make a list of the things you will need to say or ask for, and possible replies. Knowing what you want before you go in there is really crucial, because you won’t be able to rely on your instinctual abilities to explain things that you have in your home language.
Step 3: Research
uzodinga… you will need…
1 x isichazimazwi (soqobo noma sobuchwepheshe) / a dictionary (real or technological)
The ideal is the dictionary of Vilakazi, Doke, Sikakana and Malcolm (ISBN 9781868141609), although Nyembezi’s (ISBN 9780796033314) and the Oxford Bilingual (ISBN 9780195765540) are both decent.
For online dictionaries, http://www.isizulu.net is an amazing resource (although it requires a bit of training in isiZulu word-construction before it will make a lot of sense).
1 x incwajana (nepeni) / notebook (and a pen)
A5 (preferably), hardcover (or Moleskine) notebook of about 100 pages. This will become your first word-book or dictionary (as well as a phrasebook, a workbook and an external hard-drive for your isiZulu brain). I can tell you how you might use it, although you’ll use it as much or little as you wish, in whichever way works for you.
Step 4 & 5: Check and Practise
You should find someone you can check things with. I am available for that purpose on WhatsApp or email, but you should also find a person in your environment who speaks isiZulu and can advise you on slang or dialect for your area.
Ngiyakufisela inhlanhla nobuciko bolimi!
I wish you luck and eloquence!