What languages do you know? Where do you use these languages, with whom, and for what purposes? What languages do you anticipate using in the future?

10-12-year-old girls at Mwasi Kaskazini School researched their sociolinguistic worlds by examining such questions. Using different colours to represent different languages, they drew community language maps to represent their language use, present and future. They wrote this book to share about their rich plurilingual lives.

My name is Happiness. I know many languages such as Kichagga, Kimbulu, Kimaasai, Swahili, French, and Hindi. I use Swahili with friends, teachers, and parents, and to greet people on the road. I use Kichagga with my grandmother. I greet her KWAMZA MAE and she responds NAIYO MAE.

I use English with my teacher in class: HOW ARE YOU? I AM FINE.
I use Kimbulu when speaking with my mother because she is Mbulu. I asked her to teach me, and she does. Greeting is LAWAY.

The reply is SAYUU. Thank you is NAAS.
I use French with my teacher when discussing languages. Greeting is COMMENT ÇA VA. They reply ÇA VA BIEN. Another language is Hindi: NAMASTE. Kimaasai is TAKWENYA, and the reply is IKO.

At home, I use Swahili and a little Kichagga. In Karatu, I use Swahili and Kimbulu. In Monduli, I use a little Swahili and mostly Kimaasai.

Swahili is valued at school because it is the national language of Tanzania.

English is also valued although it is a colonial language, but we continue to learn it.

In the future, I want to learn many languages and know how to write them, such as Arabic, Chinese, French, Hindi, etc., because my dream is to be a doctor. I won't just treat people in my nation; I want to be a doctor for many nations. And when I meet people with ethnic languages, I will understand them.

I will read books from different countries and ask experienced people to teach me.

In every country I visit, I will learn that country's languages.

I love speaking my languages. I will not let them disappear or forget them. I will teach my children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and children of great-grandchildren.

We can compose and write books about how to value languages. An example of valuing and developing a language is teaching our children and them teaching their children.

NAAS. THANK YOU. AHSANTE.

My name is Tunu. I know the languages Swahili, Kichagga, Kimaasai, English, Kimbulu, and Kiha. I learned Swahili at home. I learned English at school, for example: GOOD MORNING.

I learned Kichagga from my grandmother, mother, and neighbours. For example: KWAMZA MAE – NAIYO MAE.

I learned Kimaasai at school and in the library. I also heard my fellow students, for example: TAKWENYA – IKO.

I learned Kimbulu from Happiness at school, for example: AIDORII – AIDOMAA.

I am learning Kiha. Soon, I believe I will know my language. I do research through my parents to learn my languages and others.

My Kiha language is important in my life because I speak it with my community and parents. I value my language because it educates my family and other communities.

Parents value Kichagga, Kiha, and Swahili. My guardian, my grandmother, values the Chagga language. In government offices, English and Swahili are valued because colonizers promoted English and Swahili was already there. Colonialism affected how we use languages in Tanzania because it forced us to use their English language.

We can ensure that all languages are valued by having the

courage to speak them and having the right to speak about our languages.

I want to be a teacher to teach students many languages such as Kiha, Kichagga, Kimaasai, English, and French. I am very eager to learn. I will give children models of not giving up on their languages. I will tell them to set their dreams and develop their talents to support parents, students, children, and elders.

ASANTE. NAAS.

My name is Eliza. I know 5 languages: English, Swahili, Kichagga, Kimbulu, French. Greeting in French is COMMENT ÇA VA. English: GOOD MORNING. Kichagga: KWAMZA MAE. Kimbulu: AIDORII. Swahili: SHIKAMOO.

I use Kichagga at home. Swahili I use in church, on the streets, at school, and other places. I use French when listening to music, at our afterschool club, and when reading a tablet. I use Kimbulu at the club. I use English at school, at home, when reading books and tablets,

at the hospital, and in the kitchen.
I love Swahili because it is my national language. I love my Kichagga language because I was born in the Chagga community. [In Kichagga:] I was taught Kichagga by my grandmother.

Kichagga is very important in my life because it is my ethnic heritage. It reminds me of my home roots. I learned Kichagga at my grandmother's place in Kilimanjaro.

I will teach you Kichagga. I wash my hands: NJIKESAMBA MAOKO. My legs hurt: MARENDE YAKEWAWA.

I laugh: NJIKESEKA.

In the future, I want to learn Kipare because my mother was born Upareni. I will learn Kipare Upareni when I visit my grandfather in December. I will ask to be taught and will practice so they want to teach me.

I want to know many languages because I will use them as a pilot.

Colonialism affected our languages because they prohibited us from learning them in school. They wanted their language to be valued. We must value

all languages at school, not only Swahili and English.
Let's unite to tell people to value all languages. Colonizers must stop their bullying of preventing us from speaking our languages. They should respect our languages, and we respect theirs. Colonizers must stop exploiting Tanzania. I reject this.

I love my language and will cherish it all my life. I will teach those who don't know it.
I will be very happy to learn my mother's language and will thank those who taught me.