On one of his first motorcycle taxi rides in Rwanda, Elvis Emobosan wanted the rider to slow down. But the Nigerian student did not know how to say it in Kinyarwanda. Unable to make himself understood, he got off before reaching his destination and found another motorcycle taxi.

For Emobosan, the ride showed how difficult daily life can be without the local language. He is one of three international students at East African University Rwanda (EAUR) who say they would welcome optional Kinyarwanda lessons.

Emobosan arrived in Rwanda in 2023 expecting to use mostly English. He soon found that Kinyarwanda would help him speak with motorcycle taxi riders and people at markets. At first, he used translation apps and hand gestures to communicate, and Google Maps to find his way around Kigali.

He already speaks English, Yoruba, Urhobo and some German. He enjoys learning languages and says he would take Kinyarwanda lessons if they were offered.

Marvin Okossissi, a student from Gabon, has lived in Rwanda for almost four years. He has learned some Kinyarwanda from friends, including “muraho,” a greeting meaning “hello.” But he says he can still lose track of a class discussion when a lecturer switches to Kinyarwanda.

Albertine Forh, a Liberian student who arrived in 2023, remembers missing a joke in class because she did not understand a Kinyarwanda phrase. She felt left out. At the market, she has sometimes used gestures to ask about prices.

Forh says learning the language would help her communicate and understand Rwandan culture. Okossissi, too, says he would join lessons even after years of learning from friends.

The three students are already picking up words through conversations and everyday experiences. They say optional lessons would give them a clearer way to learn and make it easier to take part in life on and off campus.