About UBuntu Bridge
UBuntu Bridge has been facilitating isiXhosa learning experiences for over 20 years, since 2006, through classrooms, communities, retreats, and now live online spaces.
We specialise in helping adults learn isiXhosa in a way that is practical, respectful, and grounded in real human connection.
This is not app-based learning.
This is not language as a checkbox.
This is language as relationship, reconciliation and healing.
Founded from lived experience
UBuntu Bridge was founded by Craig Makhosi, who learned isiXhosa as an adult and understands the process from the inside.
Learning isiXhosa later in life comes with real challenges, pronunciation, confidence, fear of embarrassment, cultural awareness, and a sense of belonging. UBuntu Bridge was shaped directly from that lived experience.
Rather than designing courses from theory alone, the approach grew out of years of trial, error, listening, teaching, and learning alongside others.
That perspective continues to inform how UBuntu Bridge teaches today, especially for busy adults who want real progress without being spoken down to or rushed.
These two videos capture some ofĀ Makhosi, our founder's journey with UBuntu Bridge:
What we believe
UBuntu Bridge is guided by a simple understanding of Ubuntu:
A person becomes a person through other people.
Language is one of the most direct ways we practise that truth.
We believe that learning isiXhosa can:
Build confidence and ease in everyday interactions
Reduce fear, awkwardness, and avoidance
Support more honest, respectful relationships
This work is not about perfection.
It is about showing up well, consistently, and with care.
A different approach to learning isiXhosa
Most adults who come to us have already tried to learn isiXhosa.
They have tried apps, phrasebooks, or school-style courses,
and discovered that language does not stick without context, community, and confidence.
Our approach is built on three principles:
Live human interaction
Language is relational.
You learn by hearing, responding, making mistakes, and being met with patience and clarity.
Our semester courses are live and interactive.
Real-life usage
We teach isiXhosa as it is spoken and lived.
From the beginning, students learn how to greet, respond, listen, and participate in everyday interactions.
Psychological safety
Many adults carry anxiety about learning a new language.
Our classes are structured, supportive, and non-judgemental, so confidence can grow alongside skill.
Ā
Who we work with
Our students include:
- Professionals and business owners
- Educators and facilitators
- Parents and partners in multilingual families
- South Africans who want deeper cultural connection
- Most are busy adults. Many are returning to learning after years away from classrooms.
Our courses are not designed for shortcuts. They are designed for sustainable progress.
Our teachers
Our teachers are first-language isiXhosa speakers who are trained not only in language instruction, but in holding inclusive, respectful learning spaces.
We prioritise:
- Clarity and warmth
- Cultural sensitivity
- Consistency and professionalism
Students are treated as learners in a shared process, not as customers passing through content.
Where to start
If you are new to UBuntu Bridge, the best place to begin is with our live online semester courses.
They offer structure, continuity, and community, all essential for real progress.
Ā
View Upcoming Semesters