Mwalimu anatufundisha kuhesabu kwa kikokotoo darasani.

It breaks down like this:

• a- = he/she (the subject marker for a singular person)
• -na- = present / ongoing / habitual
• -tu- = us
• -fundisha = teach

So anatufundisha means he/she is teaching us or he/she teaches us, depending on context.

In Swahili, object pronouns are very often built into the verb as object markers.

So instead of saying something like teach us with a separate word for us, Swahili uses -tu- inside the verb:

• anatu... = he/she ... us

This is a very common pattern in Swahili verbs.

Because mwalimu means teacher, and it belongs to the noun class for singular people. That noun class normally takes the subject marker a-.

So:

• mwalimu anafundisha = the teacher teaches
• walimu wanafundisha = the teachers teach

The verb must agree with the noun class of the subject.

It can mean either. Swahili does not mark gender the way English does here.

So mwalimu anatufundisha can mean:

• the male teacher is teaching us
• the female teacher is teaching us

You only know the gender if context tells you.

Yes. -na- is the common present-tense marker.

Depending on context, it can be translated as:

• is teaching us
• teaches us
• is teaching us these days

So Swahili -na- can cover both an ongoing present and a more general present/habitual meaning.

Kuhesabu is the infinitive, meaning to count or sometimes to calculate, depending on context.

The ku- at the beginning is the normal infinitive marker, like English to in to count.

So in this sentence:

• anatufundisha kuhesabu = is teaching us to count

After verbs like teach, want, know how, and so on, Swahili often uses the infinitive in this way.

Here kwa means with, by means of, or using.

So:

• kwa kikokotoo = with a calculator / using a calculator

This is an instrumental use of kwa: it shows the tool used to do something.

Kikokotoo is a singular noun in the ki-/vi- class, often called class 7/8.

• singular: kikokotoo = calculator
• plural: vikokotoo = calculators

The ki- at the beginning shows its noun class. This class often includes tools, objects, languages, and other nouns, though the meanings are not always fully predictable.

Darasani means in the classroom or in class.

It comes from:

• darasa = class / classroom
• -ni = a locative ending meaning in / at / to

So:

• darasa = classroom / class
• darasani = in the classroom / in class

This -ni ending is very common in Swahili for locations.

Because Swahili usually does not use articles like English a, an, and the.

So mwalimu can mean:

• a teacher
• the teacher

And kikokotoo can mean:

• a calculator
• the calculator

Context tells you which one is meant.

The order here is very natural:

• Mwalimu = subject
• anatufundisha = verb
• kuhesabu = what we are being taught to do
• kwa kikokotoo = the tool being used
• darasani = location

Swahili word order is somewhat flexible, especially with things like place and manner, but this version is clear and neutral. The most important thing is to keep related parts easy to understand, especially anatufundisha kuhesabu.

You would change both the subject noun and the subject marker on the verb:

• Walimu wanatufundisha kuhesabu kwa kikokotoo darasani.

Breakdown:

• walimu = teachers
• wa- = they
• -na- = present
• -tu- = us
• -fundisha = teach

So singular mwalimu ana-... becomes plural walimu wana-....