Program in African Languages and Literatures

The Center for African studies at Rutgers University, in collaboration with the Department of Africana Studies, has committed itself to building a cutting edge Program in African Languages and Literature (PALL) that is geographically representative and comprehensive at all levels of language instruction. The African language courses are complemented by the Department of Africana Studies courses offerings in African linguistics, literature, folklore and cultures.

For all the levels, the language instruction uses a learner-oriented competency-based approach. The goal is to assist the learners achieve proficiency on four language skills: listening-comprehension, speaking, reading and writing. Throughout the various levels of instruction, students are introduced to authentic literary and folkloric texts and other audio-visual materials that expose them to the cultural contexts of these languages.

PAL consists of two tracks:

The regular classroom track, consisting of courses housed in the Department of Africana Studies: Arabic, Swahili, Yoruba, and Zulu.

The tutorial track, through which students can formally request the Center to find a tutor to work with under the guidance of Ousseina Alidou, a trained linguist.

Materials are available for instruction in:

• West African Languages: Akan/Twi, Bambara/Mandinka, Fulfulde/Pulaar, Hausa, Igbo, Krio, Mende, Wolof

• East and Central African Languages: Amharic, Kikuyu, Kiganda, Oromo, Chinyarwanda, Chirundi, Tigrinia, Lingala

• Southern African Languages Nyanja/Chewa/ Chichewa, Shona, Xhosa

Classroom work in both tracks is supplemented by web-based “Digiclass” materials or by conventional audio-visual materials available at the advanced language laboratory of the Language Institute (116 College Avenue, College Avenue Campus). Some classes are also available through distance learning at the Newark and Camden campuses.

All African language courses can fulfill Rutgers University and FLAS language requirements.

If you are interested in tutorial African language study please access our: Self Directed African Language Study at Rutgers application. One award is granted each Fall semester for the academic school year. Applications are due two weeks before the Fall semester begins.

For further information please contact:

Ousseina Alidou Director, Program in African Languages and Literature Department of Africana Studies 112 Beck Hall Livingston Campus Piscataway, NJ 08854 (732)-445-4023 (732)-445-3334 Fax: (732) 445-0076 ousseina@hotmail.com

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