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African Language Studies

MSU offers instruction in 30 African languages, representing all the major regions of Africa. Some languages are taught regularly in a classroom setting; many are on a tutorial basis. These are learner-oriented and on demand, and native speakers are recruited from the many African students in the MSU community to serve as tutors, supervised weekly by a faculty linguist. Classroom work may be supplemented by an advanced language laboratory and computer-assisted instruction.

African Languages at MSU

Languages in bold are offered in a class mode; all others are on a tutorial basis.

For special questions, contact Dr. Galen Sibanda, African Languages Coordinator, Linguistics and Languages: sibanda1(at)msu.edu, or 517-353-0746.

Amharic
Arabic, Modern Standard 
Arabic, Sudanese
Bamanankan 
Bambara
Chewa
Fulfulde/Pulaar
Hausa 
Igbo 
Malagasy

Mende
Shona
Somali
Swahili
Twi
Venda
Wolof
Xhosa
Yoruba
Zulu

 

Summer 2023 African Language Program

Learn Swahili or Zulu this summer! Whether you are a faculty member conducting research in or about Africa, a student planning to apply for a Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowship, or you are just interested in African languages, the African Studies Center at MSU invites you to a noncredit summer African language program.

View program flyer (pdf)

Applications due May 12, 2023

side-by-side_4655575152_1fe7fdd6ac_o.jpgForeign Language and Area Studies (FLAS)

FLAS fellowships are awarded to students enrolled in a program that combines the study of a modern foreign language with advanced training in international development studies (or in the international development aspects of professional or other fields of study).