Instructional Materials Overview

The African Language Program at Boston University is the first in the United States to recognize the very old tradition of writing some African languages in modified Arabic scripts, generally referred to as Ajami. Both the Latin-based script and Ajami script are now taught in two regularly offered language courses (Wolof and Hausa). Students taking these courses will not only develop oral proficiency, they will be among the first American students and scholars to develop formal literacy skills in Ajami, a new unchartered terrain of human knowledge with various implications for the fields of African history, anthropology, business, law, medicine, culture, and religion, among others. This is only one of the African Language Program’s recent successes in its work to improve the teaching and learning of African languages in the United States. Below are descriptions of some of the ongoing projects at BU:

The 200-Word Multimedia Project, Elementary and Intermediate Level: The project focuses on improving first-year students’ recognition and pronunciation of 200 common keywords across the seven major African languages taught at BU. In each language, 200 keywords, covered during first year instruction, are 1) identified and thematically organized, 2) illustrated with authentic pictures accurately reflecting target language contexts, 3) transcribed using each language’s script, 4) translated into English using standard scripts (and other scripts where appropriate), 5) videotaped as model pronunciation by native speakers, and 6) synchronized in a multimedia website where students can watch video clips, listen to native speakers’ pronunciation and practice their pronunciation of common words, and view the words and their translations to improve their reading and writing skills.

African Proverbs Project—Hausa, Wolof, IsiZulu, IsiXhosa, Amharic and Kiswahili: This project develops instructional materials for advanced Hausa, Wolof, IsiZulu, and IsiXhosa students. These materials are designed to ensure that students develop their oral proficiency skills while being among the first American students and scholars to develop formal literacy skills in Wolof and Hausa Ajami, still the principal writing form used outside urban areas and yet wholly neglected by Hausa language instructors and absent in teaching materials until now. The outcome of the project will address the four language skills based upon ACTFL guidelines, while capturing key cultural and social realities of the target language contexts. Proverbs are among the best ways to achieve these goals. The website, featuring professional-quality video and audio of the languages in authentic situations, provide unique resources to help students to develop proficiency and cultural competence in Hausa, Wolof, IsiZulu, IsiXhosa as well as literacy in Hausa and Wolof Ajami.

The first Wolof Ajami Workbook ever published: In fall 2010, the Boston University African Language Program developed the first Wolof Ajami workbook ever designed to teach an Ajami writing system to learners in the United States. The Wolof Workbook is the first dual-script introductory courseware of its kind to be produced. It is one of several initiatives by BU’s African Language Program to produce new instructional materials that provide holistic language and culture training across elementary, intermediate, and advanced levels. The goal is to equip the first generation of American students and people working in professional fields with the skills necessary to engage in meaningful ways millions of Hausa, Wolof, and Mandinka speakers in their own languages, writing systems, and cultures. Currently, there is no other project or institution in the United States dealing with the shortcoming in available Ajami curricula. To purchase this book, contact Sandi McCann at ascpub@bu.edu. The book sells for $15 and shipping by US Postal Service anywhere in the United States costs $5. If you are outside the United States, please provide your details to determine your shipping costs.

Profiles in Nigerien Artisanry Project: With funding from Project Go-BU, the African Language Program has undertaken another intermediate/advanced level instructional materials project for Hausa. The Nigerien Artisanry Project aims to develop advanced Hausa video-based curricular materials focused on the topic of traditional artisanry in the Republic of Niger. This topic is linked directly to opportunities for language use abroad through BU’s study program in Niger. Since 1987 when Boston University’s first students went to Niger, BU students have been involved with the National Museum of Niger in Niamey, where many have acquired skills in artisanry through serving in apprenticeships to some of Niger’s most famous artisans. The curricular materials will use the topic of artisanry to develop students’ cultural and linguistic capabilities, as well as their reading abilities in both Latin and Ajami (modified Arabic) scripts.