This summer, the sounds of Swahili, Zulu, Bamana and other African languages are resonating from classrooms around the campus as Ohio University sponsors a language study program.
The largest African language program in the country, the Summer Cooperative African Language Institute began on June 23 and incorporates as many as 13 intensive language classes, 60 students from universities around the United States and 15 native-speaking faculty members from various parts of Africa, said Catherine Cutcher, OU assistant director of the African Studies program.
"The Summer Cooperative African Language Institute is a wonderful program which offers the unique opportunity to American students to study African languages intensively with native speakers," Cutcher said. "This program benefits the students immensely, as it provides an opportunity to study and strive for fluency in these languages prior to going to Africa for fieldwork, research, or study."
SCALI receives funding from Title VI National Resource Centers for African Studies, which are universities that have programs promoting international education in the United States, Cutcher said. Currently, there are 12 such centers at schools including Yale University, Stanford University and the University of California at Los Angeles.
"The program is entirely self-supporting through the cooperation of the sponsoring universities," Cutcher said. "Income has been generated through student tuition, contributions for instructor's salaries, donations for program support or grant funds."
Classes take place mainly in Haning Hall, but SCALI branches out with classes in Gordy Hall and Alden Library as well. Students attend class for four hours a day, five days a week for seven weeks.
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Katie Gill
