Abiola Afolayan will be teaching her mother tongue, Yoruba. She holds a master’s degree in communication and language arts from the University of Ibadan and is certified by the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN). She additionally works as a freelance translator (Yoruba-English) for individuals, academic institutions, and agencies worldwide. Abiola is passionate about the preservation of Yoruba and for spreading the language to the diaspora. “Studying Yoruba and Swahili presents the opportunity for us to reconnect with our roots and bridge the cultural divide in our global society,” she explains. Abiola expressed her excitement about this opportunity, saying, “I’m excited about this opportunity to learn and practice innovative methodologies for sharing language and culture across geographical boundaries.” We are excited to have Abiola as part of the Yoruba team at ASC!
Daudi Abuya will be teaching Swahili at U-M. Coming from a small city, Shirati, in northern Tanzania, where he provided interpretation and translation services for water and sanitation projects and received his Bachelor of Education from the University of Dodoma, Daudi has long cultivated a love of languages and teaching. Daudi has expressed his excitement for the opportunity to teach Swahili at U-M to expand his commitment to education and community service. In describing his teaching style, Daudi says, “I prefer to involve learners in constructing their own knowledge and experiences of Swahili words and phrases. This approach helps teach what students don’t know by building on what they do know.” When asked about the opportunity to teach Swahili at U-M, Daudi expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “I am excited to have an opportunity to share my culture beyond its national borders, so people can learn our language, identity, and lifestyle.” Welcome, Daudi!!
