Languages

DAAS, in collaboration with the African Studies Center (ASC), offers language courses in Swahili (Kiswahili) and Yoruba. We are always very excited and proud to see how quickly our students learn these languages. If you are looking for a language that introduces you to a new culture, you have found the right place. We are here to help you achieve your goals and success. Yoruba and Swahili language courses fulfill LSA’s Language Requirement.

Heritage students or any student with prior skills in Yoruba or Swahili languages should contact the course instructor to discuss and determine the appropriate placement matching your level of proficiency.

Swahili (Kiswahili)

Swahili (also known as Kiswahili) is one of the most widely spoken languages in Africa. It is primarily used in eastern, central, and southern African nations, such as Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Comoro Islands, and others.

Learn More About Swahili

The African Union (AU) designated Swahili as one of its official languages. In 2021, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared July 7th of every year as Kiswahili Language Day during its 41st member states’ session in Paris. This is one of the efforts to recognize and honor the language for its fast growth. It is said to be one of the top 10 languages with over 200 million speakers worldwide. For more details, check it out here.

Additionally, in the diaspora, Swahili is one of the most prominent African languages that is used to express African heritage. For example, the Kwanzaa festival in the US uses some symbols and words that represent African heritage and culture. One cannot account for the language’s spread without mentioning for example Voice of America (VOA), B.B.C Swahili, Deutsche Welle Swahili, and other global channels that broadcast information in Swahili via live radio, TV, and online channels.

Courses Offered in Swahili

Fall Semester Swahili (Kiswahili) Courses Offered by DAAS

AAS 115/515: Elementary Swahili I (4 credits)
AAS 215/525: Intermediate Swahili I (4 credits)
AAS 315/535: Advanced Swahili I (3 credits)

Winter Semester Swahili (Kiswahili) Courses Offered by DAAS

AAS 116/516: Elementary Swahili II (4 credits)
AAS 216/526: Intermediate Swahili II (4 credits)
AAS 316/536: Advanced Swahili II (3 credits)

Swahili Instructors

Magdalyne Akiding

Education: Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics (Second Language Studies) from Michigan State University, M.A. Applied Linguistics (Second Language Teaching) from Ohio University, and Bachelor’s in Education (Arts - English and Literature) from Pwani University, Kenya.

Office: 505 S. State St., 4749 Haven Hall, 4th Floor

Email: makiding@umich.edu

A native speaker of Swahili and Ateso languages from Kenya, Magdalyne received her education in Kenya and in the United States. She has experience of teaching Swahili as a foreign language to college students in the US and has taught in a variety of contexts including intensive summer language programs both domestic, in the US, and abroad, in Kenya. Magdalyne started her position at the University of Michigan in Fall 2022 as a lecturer of Swahili and the Coordinator of African Languages. She currently teaches intermediate Swahili courses during fall and winter semesters and a seminar on introduction to East African culture in the winter semester. Besides teaching, Magdalyne conducts research on learner motivation in African language classrooms in the US with the goal to promote quality instruction of African languages. She is also interested in running a summer study abroad program to Kenya with UM students in the near future.

Marko Mwipopo

Education: Ph.D in Education (Bilingual Education & Literacy), M.A. Linguistics (Language Teaching Specialization) both from the University of Oregon (UO), and B.A. With Education (Linguistics) from the University of Dar Es Salaam.

Office: 505 State St., 5511-B Haven Hall, 5th Floor

Email: mmwipopo@umich.edu

A native speaker of Swahili and Hehe languages from Tanzania, Marko received his education in Tanzania and in the United States. He has extensive experience of teaching in both Tanzanian high schools, as well as high school and college Swahili programs in the US. He teaches Swahili courses during fall and winter semesters. During summer, he teaches Academic Skills for Comprehensive Studies Program (CSP) in the LSA. Besides teaching, he translates and interpretes written and spoken texts, between Swahili and English languages. Join our program to experience a first hand conversation in Swahili.

Yoruba

Yoruba is one of the three official languages of Nigeria. There are about 20 million speakers of the language in the Southwestern part of Nigeria. It has about twenty dialects, which show phonological and lexical differences. Some of these dialects are spoken around the border of Nigeria and the Republic of Benin and some parts of Togo.

Learn More About Yoruba

The language has also survived in Cuba (where it is called Lukumi) and in Brazil (where it is called Nago). Yoruba language is widely spoken in Sierra Leone, Venezuela, Cuba, Trinidad, Tobago, Puerto Rico, and Haiti. Yoruba is a language of significant interest to linguists across the globe. Yoruba classes provide students with the spoken knowledge of the language and cultural practices of the people.

The skills demonstrated by mastery of Yoruba language and culture are valuable to employers and graduate programs, and fluency in Yoruba itself is sought by government agencies and international non-governmental organizations. At the University of Michigan, our students are eligible for highly competitive undergraduate Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships. If you have prior experience with Yoruba, please contact Gabriel Ayoola (gayoola@umich.edu) for enrollment guidance.

Courses Offered in Yoruba

Fall Semester Courses Offered by DAAS

AAS 125/AAS 517: Elementary Yoruba I (4 credits)
AAS 225/AAS 625: Intermediate Yoruba I (4 credits)
AAS 325/AAS 725: Advanced Yoruba I (3 credits)

Winter Semester Courses Offered by DAAS

AAS 126/AAS 518: Elementary Yoruba II (4 credits)
AAS 226/AAS 626: Intermediate Yoruba II (4 credits)
AAS 326/AAS 726: Advanced Yoruba II (3 credits)

Yoruba Instructors

Gabriel Ayoola

Education: Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and Intercultural Studies from the University of Georgia, Athens; M.A in African Languages and Literature from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Office: 505 S. State St., 4655 Haven Hall, 4th Floor

Email: gayoola@umich.edu

Gabriel Ayoola is a native speaker of the Yoruba language from Nigeria and is a seasoned instructor of Yoruba language. In addition to teaching Yoruba, he also teaches classes in Black World Studies in the Department of Afroamerican and African Studies (DAAS).

Student Testimonials

"Taking this course was a great pleasure! Lessons were well prepared prior to class, and slide shows and files were always made available to students to access whenever needed. Instructor Gabriel Ayoola was always well prepared and was very understanding and accommodating, no matter the circumstance. Questions were always welcomed and appreciated, so were therefore answered in a polite and respectful manner, always. ...I would recommend this class with Gabriel Ayoola to anyone even slightly interested in learning Yoruba in any capacity. Wonderful class!"

-Adesola Adeleye

“The Yoruba Class always met up to my expectations. It was a combination of a well-prepared layout of course materials and a subtle amount of fun. I would definitely love to take this class again and I would also recommend it for anyone who is interested in it.”

-Adedeji Fuhad

Extracurricular Opportunities

Study Abroad

University of Michigan offers an incredible number of study-abroad opportunities for our Yoruba students in Nigeria and the Republic of Benin. For more information, visit the Study Abroad website.

Weekly Conversation Tables

Make sure to check our calendar for Language Tables each semester! Members of the public are welcome. Please check with Gabriel Ayoola (gayoola@umich.edu) for updates.

Career Opportunities for Speakers of African Languages

A few of the many career opportunities for students learning African language(s) include:

· Journalism

· International finance

· Foreign affairs

· Industry

· Contractual and corporate law

· Academia and cultural exchange

· US Department of State

· Embassy, Immigration, and Homeland Security

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