It is a trend that develops more and more: learning languages via dedicated applications. The Wolof Academy is part of this movement, with videoconferencing courses and a site that offers online courses from Wolof, the language spoken in Senegal by almost 80% of the population. With or without a teacher, learners have the choice of training they wish to register. Founded in 2021, the Wolof Academy was born from a need for its founder to communicate, to better integrate socially and professionally in Senegal, or to strengthen links with their loved ones for binationals that do not live in Senegal.
It is 8 p.m. This is the start of the distance course for a group of three students enrolled in the Wolof Academy. There is Mossana, Céline and Isabelle, who has just connected. They are in their 16th lessons with their teacher Karim.
“” Carole is not yet there. We’re going to start. The last time, we saw the verb ” to be ” in different contexts. Anyway, we’re going to do the exercises and we’re going to come back to it. We do a revision lesson today. Each five courses, we do a revision. What are the latest lessons we saw ? Can you give me a little reminder? », Continues the attentive professor.
“” I felt the need to talk about Wolof in a really fluid way »
While the students revise the last five courses, Amy Cissé, Franco-Senegalese and founder of the Wolof Academyreturns to the reasons for its creation four years ago:
“” It was when I went to live and work at Senegal that I felt the need to speak the Wolof in a really fluid and commonly. I developed a unique learning method to really allow me to speak the language commonly and above all quickly. In FranceI already knew a lot of French people of Senegalese origin who also presented the need to speak Wolof, but who could not. I really decided to transcribe my learning method that I created myself by my experience in the structure that I developed. »»
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Learners of all nationalities
The profile of the learners goes from the French of Senegalese origin to people of all nationality who have good reasons to learn Woloflike Isabelle, Céline and Mossana.
“” My husband is Senegalese, it’s a good motivation. I work and live in Senegal currently too. I capture a lot of things, but I would like to be able to really exchange better with the beneficiaries I work with, in the local language, and with my beautiful family too “Confides Isabelle.
“” As far as I am concerned, I lived seven years in Dakar and I woven links. I always have friends there and therefore, I enjoy going back when it is, and talking Wolof. And then, we are really at the heart of culture “Continues Céline.
“” I am Senegalese by my father. And so, even if I was not going to Senegal, I would like to be able to chat with my family Adds Mossana.
The Wolof Academy offers different online formulas with or without a teacher, at rates varying between 300 and 700 euros.
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