Saint-Louis, Senegal
2-13 December 2013
This course is organised by the Waaw centre, an artists' residence and a centre for art and design in the old town of Saint-Louis.
What will you learn?
You will learn enough Wolof to make yourself understood in everyday situations. The emphasis is on communication. No matter if you want to learn the language just for fun or for professional reasons: after the course, you will better understand the people and culture in Senegal and West Africa in general. You will also be given an overview of Wolof grammar, giving you a base for further study or even language research on your own.
Programme
The course will start on Monday 2 December and end on Friday 13 December 2013. Classes (30 hrs in total) will be held Monday to Friday 9:00-10:30 and 11:00-12:30. In the afternoons and evenings, there will be an optional programme (20-30 hrs) of extra conversation or activities and lectures related to Senegalese culture (in English, French or Wolof): including cooking, music, religious traditions, literature or architecture. There will be screenings of films in wolof with English or French subtitles. On the weekend, we will make excursions to the fishermen's quarter Guet Ndar and to Djoudj National Park, known for its rich bird life.
Your teacher is Professor Pap Abdoulaye Dial, who has a long experience in teaching Wolof to foreign students and professionals, at Université Gaston Berger and L'Institut Français in Saint-Louis. He has also published teaching materials and a Wolof-French/English dictionary. Course hosts and invited experts will be responsible for extra conversation and extra-curricular activities. In order to ensure an optimal learning experience, we are accepting maximum 10 people onto the course.
Who can take part?
The course is intended for anyone interested over the age of 20, irrespective of professional or academic background. A basic knowledge of French is required, as Professor Dial will use French as language of instruction. However, the course material is available in English.
Do you already know some Wolof? See our course at lower intermediate level. Courses at intermediate and advanced levels can also be tailored to suit your needs and interests, all year round - get in touch with us.
Course material
The course material is included in the course fee and will be distributed to participants at the beginning of the course: Pap Abdoulaye Dial's text book Gan gi: a beginning self-study Wolof course for tourists and foreigners, a grammar book, a short dictionary as well as photocopies.
Accommodation
Accommodation is not included in the course fee. We suggest the following places on Saint-Louis island.
Au fil du fleuve (designer B&B) http://www.fildufleuve.com/
Maison Jamm (B&B in beautifully renovated building just around the corner) http://www.jamm-saintlouis.com/index.php/fr/
Hotel Siki (designer hotel, just around the corner) http://www.hotelsenegal.net/siki/
Sunu Keur (lovely decor) http://www.sunu-keur.com/
La Louisiane (charming river view location) http://www.aubergelouisiane.com/
Hotel Harmattan (very central) http://www.hotelharmattan.com/
Auberge de la Vallée (very central, cheap) http://www.au-senegal.com/auberge-de-la-vallee-saint-louis-du-senegal,2676.html?lang=fr
L'Atlantide (youth hostel, cheap) http://www.aubergedelajeunesse.com/index.htm
You can either reserve a room yourself (from 1 december for 13 nights) or leave it to us to do it for you.
Simple mattress-on-the floor accommodation can also be arranged for approx. €100/2 weeks/shared room (booked through us)
For meals, there are several restaurants nearby, where you can have a good meal at prices starting at 1,500 fcfa (€2.30)
How to get to Saint-Louis
Transfer by car from Dakar to Saint-Louis will be arranged on Sunday morning 1 December and back to Dakar on Saturday afternoon 14 December. For those arriving in Senegal just before the start of the course, we will arrange accommodation in Dakar the night between 30 November and 1 December, including airport pick-up. We will get back to those registered with more information regarding travel arrangements.
Course fees
Course price: €220 (145,000 fcfa, £188, $286)
The course price includes tuition, all course materials, activities in the evenings and on the weekend. The price does not include accommodation in Saint-Louis, meals, air fare or any transport outside the planned programme. No reduction is given for late arrival or early departure.
Transfer package: €70/80 (45,000/52,000 fcfa)
Airport pick-up and double/single room accommodation in Dakar on 14 December and transfer by car from and to Dakar.
If you take part in both the beginners' and the intermediate course, you need only one transfer package, and you get a €40 reduction on the overall price.
Registration and further information
Please fill out the registration form and email it to the course administrator Mr Staffan Martikainen at info (at) waawsenegal.org. Please register early, or by 1 September at the latest. If you have any queries, you can contact us at the same address.
