Multilingualism and Second Language Acquisition in Africa

Why do most people from Swaziland to Morocco speak several languages? What is to be gained by using more than one language in conversation? How does language teaching determine power relations? In this course we will reflect upon our own linguistic encounters, while contextualizing the experience of the individual within society as a language learner and speaker. We will discuss the rich linguistic profiles of the African continent from proto-linguistic to neocolonial and critically explore language ideology and second language identity in African countries through the lenses of government, education, and popular culture. 3 hrs. lect./disc.