NALRC ULIMIonline - Vol. 2 : Issue 2

In this issue:

NALRC expands its catalogue
In the first half of 2007, the NALRC has expanded its publication inventory by adding new books to various new series. In late 2006, the first in the intermediate series, “Let’s Read an African Language,” hit the shelves: Tusome Kiswahili. Since then, Aquilina Mawadza followed up her elementary-level Ngatitaure Shona, “Let’s Speak Shona,” with Ngativerenge Shona, “Let’s Read Shona.” Mawadza’s new book is designed to develop the linguistic and communicative skills of learners of Shona. This will help them to have a		balanced, functional knowledge of linguistic structures and a sound vocabulary, as well as the ability to use their skills appropriately in real life situations. The book also encourages students to be systematically involved in activities requiring the communicative use of all four language skills: speaking, listening, writing and reading. Culture and language are integrated in the book in a way to enable students to achieve both linguistic competence and cultural awareness. Also this year, the NALRC published its first dictionary for an African language. The Wolof Lexicon and Grammar, by Sana Camara, is the most extensive English-language dictionary available for Wolof. The author is well-versed in the precedents set by prior linguists and pedogogists and, therefore,		adds something genuinely new and necessary to the field of Wolof language teaching and learning. The NALRC hopes to add more intermediate-level text books to the “Let’s Read” series, as well as new dictionaries to our catalogue. Elementary textbooks for Hausa, Kikongo, Somali, and Wolof are due out shortly. A Yoruba dictionary is also in the works. For more information about our publications and for purchasing information, visit the NALRC website.

NALRC raises banner at AASP
The National African Languages Resource Center participated at the recent Association of African Studies Programs (AASP) Annual Spring Meeting held at Johns Hopkins University which ran from April 12 to 14, 2007 in Washington, DC. Adedoyin Adenuga and Joseph Chikowero arrived in Washington late on Wednesday evening.	On Thursday, the first day of the meeting, they set up the NALRC stand displaying African language learning and teaching books, flash cards, CD ROMs, African language brochures and the NALRC banner. The NALRC took advantage of the AASP event which seeks to bring together a wide range of people whose responsibilities and activities affect African Studies nationally to showcase these African language teaching and learning materials. Throughout the 4-day event, the NALRC staff met and discussed African language- related issues with dozens of delegates as well as students at the Johns Hopkins University.		The NALRC showcased newly published books and audio material. The Wolof Lexicon and Grammar and the latest addition to the Let’s Read Series, Let’s Read Shona - Ngativerenge Shona, hot off the NARLC Press, were well received by patrons. Doyin, representing Prof. Antonia Schleicher, also gave a presentation on Thursday, April 12, about the role of the NALRC in developing African language learning and teaching materials. His presentation was well-received. Both Doyin and Joseph had an opportunity to attend some insightful sessions which discussed issues of research and funding in African Studies, reports from allied organizations, Africa’s growing strategic importance to the United States, among others.
Joseph Chikowero with the NALRC booth at AASP 2007.

Ongoing NALRC Projects

Please follow the links below to learn more about NALRC publications

Textbooks

Multimedia

Brochures

Hint: Click on any picture for the full-size version.

A big NALRC presence at ALTA

From March 22 – 25, 2007, NALRC Staff—Antonia Schleicher, Adedoyin Adenuga, Matthew Brown, Francis Lukhele, and Florence Olamijulo—attended the Eleventh Anniversary Meeting and Conference of the African Language Teachers Association (ALTA) at the University of Florida-Gainesville. This year’s ALTA conference was held jointly with the 38th Annual Conference on African Linguistics (ACAL). The joint conference brought together

over 70 linguists and teachers of African languages from around the U.S. and many African nations. The theme of the ALTA conference was “African Language Pedagogy and Media: Striving for a Successful Learning Experience.”

With a large number of staff members at the conference, the NALRC was able to accomplish a variety of tasks related to promoting and improving African language pedagogy. On Thursday, March 22, Professor Schleicher led a workshop on the development of Standards

for African languages. On Friday, March 23, Adedoyin and Matthew set up the NALRC exhibit table and showcased a number of published materials and professional development opportunities throughout the conference. Included at the table were brand new publications such as Tusome Kiswahili, the Intermediate-Level textbook, Ngativerenge Shona, and the Wolof Lexicon and Grammar. Meanwhile, Francis and Florence attended and presented at numerous conference sessions.

Matthew Brown with the NALRC booth at ALTA 2007

NALRC hosts 10th NCOLCTL Conference

During the third week of April, 2007, the NALRC hosted the 10^th Annual Conference of the National Council of Less Commonly Taught Languages (NCOLCTL) at the Concourse Hotel and Governor’s Club in Madison, WI. This is the fourth NCOLCTL conference that the NALRC has organized since the NCOLCTL Secretariat moved into the NALRC offices in 2003.

This year’s participants were drawn from as far afield as Italy, Portugal and Britain while many LCTL professionals from Asia, Africa and the Middle East presented on various facets of less commonly taught languages. Abstracts from professionals and practitioners at various universities and

Thomas Hinnebusch delivers his acceptance speech at the Walton Award Banquet

Afghanistan and Lecturer in Turkish at Princeton. J. David Edwards, Executive Director of JNCL-NCLIS, and CASL’s Executive Director, Richard Brecht presented on “US Language Policies in the 21st Century,” and Rital Oleksak, current President of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), also spoke.

Additionally, almost 70 papers were presented at this year’s conference on topics ranging from standards and assessment in LCTLs, developing online LCTL materials, curriculum design for 21st century challenges, online LCTLs teacher training, and many others.

On Saturday, April 28, a banquet was held in honor of Thomas J. Hinnebusch, winner

of this year’s A. Ronald Walton Award, which recognizes distinguished service in the field of LCTLs. In his acceptance speech, Hinnebusch traced his long and distinguished career in service of Swahili and other LCTLs, from his days at the University of Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania to his current Language Materials Project at UCLA, which focuses on over 100 LCTLs. He also challenged established professionals and up-and-coming scholars in the field to harness technological innovations to further LCTL goals.

Next year’s NCOLCTL conference will also be held in Madison, April 24-27, and will be organized by staff members of the NALRC.

government departments were accepted while exhibits from publishing concerns were also showcased.

Four plenary sessions were held during the course of the conference, including presentations by Prince Firas bin Raad, the Private Secretary for Health Affairs to King Abdullah of Jordan, and Robert P. Finn, former Ambassador to

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