Free Language Classes

Arabic class in session

Please check back later for updates on language offerings and registration details.

Free African Language Classes for the Great Plains Region

KASC, together with the Department of African and African American offers free language classes in Arabic, Kiswahili, Wolof, and Yorùbá to high school, community college and minority-serving institution students in Kansas and the Great Plains region.

Classes are offered in the spring, summer and fall and give students the opportunity to expand their worldview by engaging with international cultures while also gaining college credit.

Languages Offered

  • Arabic
    Spoken widely across Africa and the Middle East, Arabic is one of the fastest-growing languages and is key to understanding the cultures and histories of more than 22 nations and over 280 million speakers.
  • Kiswahili
    With over 130 million speakers using it as a first or second language, Kiswahili is the most widely studied indigenous African language in East and Central Africa.
  • Wolof
    A West African language with over 10 million speakers, Wolof has emerged through trade as a lingua franca and is known internationally through the work of acclaimed musicians and filmmakers.
  • Yorùbá
    A major West African language spoken mainly in Nigeria, Benin, and parts of Togo and Sierra Leone, with about 20 million speakers in West Africa and other parts of the world.

We are now receiving applications for Summer 2026. 

From June 1 – July 24, 2026, students can join KU classes through the Summer African Language Institute  and complete the equivalent of a year of university-level language study in Arabic, Kiswahili, Wolof, or Yorùbá.

SALI is open to students at high schools, community colleges, and minority-serving institutions and is designed to:

  • Build proficiency in a critical African language
  • Enhance global and regional career prospects
  • Foster a supportive community of African language learners through intensive summer study

“Join a KU class and learn a critical language to enhance your career prospects!!!”

To apply, follow the links below. If you have any questions, please contact KASC Assistant Director, Doreen Siilo at dsiilo@ku.edu 

Summer 2026 Application