Free Language Classes
Free Wolof Language Classes for Students
KASC, together with the Department of African and African American offers free language classes in Wolof to high school, community college and minority-serving institution students and students from any 2 or Y year insitution in Kansas and accross the US.
Classes are offered in the spring to give students the opportunity to expand their worldview by engaging with international cultures while also gaining college credit.
Why Study Wolof
Wolof is a West African language spoken mainly in Senegal, Gambia and southern Mauritania. The language has influenced the societies and economies of West Africans, and it has emerged through trade as a lingua franca also used in parts of Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Mali. Wolof is known internationally through the popular work of acclaimed musicians and filmmakers. There are over 18 million speakers of Wolof in West Africa, France, the U.S., and other parts of the world.
Studying Wolof at the University of Kansas prepares you for careers in developmental practices, humanitarian services, language learning and education, translation and interpretation, travel, business or diplomatic career in Africa.
We are now receiving applications for Spring 2026.
From January 20 – May 15, 2026, students can take KU Wolof classes and complete the equivalent of a year of university-level language study in Wolof
This program is open to students at high schools, community colleges, minority-serving institutions, and any accredited 2 or 4-year institution 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