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Dakar
Often referred to as the “Paris of West Africa,” Dakar is home to
over one million people including about 20,000 French expatriates. This capital
city is located on the Cape Verde Peninsula, making Dakar a major port for
trans-Atlantic and European trade. French has remained the official language of
Senegal since its formal independence from France in 1960, though the most
widely spoken language is Wolof. Ninety-five percent of Senegalese practice
Islam, and the Dakar Grand Mosque, home to the Islamic Institute, is worth a
visit. The city itself is bustling: government buildings line the wide
boulevards of downtown Dakar, while colorful fruit stands line the smaller
streets of residential neighborhoods. Restaurants and clubs come alive at night
with musical performances—fans of reggae and Sabar drumming will not be
disappointed.
The CIEE Language and Culture Program is housed on
Suffolk University’s Dakar Campus, situated on the grounds of the École
Nationale des Économies Appliquées. Students take all their courses on campus,
though many courses incorporate field trips around Dakar into the curriculum. In
addition to classes and class-based fieldtrips, students will also participate
in excursions around Senegal to destinations including the Sine-Saloum delta and
Saint Louis, and daytrips to the fishing village and artists’ colony of Toubab
Dialaw and the historic Gorée Island. As Dakar is a very urban city, students
will have the opportunity to experience a different environment when they
participate in a week-long rural stay. Students may join in sporting and
international events on campus, and the program offers many opportunities for
cultural immersion such as language partners, internships, and lessons in
Senegalese art, music, and dance.Dates:
Fall semester: mid-August to mid-December
Spring semester: mid-January to mid-May.
Fields of Study:
French, Wolof, humanities, social sciences, internships
Eligibility: At least three semesters of
college-level French or equivalent. Candidates are required to have completed a
college course with African content. 8.25 GPA.
Number of Students:
Approximately 3 Pomona students.
Pomona students are part of a competitive national pool. Total program enrollment 45-50 per semester.
Academic Program: There are three required courses on
the CIEE program. All students must enroll in the required core course,
Contemporary Senegalese Society and Culture, which is offered in either
English or French (students who place into Advanced French I or higher should
take the course in French). (0.75 Pomona credits.) All students also must enroll
in Wolof Language for Beginners (0.75 Pomona credits). Students are
placed into a French language course based on a proficiency exam taken at the
beginning of the semester (0.75 Pomona credits).
Students receive the remainder
of their credits by choosing from a selection of elective courses. These courses
are offered in French and English. Students who place into Intermediate French
II or higher may take one elective in French; students who place into Advanced
French I or higher may take both electives in French. Students may also choose
to complete a credit-bearing internship. A student’s courseload should total
15-16
semester credits, for a total of 4 Pomona credits.Living Arrangements:
Homestays
Faculty Liaison: Pierre Englebert
Internet Link:
http://ciee.org/program_search/program_detail.aspx?program_id=136&type=part
Weather and Time in Dakar
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