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Peace Corps Senegal places volunteers among a wide variety of ethnic groups. Volunteers are trained in Wolof, Pulaar, Seerer, Jaxanke, Mandinka, and French depending on their geographical placement. Here is a collection of useful documents Peace Corps Senegal has developed to teach local languages. We have also have an excellent cross-cultural journal developed by staff and volunteers to help round out language study with cultural understanding.
French
The official administrative language of Senegal. Though rarely a first language, French holds a great deal of prestige among the educated classes. Senegal has produced many francophone Scrabble champions.
French Instructor Guide
French Trainee Guide
French Intro Language Phrases and Vocabulary
Useful Phrases translated in French, Wolof, and English
Survival French Recording
Survival French Text
Wolof
Wolof is the most widely spoken language in Senegal, spoken not only by members of the Wolof ethnic group (approximately 40 percent of the population) but also by most other Senegalese. Wolof is also spoken in parts of The Gambia and Mauritania.
Wolof Intro Language Phrases and Vocabulary
Survival Wolof: the intro course taught to all stagiaires when they arrive in country
Survival Wolof Recording
Survival Wolof Text
For more Wolof language resources please visit Peace Corps Gambia's Wolof language page.
Pulaar
Though a minority language in Senegal, Pulaar dialects are found all across West Africa with speakers numbering in the millions. Peace Corps Senegal volunteers learn one of three dialects depending on their site placement.
Survival Fulakunda (Southern Pulaar)
Survival Pula Fuuta (Southeastern Pulaar)
Survival Pulaar du Nord (Northern Pulaar)
Pula Fuuta Tech Vocab (Compiled by PCV Steve Wood)
For more Pulaar language resources please visit Peace Corps Gambia's Pulaar language page.
Seerer
Seerer is spoken mainly within the Sine-Saloum delta region with approximately one million speakers. The Seerer Noon dialect is spoken within the region of Thies with speakers numbering only in the tens of thousands.
Survival Seerer
Seerer Noon Intro Phrases and Vocabulary
Jaxanke
Part of the greater Mande language family and spoken mainly in the South Eastern regions of Senegal.
Jaxanke Intro Language Phrases and Vocabulary
Malinke Ag/AgFo Tech Vocab (compiled by Angela Michalek)
For more Jaxanke language resources please visit Peace Corps Gambia's Jaxanke language page.
Mandinka
The main language of The Gambia, the few Mandinka communities found within Senegal are typically found near the Gambia River.
Survival Mandinka
Mandinka Intro Language Phrases and Vocabulary
For more Mandinka language resources please visit Peace Corps Gambia's Mandinka language page.
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