Boren Students UF Students Non-Boren/ FLAS Students
Overview of AFLI
The African Flagship Languages Initiative (AFLI) is a special initiative of the Boren Awards for International Study offering awardees the opportunity for intensive language study of Akan/Twi, French, Swahili, Wolof, and Zulu, and for cultural immersion by participating in domestic and overseas language programs. Participants may start with no language proficiency through advanced proficiency in Akan/Twi, Swahili, Wolof, and Zulu. French is offered at the advanced level only. The program is hosted at the University of Florida by the Center for African Studies (CAS) and the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (LLC), and sponsored by the Defense Language and National Security Education Office (DLNSEO).
Goals and Administration of AFLI
Launched in 2011, AFLI aims to increase the number of Boren Scholars and Fellows engaged in the study of African languages. The Boren Awards are sponsored by the Defense Language and National Security Education Office (DLNSEO), within the U.S. Department of Defense and administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE). The summer domestic program and fall overseas programs for French in Senegal and Swahili in Tanzania are administered by the University of Florida. Akan/Twi, Wolof, and Zulu students are responsible for designing their own fall overseas study programs.
AFLI Program Requirements and Structure
AFLI Boren students are required to participate in an intensive, full-time, 8-week summer domestic program offered in-person at the University of Florida from early June through July. Following the summer domestic component, students will travel overseas in the fall for a full-time, immersive semester of language and culture study. Participation in both the summer and fall programs is required for all Boren awardees and meets the Boren Awards preference for duration.
Throughout the summer and fall, students will participate in full-time language courses designed to support their language learning goals. These courses will be complemented by language partners, conversation tables, homestays with local families, and experiential learning activities such as cooking classes and cultural excursions. Additional details about these opportunities will be shared at the beginning of each program.
Optional spring extensions are available to students who would like to continue their study. Requests for spring extensions should be indicated in your Boren Awards application to guarantee funding. Learn more about the self-designed programs here.
Information for Prospective AFLI Participants
For more information, please click here Boren Students
The University of Florida provides opportunity for non-Boren students to participate in the AFLI summer domestic program. For more information, click appropriate links below.
FLAS/NON-UF Students
UF Students
Contact the AFLI office with questions at afli@africa.ufl.edu
