The African Language Teachers Association (ALTA) is a professional organization that works to promote the teaching of, and research in, African languages and cultures. ALTA’s annual conferences provide an avenue for teachers, researchers, students, and other stakeholders in the field to meet and share their research, experiences, and best practices while finding ways to improve and promote the teaching of African languages.
This spring, ALTA hosted a conference at the University of Pittsburgh to explore the integration of various disciplines, professions, and communities to enhance African language pedagogy while also promoting the scholarship of African languages and cultures in the U.S. and globally.
“This conference brings together instructors, scholars, and other stakeholders of African languages and cultures to share their experiences, perspectives, research findings, and best practices in this field,” said Jonathon Choti, President of ALTA. “Participants come from different institutions in the U.S. and elsewhere. They also range from students to community members and professors.”
The ALTA Conference promotes sharing of knowledge and improvement in the teaching and research in this area. The conference also provides participants with the opportunity to network and add to their professional development. The papers presented at the annual meeting are normally published in the Journal of the African Language Teachers Association (JALTA).
“I joined the African Language Teachers Association (ALTA) in 2007,” said Choti. “Through the annual meeting of ALTA, I have connected with other students and scholars interested in this field. I have learned how to conduct research, prepare and deliver a conference presentation, and prepare instructional materials.”
Human languages play a key role in connecting people from difference cultural backgrounds – expressing cultures, values, traditions, and worldviews, signaling the diversity among humans and our common origin. The teaching of African languages provides a unique opportunity for students in the U.S. to become global citizens.