Distance learning diplomas in Madagascar

Malagasy is the language of Madagascar and of a number of inhabitants of the island of Mayotte. There are many regional variants, and it is the Imerina (Tananarive region) that has been chosen as the official language, due to a long tradition of writing dating back to the first half of the 19th century. Malagasy belongs to the Austronesian language family.

Today, Inalco is the only university where Malagasy is taught as a foreign language. The language diplomas form a coherent three-year curriculum. A diploma is awarded for each year of study: DL1/DLC1 (CERCL level A2), DL2/DLC2 (CERCL level B2) and DL3 (CERCL level C1).

More information on teaching Malagasy at Inalco

This course is designed for people wishing to learn Malagasy in depth and acquire a solid knowledge of Madagascar and its culture, without committing to the preparation of a national diploma. 

First-year courses are designed for absolute beginners. No prior knowledge of the language is required. 

People who already have some knowledge of Malagasy can apply for direct admission to DL2 or DL3, depending on their level (check with the training coordinator).

DL1 and DL2 in Malagasy

Semesters 1 and 2 // Semesters 3 and 4

• Written practice 1 and 2 // Written practice 3 and 4
  Listening to, transcribing and analyzing authentic audio texts // Setting up production of written texts around a variety of themes.
   
• Morphology and syntax 1 and 2 // Morphology and syntax 3 and 4
  General introduction to morpho-syntax and lexical structure. Understanding and analysis of initial written texts // Systematic presentation of the different parts of speech (morphology and syntax). Analysis of simple and first complex utterances. Work on authentic written or audio texts.
   
• Oral practice 1 and 2 // Oral practice 3 and 4
  Courses are designed in close connection with the morphology and syntax course. Exercises in listening, discrimination and reproduction of the sounds of the language, simple communicative situations, first dialogues // Classes are designed in close connection with the morphology and syntax course. Simple dialogues, greetings, self-presentation, expression of politeness, requests for itineraries, commercial exchanges.
   
• Everyday situations and exchanges 1 and 2 // Everyday situations and exchanges 3 and 4
  Oral communication activities enabling comprehension and analysis of different cultural implicits // Oral communication activities enabling comprehension and analysis of different cultural implicits.

DL3 in Malagasy

Semesters 5 and 6

• Morphology and syntax 5 and 6
  Systematic study of verbal morpho-syntax (flexion and derivation): forms, functioning and values.
• Oral and written practice 1 and 2
  From authentic texts and documents, analyses, debates, advanced dialogues enabling the learner to describe, comment, argue, defend his point of view.
• Malagasy dialectology 1 and 2
  Through a corpus of original written and oral texts, the main phonological, morphological and syntactic features of the different Malagasy regional languages will be identified. A comparative study will show their unity and diversity.
• Translation 1 and 2
  Analysis and translation of typologically varied authentic texts.

The courses are offered in total autonomy. Each week, students follow theoretical lectures on Moodle and are required to carry out activities to reinvest newly acquired knowledge. Resources are varied, including images, texts, commented videos and self-corrected exercises. Occasional Zoom sessions are also planned.

Testing of knowledge is carried out online as part of the integral continuous assessment system. This includes online tests and self-administered exercises, as well as interactive Zoom sessions.

At present, Inalco is the only university where Malagasy is taught as a foreign language. Each year of study leads to the award of a diploma: DLC1 and DLC2.

The Malagasy language and civilization diplomas form a coherent three-year curriculum (DLC3 is not concerned by distance learning). Each year of study leads to the award of a diploma: DLC1 (CERCL level achieved: A2), DLC2 (CERCL level achieved: B2) and DLC3 (CERCL level achieved: C1).

More information on teaching Malagasy at Inalco

This course is designed for people wishing to learn Malagasy in depth and acquire a solid knowledge of Madagascar and its culture, without committing to the preparation of a national diploma.

To acquire a good command of Malagasy, corresponding to proficiency level C1, it is essential to follow all three years of the curriculum. First-year courses are designed for absolute beginners. No prior knowledge of the language is required for DLC1.

People who already have some knowledge of Malagasy can apply for direct admission to DLC2 or DLC3, depending on their level (check with the training coordinator).

DLC1 and DLC2 in Malagasy

Semesters 1 and 2 // Semesters 3 and 4

• Written practice 1 and 2 // Written practice 3 and 4
  Listening to, transcribing and analyzing authentic audio texts // Setting up production of written texts around a variety of themes.
• Morphology and syntax 1 and 2 // Morphology and syntax 3 and 4
  General introduction to morpho-syntax and lexical structure. Understanding and analysis of initial written texts // Systematic presentation of the different parts of speech (morphology and syntax). Analysis of simple and first complex utterances. Work on authentic written or audio texts.
• Oral practice 1 and 2 // Oral practice 3 and 4
  Courses are designed in close connection with the morphology and syntax course. Exercises in listening, discrimination and reproduction of the sounds of the language, simple communicative situations, first dialogues // Classes are designed in close connection with the morphology and syntax course. Simple dialogues, greetings, self-presentation, expression of politeness, requests for itineraries, commercial exchanges.
• Everyday situations and exchanges 1 and 2 // Everyday situations and exchanges 3 and 4
  Oral communication activities enabling comprehension and analysis of different cultural implicits // Oral communication activities enabling comprehension and analysis of different cultural implicits.
• Language and contemporary Malagasy societies 1 and 2 // History of Madagascar 1 and 2
  Anthno-sociological introduction to Malagasy societies today: social and political organization, beliefs and religions, Malagasy societies in the modern state // Introduction to Malagasy literature in its traditional and modern expressions. The socio-historical conditions of the emergence of this literature will be studied, as well as various Malagasy literary movements and a selection of emblematic authors.
• Introduction to Malagasy literature 1 and 2 // Malagasy oral literature 1 and 2
  The origins, the formation of the various Malagasy kingdoms, the attempt at national unification (late 18th century), the present-day Republic // Presentation and analysis (forms, meanings, social functions) of some of the characteristic genres of Malagasy oral literature: the angano, the ohabolana, the kabary, the hainteny,...

The courses are offered in total autonomy. Each week, students follow theoretical lectures on Moodle and are required to carry out activities to reinvest newly acquired knowledge. Resources are varied, including images, texts, commented videos and self-corrected exercises. Occasional Zoom sessions are also planned.

Testing of knowledge is carried out online as part of the integral continuous assessment system. This includes online tests and self-administered exercises, as well as interactive Zoom sessions.