The Royal Institute of Amazigh Culture (IRCAM) launched on Monday MOOC IRCAM, a free online platform designed for beginners to learn the Amazigh language. The platform caters to regional variations, including Tarifit, Tamazight, and Tachelhit.
The launch coincided with the 13th anniversary of Amazigh becoming an official language, further supporting the government’s goal of fully integrating Amazigh language education into primary schools by 2030.
This initiative also aligns with implementing legal provisions that enforce Amazigh’s official status. It supports integrating the language into education, key public areas, and even digital advancements by incorporating it into educational technologies.
“The free and accessible Amazigh language and culture learning platform offers remote learning opportunities for everyone. It includes three courses tailored to the three major Amazigh dialects,” explained Bouchra Berkani, a researcher at IRCAM’s Center for Didactic Research and Pedagogical Programs as well as the coordinator of the platform’s pedagogical team.
The researcher emphasized that the pedagogical team worked to highlight the commonalities between the three varieties.
She explained further that the platform offers a variety of lessons primarily aimed at beginners, “with intermediate-level content expected to be added soon.”
Berkani underscored that “the lessons are coherently structured to help users grasp the basics and essential vocabulary for everyday use.” The platform also “includes practice exercises and tests to assess learning progress.”
In a statement to Hespress Ar, the researcher emphasized, “this new digital platform is designed for non-Amazigh speakers to learn the language,”, noting that it’s also intended for Amazigh speakers of one dialect who wish to learn another.
She also mentioned that even members of the Moroccan diaspora can benefit, as we have translated the instructions and technical terms into French.
“This project fills a growing need,” explained Berkani.
“National institutes have increasingly requested Amazigh language instruction, with our researchers often teaching on-site or collaborating with other institutions. This platform makes learning more accessible by fostering self-learning,” she explained further.
From his part, Lahcen Oubass, President of the Regional Association of Amazigh Language Teachers in the Casablanca-Settat region, stated, “the platform’s developers were smart and adhered to pedagogical standards.”
In a statement to Hespress Ar, Oubass highlighted “non-Amazigh speakers can learn a constitutional language, and Amazigh speakers themselves can expand their knowledge. It could be even extended to residents of North African countries like Libya, which recently brought Amazigh instruction back after a long absence.”
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