Tuesday May 16, 12:00pm, Many Nations Longhouse

Marnie Atkins (Wiyot, graduate student, ANTH):

“Strategies for an Indigenous Self-Apprenticeship Language Learning Program.” (abstract below)

Tuesday May 16, Noon-1:00, Many Nations Longhouse

Native American Studies Colloquium Series

Please join us!

-Brian Klopotek

Strategies for an Indigenous Self-Apprenticeship Language Learning Program

The Strategies for an Indigenous Self-Apprenticeship Language Learning Program addresses the situation of indigenous people and communities with no living first language or fluent speakers who are working to reclaim their sleeping languages from written and recorded materials.  The idea that sleeping languages can be reclaimed is a controversial one, yet there are thousands of indigenous people who are attempting to awaken their sleeping languages.  Added to the challenge of this task is that, oftentimes, the indigenous person is both a learner and teacher.  They must collect and interpret linguistic materials, create activity/lesson plans, and find ways to stay motivated, all while self-teaching their ancestral language.

Culture and place-based methodology, along with Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) are engaged in this Program.  Using materials that are culturally appropriate and place-based supports positive indigenous identity.  CLT emphasizes language teaching through “the communication of meaning in interaction rather than the practice and manipulation of grammatical forms in isolation” (Lightbown & Spada 2010).

The Strategies for an Indigenous Self-Apprenticeship Language Learning Program aims to provide guidelines, supportive documents, and strategies to aid the indigenous language learner-teacher in their language learning, speaking, and teaching endeavors.