PERSONAL AND HOLISTIC

Learning an Indigenous language as a second language affects individuals physically, emotionally, spiritually and intellectually. These aspects of language learning should be balanced and approached in ways that engage children deeply in their learning.

Dictionaries and other reference resources appropriate for elementary second language classrooms can be useful teaching tools because teaching children how to access and utilize them prepares them for lifelong personal learning. It also leads children to become more aware of the language being used in the community (metalinguistic awareness) and builds relationships as they discover the many different ways an idea can be expressed. Everyone wins because the children learn more about language use, relations are strengthened, language practice moves beyond the school walls, and linguistic pride grows.

Teachers can extend this approach by encouraging children to create a class or their own personal talking pictionaries in hard copy or in a digital format.

Make my photo talk is an iOS or Google Play app that allows children to take pictures, or select pictures from their iPhones or iPads, add audio or their words in Indigenous languages and email them to the teacher or post them on a social media site hosted by the teacher.

Teachers can extend the use of dictionaries or language resources by challenging entire schools to learn one Indigenous language word every school day. This moves the Indigenous language beyond the isolation of just one classroom into a larger arena, where children can practise with adults and different age peers. Using the word in conversation also provides opportunities to see how the word changes, depending upon context, ie plural, tenses etc.

#CreeSimonSays is an example of Cree Word of the Day. Check the YouTube Channel and the Facebook group.

You may be aware of many more language dictionaries and references materials, however, those selected here were provided because they include both visual and audio clips. As you know, appropriate selection depends upon access, availability, dialect, and the ability of students to navigate the resource independently.

Indigenous Language Curriculum Guides are another resource teachers might consult for ideas to help make language learning personal and holistic. The Alberta Education Website has Programming resources for Blackfoot and Cree.

Blackfoot language and culture

Cree language and culture

Supporting Research:

Yeoman, E. (2000). Aboriginal Language learning in cyberspace: A typology of language related websites and their potential uses. Canadian Journal of Native Education, 24 (2), 120-133.