Teaching vanishing Native languages (fwd link)

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Teaching vanishing Native languages

Posted: August 1, 2011 - 9:53pm
By Jonathan Grass
JUNEAU EMPIRE

Tlingit speakers and educators are fighting to keep that language
alive. As those at Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) put it, creating
new speakers will be key in accomplishing this.

In fact, the Native institute has just introduced a new Tlingit
language card program as part of this mission.

The program is a set of flash cards and audio CDs to help gain
efficiency in the alphabet. They use pictures as well as an online
interactive tool to help kids learn the Native language.

Tlingit Curriculum Specialist Linda Belarde said the tool is important
because new speakers are needed for a language to survive. As for
Tlingit, she said there just aren’t that many birth speakers left.

Access full article below:
http://juneauempire.com/local/2011-08-01/teaching-vanishing-native-languages