East Oregonian: Immersed In The Umatilla Language (fwd link)

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East Oregonian: Immersed In The Umatilla Language

East Oregonian | Oct. 01, 2013 10:06 p.m. | Updated: Oct. 02, 2013 12:50
p.m.

Four hours every weekday morning, 10 toddlers at Tamalúut Immersion School
dive into the Umatilla language.

Tamalúut means just that — to immerse in water. Some of the three- to
five-year olds cling to the edge, talking back to the language teachers in
English, while a few jump into Umatilla and chat away with peers.

For adults, the rules are made clear. A sign reads “NO ENGLISH” on the door
of the school’s tiny room on the side of Nixya’awii Community School’s
gymnasium. Parents get a quick glare when the language slips out.

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation school is
designed around accelerated language acquisition, said Tamalúut teacher
Modesta Minthorn-Wolahts, who wrote the grant to begin the program last
year. A similar program began in Hawaii, and was later adopted for Native
American languages in Montana and Wyoming.

Access full article below:
http://www.opb.org/news/article/immersed-in-the-umatilla/
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