colors, numbers, and animals

[Monica Macaulay]

I work with the Menominee, and they are very aware of the problem of just teaching these topics (exactly what you listed!).  They want their teachers to move beyond this but the teachers are (mostly) language learners themselves, so it’s been difficult.  If anyone has any ideas about methodology, that would be great.  (They’ve done some stuff with TPR, but that’s limited.)

- Monica

On Aug 7, 2014, at 10:01 AM, Wayne Leman <wleman1949b at gmail.com> wrote:

> A number of methods are used for teaching indigenous languages. One that seems commonly used for teaching Native American languages in the U.S. is a focus on memorization of colors, numbers, and names of animals.
>  
> Does anyone know where this approach to language teaching originated? Might it reflect how the teachers themselves were taught English in boarding or reservation schools? Might it reflect perceived requirements on the part of school, state, or federal administrators?
>  
> Do any of you know of any programs where there has been a shift from memorization of word lists toward creating conversational fluency in the indigenous language?
>  
>  
> Wayne
> -----
> http://www.cheyennelanguage.org/

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