This workshop focuses on children’s Native language development and how to support their learning. We will emphasize building an awareness of the learning processes as well as ways to incorporate practice opportunities to enhance building components of language (e.g., sounds, grammar, vocabulary). To do so, we will share research findings in the study of an Indigenous language, share examples from Diné and Séliš, and explore how this knowledge can inform pedagogy and revitalization. Daily format will include:

• overview of relevant concepts related to first language learning and teaching
• sharing and discussion of approaches to enhancing input for building children’s language (e.g., everyday activities, age-appropriate interactions, narrating events) with discussion of specific examples, what worked as well as what might need to be modified, and challenges/drawbacks
• opportunities for participants to share examples of children’s language, discuss documentation of learning, modify and develop language activities to be applicable to their personal contexts

We hope participants will come away from the workshop with new insights into how to enrich children’s learning and use of language.​

Requirements

Participants are encouraged to bring examples of language learning with children sample audio/video, if available​.

Facilitation Team

Melvatha Chee & Tracy Hirata-Edds
Aspen Decker (workshop assistant)

Time & Location

TBA