NILINILI Offerings and Course Descriptions
Summer 2022
During Summer Institute
Teaching Your Language Online (June 21-July 1, Live on Zoom, 9am-10:30 PDT, 50$)
The teaching and learning of indigenous languages happens in multiple spaces. One of these spaces, online over the internet, is growing rapidly and offers many new opportunities. However, teaching and learning online is not best done in the same way or with the same methods as in person. This course is designed for teachers of indigenous languages who are new to teaching online or who wish to reflect on their practices. We will explore principles of online language teaching and investigate what works with our learners and why.
TRaiLS (June 21 – July 1, 12-1:15pm PDT, Live on Zoom, Sliding Scale)
The Tuxámshish Revitalization Learning Series (TRaiLS – formerly known as LRLS) honors Yakama Elder, language expert, colleague, and UO faculty member Tuxámshish, Dr. Virginia Beavert, a name change made in celebration of her 100th birthday last November. TRaiLS includes a daily presentation and conversation led by experts from Native communities. TRaiLS features speakers from the Pacific Northwest, North America and around the globe. Our theme for 2022 is “the heart and soul of language work.“ Our keynote speaker this year will be Me’-lash-ne (Loren Bommelyn) from Tolowa Dee-Ni’ nation.
Assessment (June 21-July 1, 3pm-4:30, Live on Zoom PDT, 50$)
In the Introduction to Assessment course, we’ll explore the ways, whys and hows of assessing language learners. Participants will become familiar with a range of assessments and how they are being used in Indigenous language teaching and learning. Participants will reflect on what assessment strategies best fit their communities and teaching and learning contexts
Post Summer Institute
Digital Language Revitalization (July 11-August 26, Self Paced | Asynchronous, 50$)
Computers and technology are valuable tools for anyone working with language today. This class will explore some of the most useful applications that language teachers and learners have available. Emphasis will be on freely available and open source programs, as well as appropriate use of technology in Native contexts. You will have a number of self paced modules that you work though on your own (asynchronously) with instructor support offered though established Zoom office hours. A final project where you build a language product to be used in your context will be required.
Linguistic Analysis of Archival Materials for Language Teaching and Learning (July 11-August 26, by invitation*, 50$)
When learning and teaching language from archival resources, linguistic analysis can be helpful for understanding specific elements of grammar. This workshop style class will guide you in the process of asking grammatical questions of your archival language data, including setting a dataset, interpreting data, and creating learning materials from findings. This class is designed to give you hands-on experience analyzing your language while giving you skills to undertake future analyses as well. This class will begin and close with group meetings on zoom; the remainder will be self-paced on-line modules with plenty of opportunity for one on one engagement. *Please email nwili@uoregon.edu if you would like more information.
