Web-based language tools

The Web Way to Learn a Language

By Eric A. TaubWith the growth of broadband connectivity and social networks, companies have introduced a wide range of Internet-based language learning products, both free and fee-based, that allow students to interact in real time with instructors in other countries, gain access to their lesson plans wherever they are in the world, and communicate with like-minded virtual pen pals who are also trying to remember if bambino means baby.

Learning a language sometimes seems as difficult as dieting. The solution is to figure out how to stay interested after the novelty wears off.

To counter boredom, online language programs have introduced crossword puzzles, interactive videos and other games to reward users for making progress.

Online courses are either fee-based, free or a combination. Starter kits of fee-based programs may cost just a few hundred dollars, but the cost to reach higher levels of comprehension and speaking can easily be $1,000.

Charter school teaches Ojibwe

Growing charter school teaches with culture, language

By Dan GundersonThe school Web site hosts video language tutorials produced by third-graders.

Kent Estey runs the media center, a small room crammed with computer equipment. He said the language videos are one way to connect the school with the community.

"So we have students actually teaching their parents and reminding their grandparents of the Ojibwe language that is lost," Estey said. "Technology is a wonderful tool."

The students also publish their own books and they just started a weekly podcast.Below:  "Murals highlighting important traditional cultural events fill a wall in the school gym in Naytahwaush, Minn." (MPR Photo/Dan Gunderson)

Cherokee recognized for language initiative

Cherokee Nation receives Humanities Council AwardThe Cherokee Nation has been named the 2010 recipient of the Humanities in Education award for its significant contribution to the humanities in Oklahoma by the Oklahoma Humanities Council. The Nation was selected for the award in recognition of the tribe’s Cherokee language program and the Cherokee Nation Immersion School, according to a media release.

“We are honored to receive this recognition of outstanding achievement in a comprehensive Cherokee language and culture initiative,” said Dr. Neil Morton, group leader for Cherokee Nation Education Services. “The award brings special honor to the dedicated staff of the language program and to all the Cherokee Nation Group Leaders for their support of the Tribal Language Initiative.”

Rosetta Stone releases Chitimacha language

Rosetta Stone releases Chitimacha languageRosetta Stone Inc. today announced the release of the Chitimacha language version of Rosetta Stone® software for exclusive use by the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana. The last fluent Chitimach speaker died in 1940 but the tribe is trying to revive its language.

Rosetta Stone helps people learn a language by linking the meaning and structure of a new language directly to real world objects and events without translation. The Chitimacha language version of the software has been created through a Rosetta Stone corporate grant with all distribution rights belonging to the tribe.

Cherokee choir sings old favorites

Cherokee National Youth Choir release entertaining, educational

By Gary FifeThe award-winning Cherokee National Youth Choir announces the release of its latest music CD, “Learning as We Sing,” a project intended to both entertain and teach language skills. The new CD contains a variety of well-known traditional music intended for singing along, including patriotic American songs, Cherokee cultural songs, and even some Christmas songs.

“We’re extremely excited about this new album,” said Mary Kay Henderson, CNYC’s director.

Henderson said that the CD was designed to make learning Cherokee a little bit easier by using translations of familiar songs.

Listeners can sing along with the choir and learn old favorites such as “The Star Spangled Banner,” “This Land is Your Land,” “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” “Jingle Bells” and “Frosty the Snowman,” all in the Cherokee language.

Cherokee language on Facebook

Cherokee language now on Facebook

By Christina Good VoiceCherokee speakers are starting to use popular Web sites to translate words, phrases and other parts of the language on the sites into Cherokee.

Cherokee Nation citizen Roy Boney is one of 14 translators on the social Web site Facebook who helps Cherokee people maintain ties to their culture by allowing speakers registered on the site to translate a glossary of common Facebook words and phrases. Their ultimate goal is to translate the entire site into Cherokee.

“As a citizen, I think it’s a wonderful opportunity for Cherokee to exist in a virtual space that’s a major part of the world community,” he said.

As of Dec. 17, there were 34,647 untranslated phrases on Facebook’s Cherokee translations page, 142 submitted translations and 14 active translators. Those translators are from areas in the CN jurisdiction, as well as Texas, California and other areas across the United States.Comment:  Using social media to encourage language use is one of the methods I talked about at the Falmouth language summit in November. Glad to see someone else had the same idea.

Jana's American Indian Christmas

Christmas in 10 Native American Languages

By Monika EvstatievaFor weeks now, Christmas music has been playing everywhere—carols in the grocery store, holiday hits at Starbucks, and live music on the streets. But one artist has taken the holiday spirit in a different direction. Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter Jana Mashonee recorded 10 traditional Christmas songs in 10 different Native American languages. The result is American Indian Christmas.

"I wanted to do something no one else has done. And so I thought maybe I can do a whole album in Native languages," Mashonee says, "And I thought I am crazy; I am doing it."And:There are over 500 different Native American tribes in the United States, but Mashonee, a Lumbee-Tuscarora, says often the elders are the only keepers of the languages. She recorded the album to make the Native language more accessible and accepted.

"It is kind of a way to know that these languages are still living ... to be able to have the younger people in the tribes to know more about their language and accept it," Mashonee explains. "And, also for non-Native people to hear a Native language."Below:  Jana Mashonee's latest album is called New Moon Born. (Carter James)

Barona gives dictionary to NMAI

Tribes presents dictionary to NMAIThe monumental 696-page Barona Inter-Tribal Dictionary was presented to the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) and to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) during Native American Heritage Month. The dictionary is comprised of thousands of familiar as well as long-lost words and phrases aimed at assisting Yuman language speakers of the San Diego County Tribes in revitalizing their traditional native tongue.

A revised and enhanced version of the original 48-page Barona dictionary project, the expansive and updated edition contains a number of innovative features such as history of the project, biographies of the main contributors and a map of the language area.Below:  From left to right: Barona Tribal Chairman Edwin “Thorpe” Romero, Barona Tribal Councilwoman Beth Glasco, Larry Echo Hawk of the BIA and Barona Tribal Councilmember Charles “Beaver” Curo.