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Conversations on Open Education for Language Learning

Quechua revitalization in a new OER project

Logo credit: Katherin Patricia Tairo-Quispe Creative Commons License

Texas Hatun yachaywasim lliwllapaq yachachiykunata qispichichkan COERLLwan kuska. Kaypitaq llamk’achkanku llaqtamanta yachakuqkuna, Runasimi rimaqkuna. Kaypitaq llamk’achkanku Texas Hatun Yachaywasi yachachiqkuna, yachaqkuna hinallataq Puca Puca Qqehuar comunidadkunapiwan Peru suyumanta. paykunam kuska llamk’achkanku kay yachachikuykuna qispichiypi. kay yachikuykunataq Runasimi rimaymanta hinallataq kay simi rimaqkunamantawan. Paykunam ruwachkanku videokunata, qillqakunata, uyarinakunata ima Runasimi yachanapaq. Kaykunataq churakunqaku COERLL chawpinta hamuq semestre.

English translation: Quechua Tinkuy is an open curricula project created by the University of Texas at Austin and COERLL. Currently Quechua graduate students from the university are developing and incorporating different materials such as videos, audios, and texts about the grammar of the language. The team includes faculty and Quechua graduate students, as well as associates in ‘Puca Puca’ and ‘Qquehuar’ communities from Peru, who are all working together to develop this curricula focused on Quechua language and culture. These materials will be uploaded next semester and people interested in learning Quechua will have access to this open curricula through UT COERLL.

Jermani Ojeda Ludena and Katherin Patricia Tairo-Quispe are the project leads. You can read more about their work to revitalize the Quechua language in this interview with Susanna Sharpe in Portal, the web magazine of LLILAS Benson Latin American Studies and Collections.

Indigenous languages in general are being affected by a colonial system that doesn’t value Indigenous knowledge and culture; for this reason we need decolonization and revitalization of the Quechua language. – Jermani Ojeda Ludena

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“Curahuasi district, Apurimac region” by Jermani Ojeda-Ludena

 

Open Resources for Indigenous Languages

Photo credit: “Nahuala huipil” by Sergio Romero for “Chqe’tamaj le qach’ab’al K’iche’!”, licensed under Creative Commons License

2019 is the International Year of Indigenous Languages, as established by UNESCO. The goal of this year is to increase support for, promotion of, and access to indigenous languages. UNESCO suggests that one approach to this goal is to “develop new and open educational resources to facilitate teaching and learning in indigenous languages”. (You can read the other suggestions on the program website.)

Since we at COERLL focus on open educational resources (OER) for language learning, we are happy to see when OER are suggested as a way to support a movement. Open Creative Commons licenses, an essential aspect of all OER, make it easier for people to access and share important information in their community and with the world, while ensuring authors are always credited for their work. This will not be a solution that suits everyone, but there are many indigenous language teachers and organizations who have chosen to make their resources available under a Creative Commons license. The list below is just a sample. Thank you to the authors of these resources for sharing their valuable knowledge.

Please share other openly-licensed indigenous language materials in the comments!

Fijian

Na vosa vakaviti – A Fijian language children’s activity book of word searches, colouring pages, and stories published by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Licensed under a CC BY-NC license.

Indigenous languages of Canada

Indigenous Storybooks makes the text, images, and audio of stories available in Indigenous languages as well as English, French, and the most widely spoken immigrant and refugee languages of Canada. It’s for children, families, community members, and educators. Inspired by Little Cree Books. Licensed under a CC BY-NC-SA license.

Iñupiat

Iñupiat Language Community site – Lessons, activities, and additional resources for the Iñupiat language developed by Chelsey Zibell at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Licensed under a CC BY license.

Komnzo, Mauwake, Moloko, Palula, Papuan Malay, Pite Saami, Rapa Nui, Yakkha, Yauyos Quechua

Studies in Diversity Linguistics – A book series published by Language Science Press on individual less-widely studied languages (primarily reference grammars). The chief editor is Martin Haspelmath. Licensed under a CC BY license.

K’iche’

Chqe’tamaj le qach’ab’al K’iche’! – A multimedia K’iche’ curriculum in English and Spanish, comprised of 40 lessons developed by Sergio Romero, Ignacio Carvajal, Juan Manuel Tahay Tzaj, Mareike Sattler, et. al. with the support of LLILAS and COERLL at the University of Texas at Austin. Licensed under a CC BY license.

Māori

Te reo Māori pukapuka mahi – A free downloadable Māori language activity book for kids published by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Licensed under a CC BY-NC license.

Nahuatl

Language faculty and graduate students supported by LLILAS and COERLL at the University of Texas at Austin are in the process of planning materials for beginning language learners of Nahuatl. Stay tuned to the blog for updates!

Sāmoan

Gagana Sāmoa Tusi o gāluega fa‘atino – A Sāmoan language activity book of word searches, coloring pages, and stories for kids, published by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Licensed under a CC BY-NC license.

SENĆOŦEN

SENĆOŦEN Classified Word List – A list of over 3300 SENĆOŦEN words and sound files by Dr. Timothy Montler et. al. Licensed under a CC BY-NC-SA license.

General Indigenous Language Studies

Language Learning Assessment Tool – A guide for adult learners of Indigenous languages to self-assess their learning and progress written by Dr. Onowa McIvor and Dr. Peter Jacobs of NEȾOLṈEW̱, the Indigenous Language Research Network. Licensed under a CC BY-NC-SA license.

 

What other openly licensed indigenous language materials do you recommend?