Reflections on the semester...

It is hard to believe that this semester is over and that it is time to reflect on it's events! Throughout this semester we were challenged with many new and "techy" ways to learn an ancient and sacred language- amazing isn't it?!? I was thoroughly impressed with the Ojibwe Movies Project and must get a hold of a copy, as it is still not working on my laptop! Like I've said many times before, technology is awesome...most of the time! My favorite activites while learning the modules in were Vocabulous and the Crosswords. Vocabulous became a fun activity that I did with my children and we all learned together. I enjoyed Crosswords because it was tough... challenges are always good! As an educator, I value the advancement that Ojibwe language curriculum and it's makers are successfully attemping. Students are attracted to technology and what better way to grab their attention. The weaving of old and new knowledge is essential in ensuring the revitalization of our language.
This semester has been a learning process with many facets. Although I have a good grasp on technology, my language skills are minimal... but improving! With the help of tools like the Ojibwe Movies Project and with resources, such as my fellow cohort members' blogs and tons of links/websites for learning Ojibwemowin, the journey to language fluency seems less daunting.

okay...so with a little patience, i finally figured out how to share my powerpoints on my blog! i had to save them as JPEGS in order to upload them. i accidently inserted one slide twice...so bear with me! technology is awesome...most of the time!

Baamaa!

I finally recorded by Ojibwemowin Speech in Wimba this morning...it's funny how terrified I get of hearing my own voice out loud...speaking my own language! Terrified! All went well and just a few bobbles- but like Nokomis says, "nothing is meant to be perfect".

I am attempting to share my website review and Ojibwemowin Powerpoints on my blog...just trying to figure out how to attach files.

Baamaa!

okay... so i chose the beginner list of words, because I AM A BEGINNER. I have some vocab under my belt and could have stretched myself, but didn't feel confident that I could master the next level quite yet. I made myself some simple flashcards and practiced for a couple hours here and there and the words stuck. I might go back and see how I'd fare on the next list. It'll be my challenge to myself!

ACTIVITIES

Crosswords
Vocabulous!
Word Dictation
Unscramble
Plug-n-Play

Try each of the following activities one time through. Which activities were
particularly helpful to you? Which ones were not? Why?

The activities that I found particularly helpful and not intimidating were Word Dictation, Unscramble and the Crosswords. I enjoyed Word Dication because I could listen to the dictation as many times as necessary before making my guess. Crosswords also allowed a feature like this by allowing the viewer to watch the clip in question. Unscramble was probably the easiest activity for me because the English and Ojibwe were side by side.

The activities I found challenging were the Vocabulous! and the Plug and Play. Although I do appreciate the progress tracking on all of the software.


PRONUNCIATION

Try a dozen or so words on your first attempt. Did your pronunciation improve as you used this feature. Did it improve on your second attempt?

My pronunciation did improve on attempts after my initial attempt. I figured out some of the tricks of using the pronunciation software. Imitating the rise and fall of the first language speaker's voice helped immensely. The phrase I had the most trouble with was waabiski-miigwan-- it was nearly maddening! After doing the series of vocabulary words I attempted the sentences, which was extrememly challenging, but rewarding when I got a WOW!

Ojibwe Movies-Visiting an Elder, part 1

Here is a list of words that I recognized the second time that I viewed "Visiting an Elder, Part 1". It felt good to be able to follow along with most of the conversation and using the visual contextual clues helped even more, but it was frustrating to not be able to understand everything!


Biindigen!

Boozhoo

miigwaan

Aaniin ezhi ayaayan?

Miigwech

makade mashkiikiiwaaboo

Aniibiish

daga

Eya

Geget

Asemaa

Giga-waabamin

waabang

Hadley-Chomsky

I would ask you to write in your blogs about one theorist or approach (ie. Chomsky or Cognitive theory). Write a short paragraph about your topic and if you think either the theorist of the approach is valid. Why?

Chomsky made a distinction regarding the rationalist/empiricist theory in 1965. The most recognizable difference between the rationalist and empiricist theories is "the presumed locus of control of the process of language acquisition". The rationalist theory maintains that we as humans have an innate and genetic capacity to develop language in certain ways. Empiricists maintain that more important than any innate capacity to learn language is the learner's experience. It is rather the outside forces rather than any internal programming. Language learning is just a part of "general learning ability or capacity" (Hadley, 54).

I have had experiences in language learning that can be explained by both the rationalist and empiricist theories. I am a proponent of the ideal that language learning can be a genetically ingrained characteristic. For instance, my son who speaks English as a first language has always had the natural ability to speak, even in English with the natural candence and lilt that we hear among Ojibwe language speakers. It is only something that could be genetic in his case.

What does the fourth hypothesis mean?

What does the fourth hypothesis mean?

"Instruction should be responsive to the affective as well as the cognitive needs of students, and their different personalities, preferences, and learning styles should be taken into account."

As educators, we need to recognize and acknowledge that the learners we are engaging are all different and these differences are important and must be addressed. It is important to teach in a way that is responsive to each learner's approach. It is essential that the educator maintain a level of differentiation within their teaching style in order to touch on all learning styles at various times within the learning process. Being flexible will allow the learning environment to exude a sense of comfort for the learners involved in the process. While being comfortable seems to be a key in absorbing acquisition, Brown's theory maintains that "if a student's affective filter is too low, there may be little motivation to learn. Therefore, we as teachers should keep a level of anxiety, or "communication apprehension", within our learning environments in order to promote the acquisition of input. Daly proposes that educators exhibit a certain level of sensitivity when it comes to the personal sharing portion of learning. We should not expect or force students to share their feelings. Overall, hypothesis #4 can be summarized simply. Learners will gain proficiency in a quicker fashion when they participate in an environment that allows them to relax and feel supported in the learning process.

Learning Everyday Phrases

                                                            Gigii-kiziibigaabide'ina?

illustration is from Ready For Bed, by Stacy Kaye

Aandi endaayan?

 Nahgahchiwanong nindaa.

technology is almost impossible to ignore.  it is a part of our daily lives, unless we make a conscious choice to not partake.  personally, i am absolutely enthralled with technology... for all it's miraculousness and headaches.  i love my gadgets.  my ipod, my iphone, my laptop...ahhh sweet convenience.  communication has got to be the single most delightful thing about technology.  i can talk to relatives near and far-  it's all at my fingertips.  i can get my master's degree and rub elbows with a bunch of really motivated and intelligent cohorts on moodle.  i can find anything on google...anything.