Indigenous Language Speaking Certificate

Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, e-Learning

The certificate in Indigenous Language Speaking prepares students to work in the growing language revitalization field, including within tribal organizations, tribal corporations, school districts, and non-profit organizations. It also supplements students' learning goals within the Indigenous Teaching Certificate and would support eventual or tandem enrollment in the Bachelor of Liberal Arts in Alaska Native Languages & Studies. 11 credits fulfill the GER requirement for certificates, with the rest of the courses focused on language communication, understanding & human relations, for a total of 31 credits, depending on the track chosen.

Minimum Credit Hours 31
General Education Requirements 11
Program Requirements 20
General Requirements
Indigenous Studies
ANS S101*Introduction to Alaska Native Studies3
Alaska Native Languages
Select one of the following language sequences:8
Tlingit
*Beginning Tlingit I
*Beginning Tlingit II
Haida
*Beginning Haida I
*Beginning Haida II
Tsimshian
*Beginning Tsimshian I
*Beginning Tsimshian II

Selected Indigenous Language Emphasis

Students select a language and go through the Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced series within that language. Multiple certificates may be earned if selecting a different language for subsequent certificates.

Lingít Yoo X̱ʼatángi (Tlingit) 

Tlingit
Core Language Courses17
*Intermediate Tlingit I
*Intermediate Tlingit II
Advanced Tlingit I
Advanced Tlingit II
Advisor Approved Elective
Master Apprentice 13
Alaska Language Apprenticeship/Mentorship

X̱aad Kíl (Haida) 

Haida
Core Langauge Courses17
*Intermediate Haida I
*Intermediate Haida II
Advanced Haida I
Advanced Haida II
Advisor Approved Elective
Master Apprentice 13
Alaska Language Apprenticeship/Mentorship

Shmʼalgyack/Smʼalgya̱x (Tsimshian)

Tsimshian
Core Language Courses17
*Intermediate Tsimshian I
*Intermediate Tsimshian II
Advanced Tsimshian I
Advanced Tsimshian II
Advisor Approved Elective
Mentor Apprentice 13
Alaska Language Apprenticeship/Mentorship
 
1

Upon advisor approval, student may substitute three credits of upper division in the same language if a mentor is unavailable.

  1. Students will increase their own fluency and will contribute to the health and vibrancy of Alaska Native languages.
  2. Students will become speakers of Alaska Native languages, and will assume leadership roles in language documentation, language gathering and use, curriculum development and program planning, and the teaching of Indigenous languages to others.
  3. Partner organizations will begin looking at ways to incorporate language speaking certification into job descriptions and will work to incentivize language speaking abilities within their organizations.
  4. Students will commitment to lifelong learning and use of Indigenous languages, and will network with other speakers to create communities of language use and learning.