Listening and Speaking
Key Concepts
Why teach Listening and Speaking in Native Studies?
Both Listening and Speaking skills are key to First Nations culture. It involves a huge oral tradition that should be passed down, not only to those with a FNMI background, but to other students as well.Teaching these skills isn't only important within the classroom, but is also a cultural connection that you can impress upon your students. This is another skill that helps to prepare students for future years.
As a future educator, I know that I would value it when my students can use these skills within my classroom. Not only for how they can listen or speak to me as a teacher, but how they should listen or speak to their peers as well.
Curriculum Connections
"Oral language is the foundation of literacy."
Listening and Speaking skills are another great way of learning to communicate with others. The oral language allows for us to carry on beliefs and values, traditions, and stories from our community.
These skills are also linked to organization and understanding. We can use these skills to set goals and solve problems.
Strategies and Lesson Plan Ideas
Three Strategies for Having Students Speak in Native Studies
Three Focused Listening Strategies in Native Studies
Resources for Teaching
Listening Resources
The People's Path (literature, stories, poems) - http://yvwiiusdinvnohii.net/liter.html
First Nations Myths and Traditions - http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/firstnations/antiquity.html
Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump - http://history.alberta.ca/headsmashedin/default.aspx
Speaking Resources
Storytelling - Oral Traditions - http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibitions/Holman/english/storytelling/index.php3
Native Languages in the Americas - http://www.native-languages.org/
Blackfoot Confederacy Language - http://people.uleth.ca/~frantz/blkft.html#WiderRelationships
Saskatchewan Aboriginal Languages K-12 https://www.edonline.sk.ca/bbcswebdav/library/curricula/English/More/Aboriginal_Languages_K-12_1994.pdf
Why teach Listening and Speaking in Native Studies?
Both Listening and Speaking skills are key to First Nations culture. It involves a huge oral tradition that should be passed down, not only to those with a FNMI background, but to other students as well.Teaching these skills isn't only important within the classroom, but is also a cultural connection that you can impress upon your students. This is another skill that helps to prepare students for future years.
As a future educator, I know that I would value it when my students can use these skills within my classroom. Not only for how they can listen or speak to me as a teacher, but how they should listen or speak to their peers as well.
Curriculum Connections
"Oral language is the foundation of literacy."
Listening and Speaking skills are another great way of learning to communicate with others. The oral language allows for us to carry on beliefs and values, traditions, and stories from our community.
These skills are also linked to organization and understanding. We can use these skills to set goals and solve problems.
Strategies and Lesson Plan Ideas
Three Strategies for Having Students Speak in Native Studies
- Using a Talking Circle/Talking Stick strategy, where each student gets an opportunity to present something
- Create a "Hot Seat" literacy strategy. This allows students to assume the role of a character and answer questions from classmates.
- "Readers Theatre" allows students to rehearse a reading from the book and present it to the class. This demonstrates their understanding of the book and it's main character, but relating to the plot.
Three Focused Listening Strategies in Native Studies
- Using a Talking Circle/Talking Stick Strategy, where each student listens to what other students are presenting
- Teachers can also try a "Shared Reading" strategy to help students with literature that may be too advanced for them. This involves the teacher reading aloud and the students responding.
- Use a "Reading Log" to write their thoughts about what a teacher or peer may be reading to them.
Resources for Teaching
Listening Resources
The People's Path (literature, stories, poems) - http://yvwiiusdinvnohii.net/liter.html
First Nations Myths and Traditions - http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/firstnations/antiquity.html
Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump - http://history.alberta.ca/headsmashedin/default.aspx
Speaking Resources
Storytelling - Oral Traditions - http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibitions/Holman/english/storytelling/index.php3
Native Languages in the Americas - http://www.native-languages.org/
Blackfoot Confederacy Language - http://people.uleth.ca/~frantz/blkft.html#WiderRelationships
Saskatchewan Aboriginal Languages K-12 https://www.edonline.sk.ca/bbcswebdav/library/curricula/English/More/Aboriginal_Languages_K-12_1994.pdf