Inexpensive Software Showcased At Languages Event

Inexpensive Software Showcased At Languages Event

Friday, December 03, 2010 at 14:41

 

 

New language software is on display at this year’s First Nations Language Keepers Conference in Saskatoon.

 

Kelly Fontaine from the Aboriginal Languages Unit of the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre has his laptop connected to a projection screen to show software used to guide educators and teach students in three First Nations languages: Dakota, Cree and Ojibway.

 

Fontaine says the program includes all kinds of testing, as well as a variety of activities or lesson plans.

 

A word will appear on the screen, the program will say the word, then the participant will repeat it back.

 

The program will then give an evaluation of the pronunciation.

 

Fontaine says often such programs $1,000 per computer, but this program is only $50.

 

He says, so far, feedback to it has been positive.

 

The Dakota version has been launched already, and he expects the Cree version to be launched very soon.