Top 6 Tips for teaching your kids the Navajo language from scratch
Teaching kids to learn another language (when you don’t know it at all) seems scary and challenging on the surface. I was there too. I thought I couldn’t do it and I didn’t know where exactly to start. I wasn’t around fluent family members every day and I was scared to ask, feeling like I would bug them.
But when the pandemic hit and my mom ended up living part-time with me, I realized this is now or never. I mustered up the courage to ask her and started learning and teaching my kids Navajo and I’m here to tell you: YOU CAN TOO.
What is it like teaching the Navajo language to your child (when you don’t speak it)?
If you are not fluent and on your own, it can be overwhelming.
As I was going through the words with my kids, I had self-doubt at times wondering if I was saying the word correctly enough or thinking that I could never say a word exactly right.
Even when I started teaching at my former after-school program, I kept thinking, “what the heck am I doing teaching Navajo when I don’t know it.” You have to push against any resistance and think about your why. My “why” was to reconnect my students to their language. Remember why you really want this – to teach your kids their language and let that move you forward when you feel resistance and self-doubt. After pushing through this resistance, I got better at trusting myself and the process.Besides your own resistance, teaching kids anything can be hard in general sometimes.
Some days they need space or aren’t in the mood at times. Just give them space and keep providing a positive learning environment.When you don’t see or notice progress for a while, it feels discouraging.
Sometimes that would frustrate me when I feel like my time and effort wasn’t making a noticeable difference right away. Remember that kids are learning but they also learn at their own pace. I remember when I was teaching my daughter some sign language and I wasn’t sure if she was getting it but one day she signed to me and it was so amazing to see. Be patient and give your kids time. Language learning is a skill to build and takes practice. The main thing is that you’re doing this together.In the beginning, you’ll have some obstacles to overcome, but you’ll start seeing strides.
This is the fuel that you need as you keep going. If you’re consistent and beat resistance, you’ll see how your work is paying off ten-fold. Back to the signing example, I remember when I first saw her sign and that encouraged me to keep at it. Soon she was signing more and more and gasping it faster. That encouraged me to teach her more words.
This has been my experience starting to teach and it has been worth it.
Why does the thought of teaching Dine Bizaad (when you don’t speak it) feel so hard?
First, there’s the “I don’t speak it” part.
Well if you do speak it, then you have a great advantage. Let’s face it, most of us don’t. But that’s okay when you start out.We have deep-rooted insecurity.
If you were teased by your aunties and uncles about how you pronounce certain words, that didn’t help our curiosity to learn. I’m not kidding, it was hard for me to pronounce “ch’izii” (rough skin) as a kid. That glottal stop stood in the way of me speaking Navajo in fear of being ridiculed for life. But I learned how to say it correctly when I got a little older.
You’re not a teacher (Or maybe you are, but teaching your kids may be different).
Well, you don’t have to be a classroom-type teacher. You just need to create a learning environment for kids.You don’t know where to start.
This may be the biggest thing holding you back. That’s where I got you covered. Stick around and I’ll help you feel like you know what the heck you are doing. For now, you can continue below with my 6 best tips.
6 Best Tips to teach your child Dine Bizaad from scratch
Here are my best tips to start teaching Navajo (when you don’t speak it yourself).
(If you do speak it, then you got a great advantage and can skip tip #2.)
Tip 1: Teach what you already know
You must already know some common words and phrases. Start there!
Think animals, numbers, colors, actions (sit, eat, cook, etc)
Tip 2: Increase your own vocabulary
Start learning more words from books, videos, and family
Here’s my best resources list here
Tip 3: Use available resources to teach
Watch videos that teach different Navajo words
Watch movies. Nemo and Star Wars is dubbed in Navajo
Find books in Navajo
Tip 4: Get Family members involved
Let auntie, grandma, grandpa, etc know that teaching your kids to learn to speak Navajo is important to you
Ask them for their help in encouraging more Dine language
Tip 5: Be consistent over and over
This is the most important tip for your child’s success.
Integrate Navajo language learning into your routine by setting time for it.
Keep learning more words from books, videos, and family as much as possible.
Rinse and repeat.
Tip 6: Add learning in everyday situations
If you don’t do well with a structured routine or a set time and place for Navajo language learning, this works great too.
Teach words and concepts when it arises in everyday interactions and situations.
For example, when they see an animal they’ve learned in Navajo, say something like, “do you remember how to say that in Navajo?”
The Last Thing You Need to Know about teaching your child Dine Bizaad
Starting from scratch is very doable but not without a few of its challenges. It may feel hard at times but remember to beat resistance often and be consistent for the best success.
When I started adding Dine Bizaad to the regular curriculum at my former after-school program, I really felt like I didn’t have a right to but then I thought, “this is my language. I have every right to learn and encourage others.” That was my drive. I learned and grew. The best part of my day was when I saw how happy a student was when they learned a word and started using it on their own.
What do you think will be your toughest concerns about teaching your child Navajo? Tell me down below.
