MAP Online Toolkit
The Mentor-Apprentice Online Toolkit is a collection of resources for immersion language learning to support FPCC’s Mentor-Apprentice Program (MAP) and Youth Empowered Speakers (YES) Program. The toolkit is a companion resource to B.C.’s Mentor-Apprentice Language Program Handbook.
This toolkit is intended as a starting point for finding resources and information; it is not a comprehensive list of every resource available. If you know of or have a Mentor-Apprentice resource you would like to see added to this toolkit, please contact map@fpcc.ca.
This toolkit is designed to support people already taking part in MAP methods or similar immersion environments. It is not a guide on how to run or participate in the program. FPCC provides funding and additional training resources for immersion learning. If you’re interested in applying to this program, please see the Mentor-Apprentice Program Page.
MAP History
FPCC’s Mentor-Apprentice Program (MAP) is based on the methods first developed in California for Native American languages, but the same model can be used to learn any language. It was initially created by Leanne Hinton, Nancy Richardson, Mary Bates Abbott and others (Hinton 2001) based on a suggestion by Julian Lang, a Karuk speaker. For more information on the program in California, see the website for the Advocates for Indigenous California Language Survival: www.aicls.org
FPCC started MAP in 2008 with 12 teams from 11 different B.C. languages. Their goal was to complete 900 hours of immersion in their language (3 years of 300 hours per year). These 12 teams showed great success, and all the apprentices became more fluent in their languages. Since then, FPCC has supported hundreds of B.C. First Nations across the province to learn and share their languages.
Mentor-Apprentice Program Resources
These resources are given to participants in FPCC’s Mentor-Apprentice Program to provide an understanding of the Mentor-Apprentice learning method.
Mentor-Apprentice Language Program Handbook
The MAP handbook, based on methods from How to Keep Your Language Alive, is a practical guide for those who want to use the Master (Mentor)-Apprentice Program for language learning. It offers ideas and guidance to help communities and individuals plan and implement the program effectively.
Please note that many examples in this handbook are given in English. These examples are provided to help generate ideas and are not intended for translation into First Nations languages. Concepts from one culture are not easily adapted to another. Often, direct translations are impossible, and one language cannot express meanings from another language in exactly the same way.
How to Keep Your Language Alive
From the Publisher
“Amidst an epidemic of worldwide language loss, author Leanne Hinton and a group of dedicated language activists have created a master-apprentice program, a one-on-one approach to ensure that new speakers will take the place of those who are fluent in the world’s languages. The Master-Apprentice Language Learning Program originated among the indigenous tribes of California, but this is a manual for students of all languages, from Yurok to Yiddish, Washoe to Welsh. Here is a simple, structured series of exercises and activities designed to help you take advantage of the language-learning skills shared by all humans, along with advice to students and their mentors about how to succeed.”
This book provides foundational knowledge of the mentor-apprentice (or master-apprentice as they call it) learning methods.
This book provides foundational knowledge of the mentor-apprentice (or master-apprentice as they call it) learning methods. How to Keep Your Language Alive, by Leanne Hinton , Matt Vera , and Nancy Steele, published by Heyday Books, an independent, nonprofit publisher in Berkeley, California.
10 Points to Language Learning
This resource provides guiding questions and tips to help apprentices in their language practice. These same 10 points can also be found in the MAP Handbook on page 11. By practicing alone or with others in community, learners can be immersed in language and cultural practices that help improve familiarity with their language.
A Typical MAP Session
What should a typical immersion mentorship session look like? Each time the apprentice and mentor meet, there is a roadmap to follow. Sessions can range from 1.5 to 4 hours, depending on how much time is spent on each part.
The Language Learning Assessment Tool
The Language Learning Assessment Tool (LLAT) supports adults learning an Indigenous language to understand where they are in their learning and to track progress. It is filled out before starting to learn and after every 100 hours of immersive language learning. The tool is available in both print and web versions.
NEȾOLṈEW̱ developed the LLAT in partnership with the University of Victoria with funds from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
Immersion Activities
Survival Phrases
The key to immersion language learning is staying in the language you are learning and not using English. There are some phrases an apprentice should learn right away to avoid using English. Learners can write the translations on this page and use this as a cheat sheet until all the phrases are memorized.
Alien Game
This light-hearted game is an opportunity to learn descriptive words and the words for animals, body parts, numbers and more.
Noun & Verb Cards
These cards have a set of nouns and verbs that apprentices and mentors can use to create stories or sentences.
UNO Translation Cheat Sheet
The UNO Translation Cheat Sheet is a template for creating a personalized list of translations for terms used in the card game UNO. Playing UNO in your language is a great way to learn colours, numbers and terms related to playing.
Crazy 8s Translation Cheat Sheet
Similar to UNO, but played with a standard deck of cards, Crazy 8s is a great way to learn numbers and a few new terms in your language. This is a template to fill in with translations to create a cheat sheet for terms used to play the game.
Conversation Card Game
These cards have talking prompts for you and your mentor. If the conversation leads to something different altogether than what is on the card, that is okay. The objective is to talk comfortably in your language.
Conversation Board Game
The goal of this game is to make it around the board while using only your language, discussing each topic on the squares you land on. Follow the rules included and have fun!
Story-builder
This game includes a set of picture cards used for language activities.
The cards are designed to facilitate creative storytelling and foster natural speech on a wide range of topics. Because it is picture-based, Story-builder can be used with any language or in multi-lingual contexts.
Videos
A Mentor-Apprentice Journey
Hïʔliqilaʔgelis Natasha Green shares about her time with her mentor and grandpa, Udzistalis John Speck, learning Kwak̓wala. She demonstrates some of the learning, shares her MAP experience and talks about her career in language revitalization in her community.
Master-Apprentice Program Part 1 & 2
Apprentices and mentors share about their experience in the Mentor-Apprentice Program, known then as the Master-Apprentice Program.
Part 1
Part 2
We are here to support you!
If you are interested or have questions about FPCC’s Mentor-Apprentice Program please contact map@fpcc.ca. If you are interested or have questions about FPCC’s Youth Empowered Speakers (YES) program please visit fpcc.ca/yes or email yes@fpcc.ca.