Movies Project, Ask an Elder and Hunters…

What am I talking about? Sneak peak? 819 other people have already viewed the sneak peak of Hunters on Ojibwemowin Noongom ...on You Tube...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M01v0IzX3zQ&feature=PlayList&p=3AC261201E3E9AA3&index=1

One very engaging aspect of the Movie Project is the ability to use the software in a private environment. The fact that the learner is using the software shows a self motivated desire to understand the content, and one can only assume that the user identifies the importance and value of perpetuating our Anishinaabemowin, and becomes naturally inclined to want the language for their children too. Children and spirituality are the key factors, I believe, that germinate the seeds of desire to learn the language and we need to connect with that. That is why what is presented in the video is true cultural content, to show respect and show that respect with asemaa. I think that this is great, we can learn how to ask for help now in private, before we go and say something really stupid and the speaker we are asking for help does not understand what we have said or we have accidentally said something funny or stupid…really inappropriate when you are doing something so important…for yourself, your family or a group. Another very positive aspect of the programming is that it is appropriate for all ages, and all levels of Ojibwemowin language fluency. Anyone can sit down and work with the program, family’s (including mine) can sit and watch together…I think that it addresses so many different aspects of language learning that there is something there that will appeal to everyone…i.e. some family members always win the games, some always know the emphatics…etc…success and motivation at many levels. At this time I think it is critical that as many different speakers as possible be presented through this contextual movie environment. Listening to different speakers shows us how different the language can sound…sort of our language parameter…our sound barriers..ha ha…when two different speakers say the same thing, speeches, prayers or dialog, this hones our listening and allows us to tune into what is actually being said, through all the static. While using the software, I did not miss grabbing for the Dictionary all the time. I love that this is built in… Almost all language learners would find it difficult to immerse themselves in the language, personally my life would have to change dramatically. It can even be a challenge to find a semi-immersion environment, and that is most definitely what this software addresses. Facts are facts and elders are becoming more elderly and passing on…realistically this movies environment might be the closest thing that some people ever get as far as ANY type of immersion. This movies project supplements this lack of ability to easily engage in an immersion environment, and prepares us for how a conversation might go and how sentence structure sounds. Then, when we do get to engage in conversation, we are better equipped to speak and understand. It’s the ALL NEW, and IMPROVED “In Context” alternative. Our operators are ready to accept your calls…and just one more thing…bubbles are fun…to read someone’s thoughts in a bubble is fun and adds to the lesson, I can think of some pretty fun things to write in a bubble…humor, humor works well to keep things flowing…those hunters laughing in Ojibwemowin, minotagwaad.. good sounds! (and professional development implications?…wow! This program could make a lot of progress in our overall language outlook, FAST!)

THEATRE

This is a very appropriate name because it can be viewed as a place to watch and listen. I like that you can close the text and enlarge (Hunters) the picture, and focus on the visual in combination with the audio. The stats that come up throughout the areas of the program really help keep (at least me) your eyes on the cheese, that help us vision ourselves into the future, into a continuation of learning and trying to improve.

READING

I found it frustrating that on the segment meanings, the translations don’t exactly match how I would translate them…so I read and understand a little more, and I look down and see that the English does not match either! But the good news is that the meanings are close, close enough to understand … perhaps another translation more of a literal meaning in order of how it is spoken would be a nice bracketed addition after the English translation. This idea could be integrated in different areas of the program.

ACTIVITIES

Crosswords

The crosswords make you think in double vowel! I could only do the first word of a given puzzle, I could not figure out how to keep the word that was completed and move on with that puzzle. I think that it is specifically good for Ojibwemowin curriculum writers. You almost have to memorize the whole conversation to know what word to guess, with so many ways to say (almost)the same thing. In this case it would have been helpful to be able to get a hint…perhaps the literal translation of missing word. I think if I could have had a hint, this would not have lost my interest.

Vocabulous

I am not a good speller in any language, so I failed at this part of the programming, and I lost interest.

Word Dictation

I did much better with this. It was good to be able to spell check each word.

Unscramble

I liked this segment very much. Unscramble is a good lesson to learn sentence composition, especially because after you get it right, the speaker says it (that sound effect before the speaker says the sentence is terrible! It almost gives me a headache. How about a tone that says, howa, mino or miigwayak i’iw… Unscramble is also easy to navigate and use.

Plug-n-Play

You almost need to memorize the segment again to do this activity, but the minimal list at the right make it MUCH easier and useful, it forces us to read the segment again. By process of elimination it reinforces the understanding of definitions. The tone again is too much for me. This activity did feel a little like “child’s play”, but that’s good too for including the kids…

Graffiti

This did not hold my interest very long although it was rewarding getting them all right. It did not take long to figure out that that third letter in a column is a “gimme” (give me). I also like that this segment requires you to think about capitalization and periods…on to the next level of learning…

Sentence Dictation

This did a great job at reinforcing that I was hearing correctly, but I am not a good speller, so it was painful.

PRONUNCIATION

This segment is really for the listening learner, or the “mocker”. This is where I found the most success with the movies…

Listen and Speak

Really reinforces the listening learners skills, and those kind of learners should never be excluded in language learning…obviously.

Word Pronunciation

It seems that in order of skill level Word pronunciation would be before Listen and speak.

Sentence Pronunciation

A kind of duplication of Listen and Speak but more easy to navigate and use.

CONVERSATIONAL

Not available.

Miigwech, tree