First Nations Adult Education Centre, Listuguj

Today two adult language learners shared some of their inspiring language learning journeys with me. Although their stories are different they both had powerful messages for other language learners and people in positions of power who can support communities in language revitalization efforts.
Language is important for our identity,  for all ages and stages of language learning.
Language is a resource to restore those who are disconnected from their culture and families.
If you are strong in  your language and culture you will be strong in the world - as a student, a worker, a boss.
Language needs to be used daily, to be a lived experience in order to revitalize individuals and whole communities.
Language learning is a life long comittment.  Use positive terms to talk about the challenges in your language learning and focus on what you can do or are making progress with.
Learners need to be mindful of the difficulties in learning or revitalizing their language knowledge and use. It takes time and lots of practice to develop fluency and you have to retrain your brain and your whole mouth. First to think in your language ways and then to get your mouth and tongue to pronounce words correctly.  Go slowly at first and fluency will  come.