Higher Education Institution
Languages:
- Algonquian,Ojibwa
Public | Two-year institutions
Bay Mills Community College
Brimley, Michigan 49715
Building Learners' Understanding and Proficiency of Anishinaabemowin Institute Background
The focus of the “Pane” (puh-nay) program is on building the learners’ comprehension of oral language not on writing/grammar. Immersion is carried out differently by each institution, community, or group who facilitate immersion programs. Pane is unique in that our first speaker (fluent) teachers stay in Anishinaabemowin the whole time they are delivering instruction, with extensive use of comprehensible input*. Students aren’t forced to speak. They are encouraged to speak, when they are comfortable, with interactive games and activities.
During the regular school year, we offer 2 sections of classes on campus, 1 is midweek, the other consists of 5 weekends, a second 5 weekend section is offered in a tribal community 95 miles south of campus. We also offer a summer section. Pre-pandemic we were running Zoom meetings concurrently with the face-to-face classes. We’ve had students from as far away as Colorado and Washington State join our classes here in Northern Michigan via Zoom. It’s not ideal, but if it’s the way learners can continue to acquire Anishinaabemwin we’re happy to be able to provide this option.
- Access
- Accountability
- Keys to access and accountability
Improve Access for all learners in more languages
Techniques to Retain HULs
- Specially designed courses
Obstacles that HULs face
- Schedule
Offer classes specifically targeted to HULs
Yes
Adapt delivery modes to HULs
Specific practices that are the reasons your HULs enjoy success in your program
Practice 1
The program is structured to build understanding of the language through use of guiding principals such as being in language all the time, focus on speech, create a low stress environment for learning where the focus is on speaking rather than error correction.
Practice 2
Adopt welcoming family atmosphere, use of humor in culturally appropriate manner, as we believe that people learn better when they are having fun and engaging in interactive activities.
Practice 3
Offer online options for students who are not able to attend class due to geographic locations or other family responsibilities
Increase ACCOUNTABILITY Through Transparency And Documentation
Program publishes clear description of its goals and requirements
Yes
Program makes public its efforts to increase HUL enrollments
Yes
Program makes public its definition of student success
Yes
Program incorporates online learning in order to increase access and/or improve learning
Yes
Levels of Language
8
Co-curricular Offerings
- Education
- History, economics, social sciences
- American Indian Studies
Emphasize in your language program
- Diversity
- Cultural Literacy
- Employment opportunities
- Intercultural Competence
- Language Proficiency
- Social justice
- Translanguaging
- Usage/immersion learning
Implement any workforce preparation activities
No
Support co-curricular collaborations
- Schools of Education
- Collaboration on teacher training certificate programs with other universities
Keys to access and Accountability
Recruit teachers from HUL communities
Yes
Teacher profile reflect
Yes
Offer in-service professional development
No
Support professional development focused
- Emergent Bilingual Learners from NA & heritage/immigrant communities
- Language conferences for teachers to enhance skills
Program partner with any of the following
- Native American communities
Language immersion opportunities
Yes
Program conduct any of the following as part of their in-country language immersion programs
- Pre- and post-program assessments for students
- Language proficiency
Partner with any foreign university where students will receive scholarship
No
Institution Information
Institution classified as a Minority Serving
Yes, Tribal College and University (TCU) (Please list the federally recognized Tribal affiliations)
Actively Recruit Students from following groups
- American Indians
Is Language Required
Yes , It is a Department requirement
Accreditation
- Higher Learning Commission (HLC) (formerly part of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA)