Higher Education Institution
Languages:
- Salish
Public | Four-year institutions
Salish Kootenai College
Pablo, Montana 59855
Nk̓ʷuwilš: Native Language Teacher Education at Salish Kootenai College Institute Background
In partnership with the Séliš-Ql̓ispé Culture Committee, Salish Kootenai College’s Native
Language Teacher Education (NLTE) program, and Salish Language Educator Development
(SLED) option is designed to meet the critical need for Native language speakers and teachers
who are both working toward fluency in our Salish languages and are skilled in teaching them to
students from birth through adulthood. Key features of the program include an emphasis on
Sqelixʷ educational practices that sustain and revitalize Salish language and culture, as well as
training in curriculum development, classroom management, assessment and other pedagogy
necessary to teach language effectively.
Graduates are prepared to work as Salish Language Teachers in immersion schools, public
schools (P-12), and/or private schools where a Class 7 Certification or an associate’s degree
meets the qualifications. Successful Bachelor degree graduates may choose to continue their
education to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education P-3 or Elementary
Education.
- Access
- Accountability
- Keys to access and accountability
Improve Access for all learners in more languages
Techniques to Retain HULs
Obstacles that HULs face
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
History of Indians in the U.S. and a NAS open elective are required for all degrees, while a language course can count to meet the elective. One program requires at least three quarters of language, another requires six quarters. There is a Native Language Emphasis in the Elementary Education program, the Native Language Teacher Education program, with Salish Language Educator Development option and our new Séliš and Ql̓ispé Culture and Language Studies programs are centered on language acquisition.
Practice 2
• Highly intensive language apprentice setting using the Séliš u Ql̓ispé Nuwewlštn
Language Curriculum, which is based on the Natural Approach for learning language.
• Guided personal interaction in form of dialog and vocabulary building.
• Integrated immersion sessions and opportunities for support from first language
speakers multiple times per week.
• Integrated audio, apps, games
Practice 3
The desire to learn the language propels tribally enrolled individuals to apply for the Séliš-Ql̓ispé Culture Committee’s Salish Language Apprentice positions. Apprentices then have the option to enroll in Salish Kootenai College’s Native Language Teacher Education program, and specifically in the Salish Language Educator Development option. Others who are not tribally enrolled have the option to pursue language courses through our Native Language Teacher Education program, Salish Language Educator Development option as a Salish Kootenai College Division of Education student. We are working to develop scholarships aimed at supporting language acquisition efforts with the Salish Kootenai College Foundation currently, as well. The Bachelor’s degree the Native Language Teacher Education program, with Salish Language Educator Development option requires 116 credits of Salish language. Our new Bachelor’s of Science in Séliš and Ql̓ispé Culture and Language Studies will require 75 credits in Salish language and 62 credits of i integrated language and culture credits delivered in lab or capstone situations.
Increase ACCOUNTABILITY Through Transparency And Documentation
Levels of Language
4
Emphasize in your language program
- Cultural Literacy
- Employment opportunities
- Human diversity, including linguistic diversity
- Intercultural Competence
- Language Proficiency
- Social justice
- Usage/immersion learning
- culturally sustaining and revitalizing practices, Sqelixʷ values and education strategies
Implement any workforce preparation activities
Yes
- Internships in an employment setting
- Occupationally oriented workshops (credit or non-credit)
- Occupation-specific courses
Support co-curricular collaborations
- Campus teaching programs and/or centers
- Other campus language programs
- Schools of Education
- Séliš- Ql̓ispé and Kootenai Culture Committees
Keys to access and Accountability
Recruit teachers from HUL communities
Yes
Teacher profile reflect
Yes
Offer in-service professional development
Yes
Support professional development focused
- Class 7 Native American Culture and Language License
Program partner with any of the following
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
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)