Part One: Warm Up

Discuss the following questions with your partner(s).

  1. Other than English, what do you think some of the most widely spoken languages in the world are? Why do you think so? How about the least spoken languages in the world?
  2. Do you think it is important for people to learn languages that aren’t spoken widely around the world? Why (not)?

Exercise

Part Two: Reading

In this lesson, you will read an email about the start of a Kwak’wala language program.

Now, open the exercise and follow the instructions.

Exercise

Part Three: Further Discussion

Discuss the following questions with your partner(s).

  1. What do you think are other ways to preserve a language besides people learning it in a language class?
  2. What do you think are some problems that speakers of an endangered language face?
  3. Are there any languages in your country you think might become endangered in the future? Why (not)?

Part Four: Taking it Further

Take a look at the Endangered Languages Project and explore the language map. What languages in your country or region are endangered? Research one endangered language from your country or region and the people that speak it. Find information about their customs, beliefs, and language. Most importantly, find out how one can learn the language. Present your findings to the class using the presentation template attached to this lesson.

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