Page 25 - Ontario Curriculum, Grades 11 and 12 Native Languages

24 THE ONTARIO CURRICULUM, GRADES 11 AND 12: NATIVE LANGUAGES
solving, as well as the development of essential communication skills, these courses have par- ticular benefits for exceptional students and increase their chances of success in other areas of the curriculum.
The Role ofTechnology in the Curriculum. Information technology provides a variety of resources that can enrich Native language learning in unique and important ways. These resources include programs that enable teachers of Native languages to design individualized courses for students who are not as fluent in the language as the majority of students in the class. Technology also offers students a rich variety of linguistic and cultural learning experi- ences that they might not otherwise have access to; for example, the Internet allows students to visit museums and cultural sites and to find reading material. In addition, students can use technology to communicate with students learning the same Native language elsewhere in the province or in other places around the world.
Career Education.Teachers in the Native language program and course selection advisers are responsible for providing information about Native language course offerings and career edu- cation guidance to all students. Students will gain self-confidence and cultural, cognitive, and interpersonal skills as they develop their ability to think and communicate in a Native lan- guage, particularly when it is an ancestral language. For Native students in these programs, learning a Native language will help build a positive self-image that will, in turn, become a motivating and sustaining force in their lives.
In addition to becoming aware of the many career opportunities available to bilingual or mul- tilingual people, students will become aware of new technology- and information-based careers requiring Native language skills. These careers are opening in Native communities in fields such as education, administration, and software development.
Cooperative Education and OtherWorkplace Experiences. There are many ways in which students in the Native language program can use their language skills. They can work in classroom settings by helping teachers develop learning materials or by tutoring less skilled students. Local radio stations in Native communities provide opportunities for students to create Native language programs, commercials, and public service announcements. Students can apply their skills in community-service activities, such as working in Native cultural centres, Native friendship centres, and First Nations administration offices.
Involvement of the Native Community. The success of Native language programs depends on the awareness, support, and involvement of the Native community as a whole. Often only teachers in these programs and community elders advocate learning a Native language. However, the cultures, traditions, values, beliefs, and unique world view of Native people, which are all inherent in Native languages, could disappear if existing languages are not passed on to future generations. In Native language programs, it is particularly important for parents and guardians to reinforce the value of the Native language and culture.
In Native communities, consensus about and support for Native language programs are essen- tial. It is of utmost importance that speakers of Native languages be involved in local policy decisions regarding orthography. Local Native organizations other than schools need to acknowledge and endorse the efforts of students to revitalize Native languages. Members of the community should be encouraged to support the Native language program by acting as resource persons in a variety of ways, such as offering to answer student questions or speaking with students in the dialect. Local Native language newspapers could keep the issue of lan-