First Language Literacy

The revival and maintenance of Indigenous First Languages through the conversion of oral languages into literacy resources and teaching/learning strategies

Making connections between Indigenous Australian First Language and English is vital for the development of personal and community health, welfare and education. First Language reading and writing instruction provides learners with the relevant and essential brain stimulation that encourages language and literacy learning, retention and fluency.

ALNF provides four different, though inter-related, First Language programs that seek to (a) address instruction in First Language literacy and (b) assist in developing connections and comparisons to English language and literacy.

Coding Aboriginal Languages for Indigenous Literacy (CALIL)

CALIL is a VETAB accredited program that collects, categorises and converts oral First Language elements so that they can be transformed into reading and writing resources (see First Language WRAP below). CALIL is without comparison. It is a new application of well-known speech pathology principles.

An essential component of the program is to work with Indigenous elders who can indicate the correct pronunciation of letters strings and words. To facilitate quick and accurate pronunciation representation whilst reading, a pronunciation reading code has been devised.

By converting oral First Languages into reading and writing courses, the ALNF and local communities can better provide community members with the teaching and learning skills and strategies that empower them to teach their own children to read and write in their First Languages. Literacy in First Language(s) can equip the children with the skills to make comparisons and contrasts with English language and literacy.

Reading and Writing in First Language (WRAP)

First Language Reading and Writing WRAP can be described as the following: a decoding and encoding method that teaches phonics and whole word recognition.

The WRAP First Language Course uses First Language resources collected through the CALIL program. The course is a five day workshop that teaches adults how to teach others (children and other adults) to read in First Language.

The course has a very practical, hands-on focus. Participants spend a considerable portion of the course practicing the strategies, so that they can confidently work with others after the course has finished.

First Language Workshops (FL Workshops)

FL Workshops are mini workshops designed to mentor and support First Language instructors by providing participants with strategies and resources that facilitate effective learning engagement and literacy acquisition.

These workshops assist participants in reviewing and expanding their repertoire of teaching and learning strategies and in developing additional resources for language stimulation and literacy skill development.

Each of ALNF's First Language Literacy programs is designed to:

• Share complimentary features
• Revitalise First Language into an everyday language both orally and in print
• Support and accredit (through VETAB) Indigenous speakers to become independent instructors in their own First Language

It is essential to note that these programs are reading programs. Existing linguist and language worker documents that have previously recorded the languages are relied on in the development of the reading resources.

Community Action Support (CAS)

Community Action Support is a cross-generational literacy-tutoring program whereby Indigenous youth are trained and resourced to provide reading and writing assistance to children in the local community.

ALNF together with Papulu Apparr-Kari Indigenous Language Centre, provide the young people with resources and skills for teaching not only English literacy but also the literacies of the First Languages in the local community.

CAS benefits from resources and teaching methodologies developed through both the CALIL and First Language WRAP projects. The program utilises elements of the WRAP First Language course to help the young people deliver the weekly literacy lessons. Many of the resources have been turned into multimedia resources that the Indigenous youth can access through the CAS Literacy Wiki.

For further program information please view the CAS Program page on this website.

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Case Study

Warumungu

> View/download case study (pdf)

Warramiri

> View/download case study (pdf)

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Recent News

Nov 17 - The Australian Literacy & Numeracy Foundation launches Indigenous First Language TV commercial

In what is believed to be a first for Australian commercial television, The Australian Literacy & Numeracy Foundation (ALNF) has created a television commercial featuring an Indigenous First Language voiceover with English sub-titles.

The voice for the commercial belongs to Mrs Judy Nakkamarra Nixon, a Tennant Creek community Elder. Mrs Nixon speaks in the Central Desert Language of the Warumungu people - the first community that ALNF partnered with in their work to empower Indigenous youth through literacy.

The commercial was developed as a pro-bono collaboration between Sydney advertising agency, Eleven Communications and 2 Feet Films, with the support of a team of industry professionals working in Sydney and Tennant Creek.

> View/download media release (pdf)

Nov 13 - The Best Way to Learn is to Teach: ALNF's Community Action Support Program (CAS) Playing a Significant Role in Tennant Creek Community

ALNF is facilitating a cross-generational literacy tutoring program through which young Indigenous high school students provide reading and writing support for children at their local primary school.

The CAS program is designed to provide the high school students with the necessary support and resources so that they can be effective in their literacy teaching in both English and First Language. The long-term aim is to continue to encourage the high school students to develop skills that will assist them in their transition to tertiary study, or the workplace by providing them with the necessary knowledge and opportunities to practice literacy, leadership and learning.

Senior Teacher at Tennant Creek High, Julie-Anne Spina, indicated that the program provides the high school students with an opportunity to take on new roles and responsibilities and to learn by doing. "The girls are more confident," said Ms Spina. "Each week they are growing, taking on more responsibilities and, more importantly, enjoying the challenge."

PAK Chief Executive Officer Karan Hayward emphasised how the Year 10 students fulfill a significant role in the community, "These girls should be proud of themselves," said Ms Hayward. "I don't think they realise how important it is for the elders in the community to see young people take an active role in preserving and teaching language and culture."

For further program information please view the CAS Program page on this website.

> View/download media release (pdf)

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Useful Resources

Australian Human Rights Commission, Social Justice Report 2009, Chapter 3:
http://www.hreoc.gov.au/social_justice/sj_report/sjreport09/index.html

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Contact Information

ALNF
Tel: 02 9362 3388
Email: foundation@alnf.org
208 New South Head Rd
Edgecliff NSW 2027

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