Lessson Plan

Here is a sample lesson plan for my Yaqui learning, using Marshall (Ch. 5) as a guide. Of course, I am still at a very elementary level and it has been difficult to find resources with phrases already made for me (the morphology/syntax is quite complex and I do not want to learn too many incorrect forms through my "hypothesis testing" of the language).


Task: Greet locals (i.e. native speakers) as you meet them on the street, in shops, etc.

Dialogue:

Sl: Lios em chama.
S2: Lios em chiokoe.
S1: Empo allea.
S2: Kettu'i.

Practice:
Backwards build-up drill- repeat segments of the phrase, starting from the back to build up the entire phrase.

Substitution- the only other greeting I have found is: Aman ne tevote yevihnewi.

Realism:
Or, Marshall's Wokabaot

Since I do not have a mentor to practice these dialogues with, I will instead enlist the help of my friends (who will not have to memorize the passage, they can carry around a cheat sheet with the phrases). Still, in normal greeting situations, I can use the script above, even with non-Yaqui learners and just explain what I am doing (my excuse: I am a linguist).

Evaluation and More Practice:

Record the Dialogue, Listen, and Self-Evaluate- in the recording leave time after each phrase for repetition. Practice phrases at least 5 times.

Supplemental Activities:

Gesturing while greeting- How do the Yaqui use gestures when greeting? A handshake, a wave, a smile? When and with whom are certain gestures appropriate?
Introductions- Practice introducing myself to others. "My name is..." and "What is your name?"

Cultural Note:
Greetings are nearly always formal in Yaqui, even when greeting close friend. The four-phrase dialogue above is the common way to greet strangers as well as friends.

How to use gestures? (see questions above)