Where Are Your Keys?

Where Are Your Keys? (WAYK) is an interactive technique for learning languages directly from native speakers. It is a game-based approach that uses gesture and sign language to facilitate immediate communication in the target language.[1] The game is based on repeated questions and answers, with a set of gestures. Initially, the student makes gestures for specific, concrete objects, such as keys or a rock, and then moves on to adjectives. The student always responds in full sentences. The language gestures used are based on American Sign Language.[2] Because the focus is creating an interactive game between the native speaker and the learner, it may be preferable to select a native speaker without language-teaching experience. The game trains speakers in language fluency.

The technique has been used in instruction of Alutiiq,[3] Chinuk Wawa, Konkow,[4] Kutenai,[5] Mohawk,[6] Navajo,[7] O'odham,[7][8] Squamish,[9][10] Unangax,[11] French,[12] Latin,[13] Korean,[14] Turkish,[15] and at a Chickasaw language immersion camp for families.[16] Users report that the Where Are Your Keys? technique can be used with any language for which a willing fluent speaker is available.[2][17]

According to creator Evan Gardner, Where Are Your Keys? is partially based on the Total Physical Response technique.[1][18]

Where Are Your Keys? language acquisition workshops have been held at the American Indian Language Development Institute of the University of Arizona,[7] at Stanford University,[19] at Northwest Indian College,[20] at the 2010 "Save Your Language" Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia,[21] at the Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages,[22] and at the 2012 Maryland Foreign Language Association Fall Conference, held at Notre Dame of Maryland University.[23]

As of 2012, a Where Are Your Keys? podcast[24] and wiki[25] are available, as well as online videos and an official website.[4]

See also

References
  1. "Where Are Your Keys? a language fluency game - Boing Boing". Boing Boing. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  2. Rachael Ash. "Learning to Learn Language—My Recent Journey Through Where Are Your Keys". The Everyday Language Learner. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  3. Friedman, Sam (23 February 2014). "They're speaking Alutiiq in Anchorage". Washington Times / AP. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  4. Jim Bauman (6 October 2012). "Where are your keys?". Our Language, Native American Language Revitalization. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  5. Lailani Upham (18 March 2012). "Group seeks to save Kootenai language by asking "Where Are Your Keys?"". Char-Koosta News - Official Newspaper of the Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  6. "Mohawk Youth Explore Culture, Language, Tradition and Effective Governance — National Centre for First Nations Governance". National Center for First Nations Governance News. March 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  7. "Workshop Summary: Where Are Your Keys?". AILDI - American Indian Language Development Institute. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  8. "Indigenous Languages Conferences, Workshops, and Symposia for 2012". First Peoples: Blog. 25 January 2012. Archived from the original on 18 July 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  9. Tessa Holloway (11 October 2011). "Squamish Nation struggles to preserve a threatened language". North Shore News. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  10. "Technology and 10%: Language Revitalization". RPM.fm, Indigenous Music Culture. 26 October 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  11. "Method in Focus: Where Are Your Keys?". SpokenFirst, Your Resource for All Language-Related News in Indian Country. 23 August 2010. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  12. "French WAYK in Quebec". Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  13. Rachael Ash (5 April 2012). "Pomegranate beginnings: Creating Language-Seekers: My Recent Journey Through Where Are Your Keys". Pomegranate beginnings. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  14. "Korean Language Hunters: Play Your Way to Fluency". Self Study Korean. 8 March 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  15. Joel Thomas (4 June 2014). "Fethiye WAYK (Turkish Session Diary)". Fethiye WAYK. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  16. "Family Language Immersion Camp - Tatanka Ranch". Chickasaw.TV. 1 September 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  17. "Where Are Your Keys? In my brain, that's where". Story by the Throat!. 28 February 2010. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  18. "Squamish Nation activist plans conference to save First Nations languages in B.C." Straight.com. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 21 May 2010. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  19. ""Where Are Your Keys?" Language Acquisition Workshop Day 1". Stanford University Event Calendar. 5 November 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  20. Brooks, Laura (23 August 2010). "Method in Focus: Where Are Your Keys?". Spoken First. Your Resource for All Language-Related News in Indian Country. Falmouth Institute. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  21. "Facilitators « Save Your Language Conference". Save Your Language, June 5–6, 2010. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  22. "32. Where Are Your Keys? (Free)". Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. Archived from the original on 15 April 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  23. "MFLA Fall Conference" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  24. "iTunes - Podcasts - The Where Are Your Keys? LLC Blog". Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  25. "Where are your Keys? Wiki". Archived from the original on 16 April 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
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