TITLE: Introduction to Unangan Language

NUMBER: TBA

CREDITS: 1

PREREQUISITES: none

LOCATION: online

MEETING TIME: May 16th - June 24th

AUDIO WEEKLY MEETINGS - Wednesday 6 - 7:30 audio & Collaborate LIVE

FACE TO FACE MEETING - June 23rd & 24th - APIA Building 1131 E. International Airport Rd. Anchorage, AK 99507. 6-8 pm each night. (ATTENDANCE REQUIRED)

INSTRUCTOR: Liza Mack w/ Fluent Speaker - Iliodor Philemonof

OFFICE LOCATION:

OFFICE HOURS:

TELEPHONE: 907-854-1711

EMAIL ADDRESS: lmack2@alaska.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is intended as an introduction to spoken Eastern Unangam Tunuu, in particular the variety spoken on the Pribilof Islands. Students are introduced to some basic grammar, including noun and verb formation and inflection, basic word order, simple questions, statements, and direct requests, and the expression of singular, dual, and plural number.  In addition, students are introduced to cultural and pragmatic concepts, including naming practices, basic forms of politeness, and variation in language use.

COURSE GOALS

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students will be able to conduct basic introductory conversations in Unangam Tunuu, including greeting someone appropriately for the time of day, introducing themselves, asking someone’s name, asking their age, introducing and finding out about various family members, and discussing what people do.

COURSE READINGS/MATERIALS

Berge, Anna.  2016.  Pribilof Anĝaĝigan Tunungin / The Way We Talk in the Pribilofs, with accompanying sound files.  Fairbanks:  ANLC.  (Contact ANLC https://www.uaf.edu/anlc/ for more information on how to order.)

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR COURSE

Students must have regular access to a computer and the Internet in order to access the course website for lessons, self-study assignments, and graded assignments, and to participate in course blog and weekly group discussion.  Students will be expected to download course material as well as upload assignments. 

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS

The course will include both asynchronous and synchronous components. Students will be expected to read and work through the weekly lessons and self-study assignments, to actively participate in a course blog, and to participate in a weekly group discussion.  The discussion will focus on conversational ability in Unangam Tunuu.

COURSE SCHEDULE

Week 1:  Introduction to course, including

Due Date: TBA

Weeks 2-5 include study exercises for each section and weekly assignments assessing cumulative understanding of the lessons; Week 5 includes review exercises and a final comprehensive assessment.

Week 2:  Lesson 1:  First Introductions.

Due Date: TBA

Topic:  students learn to introduce themselves and others.

Week 3:  Lesson 2:  At School.

Due Date: TBA

Topic:  students learn various ways of asking for information in Unangam Tunuu, including how to ask 1) the meaning of a word, 2) how to say a word in Unangam Tunuu

Week 4:  Lesson 3:  What are you doing?

Due Date: TBA

Topic:  students learn 1) how to discuss what people are doing, 2) how to ask and answer questions and make simple requests

Week 5:  Lesson 4:  Counting

Due Date: TBA

Topic:  students learn 1) how to count, 2) how to ask someone’s age, how many members there are in a family, etc.

Week 6:  Lesson 5:  Review

Due Date: TBA

Topic:  students review the grammar and conversation topics introduced during the course

COURSE POLICIES

 1. Rules pertaining to attendance:

Attendance:  participation in the weekly group discussions is mandatory, as is regular participation in the course blog.  2 missed discussions will result in a failing grade (see also the official UAF policy on assignments below). Joining a discussion more than 10 minutes into it will count as a missed discussion. If you have a medical emergency or a connectivity problem, see point 3 below.

Incompletes:  See the official UAF policy below.  No incompletes are given without adequate documentation of the circumstances leading to the request for an incomplete.

Special arrangements:  Any special arrangements and needs must be documented.  In particular, if you require special arrangements, you are responsible for making sure that you and I BOTH have a written copy of the agreement reached.  Special arrangements include anything that will affect your ability to be in class or turn in your work at the required time.

If you have any kind of learning disability, no matter how unimportant you think it might be, you must tell me about it.  All disabilities are documented by UAF’s Center for Health and Counseling, and instructors receive a formal letter requesting that we make accommodations for any student with disabilities.

If you miss a discussion as a result of a medical emergency or as a result of an unforeseen problem, you must provide documentation in a timely manner.  If a problem results in more than 2 missed discussions, this may result in your needing to drop the course and retake it at a future time.

In the event of a connectivity problem with the internet, students should call in via landline.

2. Rules pertaining to coursework

It is your responsibility to keep up with the readings and self-directed study and to be prepared for course discussions.  Self-directed study exercises include answers for self-checking and the opportunity to record yourself to evaluate your pronunciation.  Course discussions will assume the successful completion and comprehension of these exercises.

Class participation

The more class participation, the greater the possibility there will be of fruitful discussions and the more progress toward meaningful conversational ability in Unangam Tunuu.  Note, that class participation does count toward your grade.  In order to count as good class participation, your participation must be based on adequate preparation.

Expectations of homework assignments

Assignments are expected 1) to be typed 2) to be uploaded as a word or pdf document.  Each question should be answered completely and should be written correctly (with accepted spellings and complete sentences when appropriate).

Homework assignments are due by the Monday following the week’s lesson.  

You are expected to hand in your own work; identical papers from two or more students will be given no credit.

Make-up work

In the event of a documented emergency, you may hand in an assignment up until such time as that assignment is graded and returned to fellow students.  After such time, you may be asked to do an individual assignment showing your understanding of the concepts introduced in the lesson.

EVALUATION POLICIES

Evaluation of student work is based on a total of 4,000 points:

  1. Weekly assignments (4 regular assignments, 500 points each)
  2. 1 Final comprehensive assignment (1000 points)
  3. Participation in weekly group discussions (5 weeks, 100 points per discussion, 500 points total; points assigned based on active oral participation and level of preparation)
  4. Participation in course blog (5 weeks, 100 points per week, 500 points total; points assigned based on active participation and correctness of written forms)

Up to 100 points of discussion and 100 points of blogging may be forgiven for the final grade.

A standard grading system is used:

A = 90-100%

B = 80-89%

C = 70-79%

D = 60=69%

F = 0-59%

C– (1.7) is the minimum acceptable grade that undergraduate students may receive for courses to count toward the major or minor degree requirements, or as a prerequisite for another course. A minimum grade of C (2.0), however, MAY be required by specific programs for prerequisite and/ or major / minor courses. Please consult specific program listings in the UAF Catalog.

EXPLANATION OF NB/I/W GRADES

This course adheres to the UAF regarding the granting of NB Grades The NB grade is for use only in situations in which the instructor has No Basis upon which to assign a grade. In general, the NB grade will not be granted.

Your instructor follows the University of Alaska Fairbanks Incomplete Grade Policy:

“The letter “I” (Incomplete) is a temporary grade used to indicate that the student has satisfactorily completed (C or better) the majority of work in a course but for personal reasons beyond the student’s control, such as sickness, he has not been able to complete the course during the regular semester. Negligence or indifference are not acceptable reasons for an “I” grade.”

Successful, timely completion of this course depends on committing yourself early and maintaining your effort. To this end, this course adheres to the following UAF eLearning Procedures:

INSTRUCTOR RESPONSE TIME

The instructor will respond to emails within 24 hours on weekdays.  The instructor will return graded assignments within 48 hours after an assignment is due.  The instructor will return the final cumulative assignment within 1 week after it is due.

HOW TO CHECK YOUR GRADE

To check your grades for assignments and find comments from your instructor, click on the My Grades link in the sidebar menu inside the UAF Blackboard course shell. All the assignments and their due dates are listed. If your instructor has left comments, there will be a Comments link. Click on this link to view comments.

If the score is for a test or quiz, click on the check mark or your score to see results and feedback.

If the score is for an assignment, the title of the assignment is a link and by clicking this link you'll be taken to your submission, grade and comments.

If you see a green exclamation point, your assignment has not been graded yet.

EFFORT AND STUDENT INVOLVEMENT

Student percentage of effort (time spent) in this course is roughly broken into the following:

EXPECTATION OF STUDENT EFFORT

Students should expect to spend around 8 hours per week on this class. Students are expected to complete the weekly assignments by their due dates. If circumstances arise that cause you to need extra time on any assignment(s), e-mail your instructor for guidance. Extensions of due dates may be granted, but your instructor expects to be informed in advance if you are not able to submit your assignment on time. (Emergency situations will be dealt with as needed.) Students are expected to maintain a working backup plan to be implemented in the event of a computer malfunction or an interruption of their normal Internet service during the course.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

As described by UAF, scholastic dishonesty constitutes a violation of the university rules and regulations and is punishable according to the procedures outlined by UAF. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on an exam, plagiarism, and collusion. Cheating includes providing answers to or taking answers from another student. Plagiarism includes use of another author’s words or arguments without attribution. Collusion includes unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work for fulfillment of any course requirement. Scholastic dishonesty is punishable by removal from the course and a grade of “F.” For more information go to Student Code of Conduct. (http://uaf.edu/usa/student-resources/conduct)

SUPPORT SERVICES

The UAF Interior Aleutians Campus (IAC) helps students with registration and course schedules, provides information about lessons and student records, assists with the examination process, and answers general questions. Please visit the IAC website (https://www.uaf.edu/iac/), call (888) 474-5207/ (907) 474-5439 or contact your rural center.

UAF Help Desk

Go to http://www.alaska.edu/oit/ to see about current network outages and news.

Reach the Help Desk at:

DISABILITIES SERVICES

The UAF Office of Disability Services operates in conjunction with UAF eLearning. Disability Services, a part of UAF's Center for Health and Counseling, provides academic accommodations to enrolled students who are identified as being eligible for these services.

If you believe you are eligible, please visit their web site (http://www.uaf.edu/disability/) or contact a student affairs staff person at your local campus. You can also contact Disability Services on the Fairbanks campus by phone, 907.474.5655, or by e-mail (uaf-disabilityservices@alaska.edu).

TITLE IX PROTECTION

University of Alaska Board of Regents  have clearly stated in BOR Policy that discrimination, harassment and violence will not be tolerated on any campus of the University of Alaska  If you believe you  are experiencing discrimination or any form of harassment including sexual harassment/misconduct/assault, you are encouraged to report that behavior.  If you report to a faculty member or any university employee, they must notify the UAF Title IX Coordinator about the basic facts of the incident.

Your choices for reporting include:

  1. You may access confidential counseling by contacting the UAF Health & Counseling Center at 474-7043;
  2. You may access support and file a Title IX report by contacting the UAF Title IX Coordinator at 474-6600;
  3. You may file a criminal complaint by contacting the University Police Department at  474-7721.