Classes

Alaska Native Language Classes and Degree Programs

There are 20 Alaska Native languages: Aleut, Alutiiq (also called Aleut or Sugpiaq), Central Yup'ik Eskimo, St. Lawrence Island Eskimo, Inupiaq Eskimo, Tsimshian, Haida, Tlingit, and Eyak and 11 Athabascan languages. These languages are becoming recognized as a priceless heritage.

Since the enactment of the Alaska Bilingual Education Law in 1972, there has been a statewide demand for teachers who can speak and teach these languages in the schools where there are Native children. Professional opportunities for those skilled in these languages exist in teaching and research as well as in cultural, educational, and political development.

Central Yup'ik Eskimo is spoken by the largest number of people, and Inupiaq by the next largest. In these two languages major and minor curricula are offered. Courses are also regularly offered in Gwich'in Athabascan. For work in all other languages, individual or small-group instruction is offered in special topics. Thus there has frequently been instruction, seminars, and workshops also in Tlingit, Haida, St. Lawrence Island Eskimo, Aleut, and Koyukon, plus comparative Eskimo and comparative Athabascan.

UAF is unique in offering this curriculum, which benefits also from the research staff and library of the Alaska Native Language Center.

Spring 2013 Language Courses on the Fairbanks Campus

  • ANL 142: Beginning Athabascan - Gwich'in (Sikorski) 
  • ANL 142: Beginning Athabascan - Koyukon (David)
  • ANL 402: Alaska Native Language Apprenticeship (Sikorski)
  • ESK 102: Elementary Central Yup'ik Eskimo (Forbes)
  • ESK 112: Elementary Inupiaq Eskimo (Brower)
  • ESK 115: Conversational Inupiaq (Kaplan)
  • ESK 202: Intermediate Central Yup'ik III (Charles)
  • ESK 212: Intermediate Inupiaq Eskimo (Brower)
  • ESK 302: Advanced Central Yup'ik Eskimo (Charles)

Spring 2013 Distance-delivered Language Courses

  • ANL 151: Interethnic Communications (Alexie)
  • ESK 104: Conversational Central Yup'ik II (S. Alexie)
  • ESK 106: Introduction to Inupiaq Eskimo (Davidovics)
  • ESK 115: Conversational Inupiaq (Davidovics)
  • ESK 204: Conversational Central Yup'ik IV (S. Alexie)
  • ESK 208: Yup'ik Composition (S. Alexie)

Register for these distance-delivered courses through a local community campus of the College of Rural and Community Development. Call 1-866-478-2721 for more information.