Full-time Language Trainee Expression of Interest Now Open!
To become a comfortable speaker of a language, it is suggested language learners spend a minimum of 1,000 hours learning a language. Due to this time commitment, and often the lack of compensation, many language learners find it difficult to put this amount of time towards achieving high levels of language proficiency. At the Yukon Native Language Center, we aim to remove these barriers with the Youth Today, Language Leaders Tomorrow program. This intensive, full-time language program uses mentor-apprenticeship, immersion, and other language learning approaches to increase participants language proficiency and provides compensation to committed learners.
The Youth Today, Language Leaders Tomorrow program runs from August 2024 – March 2025 with the possibility of an extension into the following years. During this period, language learners will be paired with mentors, instructors and fluent speakers to spend a minimum of 20 hours per week learning the language over approximately 32 weeks.
We are looking for individuals committed to learning their language on a full-time basis. This individual should be interested in teaching and working in the language revitalization field after completion of the program.
Key Elements of the Program:
- • interaction with fluent speakers and Elders;
- • language immersion and mentorship;
- • career and leadership development;
- • language learning and teaching training;
- • language-related research skills;
- • ceremony;
- • immersive and experiential language learning.
Applicant Requirements:
- • Strong personal drive to revitalise and strengthen the use of First Nation languages and become a language advocate within Yukon.
- • Applicants should be organized, self-sufficient, and flexible to changing learning environments.
- • Full-time availability (37.5 hours per week).
- • Ability to complete a language “readiness” assessment before start of program.
- • Willingness to travel between Kwanlin (Whitehorse) and home community when required for different aspects of program. These travel costs will be covered by the YNLC.
- • Preference is given to applicants 40 years of age and under, with a strong vision for the use of Yukon First Nation languages and their revitalization.
- • Must be a Yukon First Nation member, citizen, or beneficiary.
Program Benefits for Youth Language Trainees:
- • The opportunity to interact with learning centred around Indigenous ways of knowing;
- • Interaction with cultural teachings, Elders, and fluent speakers;
- • Skills essential to continue with a career in language work. This training includes an introduction on teaching languages, development of language resources (videos, books, activities), research skills (Indigenous research, language documentation), and much more;
- • Compensation for time spent learning a Yukon First Nation language.
Please submit your resume and a cover letter outlining:
- • Why you are interested in learning your Yukon First Nation language full-time,
- • You’re language journey to date,
- • Ways you envision yourself contributing to the increased use if YFN languages and their revitalization within the territory.
Resumes and Cover Letters can be submitted to CYFN Human Resources at human.resources@cyfn.net. Closing Date for applications is May 31, 2024.
