Seminar: Ethnoecology of Indigenous Foods: Re-learning our Local Food Systems
Program: DINÉ
Subject Area: Social Studies
Grade Level: High school
Year of Publication: 2025
Abstract
As an instructor for the Navajo Language, I have only done lecture-typed classrooms with a
much-detailed discussion through the 55 minutes. The lecture presentation is to introduce the
main words/phrases in the Navajo language and have the students learn the words/ phrases in the lesson. Write the words on the whiteboard and break it down to what it means. Pronounce the words/ phrases for the students so they will say it. Going from Navajo to English for the students to learn their Native tongue. Most of the time, I introduce the word in Navajo and translate it into English. Create several sentence examples on how to use the words using their Conversation Questions. This curriculum will aid the instructor to broaden the lesson to the students’ general knowledge about the topic. The instructor will move towards a student-based learning to give a better understanding of the historical word usage and apply it to today’s world of Navajo speaking.