Summer Institute for Teachers of Indigenous Languages

The 20th Annual Chief Atahm School Language Teaching Summer Institute is designed to bring together new and experienced Indigenous language teachers and language advocates. This summer the institute offers a 5-day intensive TPR-Storytelling Course, where participants will learn to teach language using stories.

TPRS Summer Institute

July 7th to 11th, 2025

Teaching Language through Stories

Chief Atahm School has developed an intensive training program to help Indigenous language teachers build successful language programs through utilizing action-based, innovative teaching strategies. In this course, master TPRS teachers from our Chief Atahm language immersion school and our R Stselxmems r Secwepemc Institute, our post-secondary program, will provide step-by-step modelling and practice for participants to build confidence in using accelerated methods in teaching language. The core method taught will be the TPRS methodology for second language teaching, a method that has been successfully implemented in language classrooms worldwide. A story-based teaching method begins with awakening the senses through action-based teaching using gestures to quickly develop a core communicative vocabulary. The method then progresses to developing speaking through stories and circling questions for students to practice engaging in authentic dialogue and conversations. During this institute each participant will be provided with training through lectures, modeling, activities, and multimedia presentations to develop skills in planning and delivering a comprehensive TPRS program in their community. Dr. Kathryn Michel’s, First Nations Language Essentials Level One (2018, FNSA/FNESC) will be used as the framework

Course Details

The cost for each participant for the five-day Summer Institute course is $800.00. This cost includes all instruction, workbooks, handouts, and lunches. There are some accommodations options available nearby, such as motels, rv and tenting sites, but for more choices, we recommend looking for accommodation in Kamloops (approximately 40 min drive away).

Option to Take Course for Credit

This course can be taken for credit for an additional $25 administration fee. Students are responsible for verifying transfer of credits to their home institutions. Choices are:

  1. (3 units) Nicola Valley Institute of Technology INLG 181: Issues, principles and practices in Indigenous Language Revitalization
  2. (to be confirmed, 3 credits) Thompson Rivers University: third-year EDLL course.

Register Today!

To register and make payment online please click on this link or one of the links below. To register manually please contact Kim at caschool@alib.ca for a registration package. We are using Zeffy.com for our online payments. Before registering online, please go to the About Zeffy page to find out how to prevent the site from adding an automatic donation to Zeffy. 

TPRS Participant Registration

$800.00

3/60

  • Regular registration for participants not taking the training for course credit

TPRS Student Registration

$825.00

1/60

  • Registration for students taking the training for course credit

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