Getting around A Language Revitalisation Program
As part of my research, I am looking into Language Revitalisation Programs. In short, these programs are aimed into keeping a language alive. I have found interesting collection of essays, where one of them is a guideline on how to build a language revitalisation program. Whilst my final deliverable will not be a language revitalisation program per se, there are some very useful tips that will come in handy in the long run.
Penfield (2018) starts off by asking what is understood by the term ‘project’. When having multiple stakeholders, it is important that everyone is on the same page in this regard. According to Penfield (2018), a project should have the following characteristics:
- Definable and realistic goals
- Clear objectives
- Outcomes that can be measured
- Responds to a specified need
- Fits into a larger strategic plan
- Has an identifiable target audience
- Sets out a work plan with stages and a timeline and with an end date
She then continues by outlining a number of steps, which are:
- Brainstorming / ideation sessions.
- Make an inventory of what is available and what is needed. This should include budgeting in ideal circumstances.
- Putting ideas to action – setting goals.
- Project outline. (This can be a brief description of the aim of the project or a formal project proposal).
- Implementation.
- Documentation and Evaluation.
The steps go in further detail in the essay, which I will share here.
Furthermore, she suggests that project stakeholders put together a project template, as it would help in putting the project in perspective, and in the long run it would be a lot easier to set goals and specific activities that make up the project in question. When it comes to such projects like a language revitalisation program, the goals are met through the implementation of specific activities, from talks to workshops and it is this collection of activities that ultimately make up the project in itself.
Lastly, she emphasizes the importance of documentation and evaluation. In previous modules, we also looked at the importance of keeping record of what we are doing during the course, in fact we are doing it first-hand as proof of our learning journey. However, documentation goes beyond that, as through documentation one can identify the successes and failures of an ongoing project. In return, this would lead to more efficiency as well as better use of tangible resources and funds. In addition, evaluation is a good process to look back at the project once it is over and address the success and failures and use them for future reference. Whilst not all projects are complete success nor complete failures, there is always a learning moment for all the people involved.
