Creating new language speakers with the Indigenous Language Fluency Transfer System
The Indigenous Language Fluency Transfer System (ILFTS) is a comprehensive, sequenced curriculum and resource development project designed to help new learners become proficient in their Indigenous or endangered language.
The system makes it possible for Indigenous language communities to rapidly create new advanced speakers of their language, establishing a reliable path for training new language educators and driving the growth and long-term strength of their language.
This system uses a communicative approach and focuses on new learners being able to effectively communicate in their language in everyday settings.
The system was developed by the Salish School of Spokane and The Paul Creek Language Association to help new learners become fluent in n̓səl̓xčin language. The Pertame language community were the first Australian community to adopt the ILFTS, beginning development of the Pertame fluency transfer system in 2024. The system is used in the delivery of activities in the Language Nest at the Pertame School, which engages Pertame mothers and babies in taking steps to grow the next generation of Pertame fluent speakers.
For Vanessa Farrelly and the team at the Pertame School, the ILFTS is critical to growing their teaching workforce:
Photo courtesy of Pertame School
“The alignment between the ILFTS curriculum and Language Nest practice is strengthening both language acquisition and teaching capability.”
First Languages Australia has partnered with Indigenous Fluency Now to support language communities in Australia through the first steps of adopting the ILFTS for their languages.
Two cohorts of ten language community teams have participated in an online training course focused on developing the first module. To date, two of these communities have finished development of their first language book and many more are well on their way. Ewen Martin has created module one of a Rembarrnga ILFTS, sharing his journey as part of our second learner cohort:
Ewen Martin, Mimal Land Management.
“Woh (yes), I enjoyed that course because I wanted to help others learn Rembarrnga. I feel proud of what I’ve created and happy to share with other people. I look forward to doing another language book in Rembarrnga. Wurlah (good)”
With examples from language communities across the globe demonstrating how effective this system can be for driving language revitalisation, FLA is excited to see more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities join the ILFTS network. The next training course is currently in planning to commence in September, with a focus on supporting communities that are ready to commence development of module two.
Visit our website to find out more or, contact Ella@firstlanguage.org.au in our Language Education team to talk about your language context and the resources FLA and Indigenous Fluency Now can support you with.
