April 15, 2011

Ojibwe Language Quiz Bowl

A Friendly Competition in Ojibwemowin

By Konnie LeMayIt is expected that about nine teams and 150 students from mainly Minnesota and Wisconsin will attend the event, hosted this year by Augsburg Indigenous Student Association.

During the fast-paced, timed tournament, the four-member teams won’t have too much time to get stuck on pondering. They must quickly answer questions about Ojibwe language definitions, pronunciations and translations. “The content is all what we cover in our classes,” Jones said.

The language bowl, said this year’s organizer Jennifer Simon who directs American Indian Student Services at Augsburg, helps to give students a goal and a focus for their studies. “They want to learn their language…this brings some intentionality to it.”

The language bowl is one tool used to engage students who rarely get to speak Ojibwe outside the classroom. Language tables, regular weekly gatherings where Ojibwemowin is spoken, often over a meal, have also blossomed.

1 comment:

Rob said...

For more on the subject, see:

http://erstarnews.com/2012/04/27/ojibwe-quiz-bowl-tests-indian-knowledge/

Ojibwe quiz bowl tests Indian knowledge

Have you ever wondered what “Minnetonka” means? Judge and moderator Dr. Rick Gresczyk asked Ojibwe and Dakota middle school and high school students if they knew what the Dakota word meant before giving the answer “great water” at the third annual Ojibwe and Dakota Quiz Bowl tournament that commenced April 14 at Lincoln Elementary School in Elk River. Students from across the Elk River Area School District attended under the direction of their mentor and teacher, specialist Debra Blair.