Overview
INST 111 is designed for students with no previous knowledge of the Cree language. The course introduces students to the Plains Cree (Y dialect) grammar and vocabulary, and provides the opportunity to practise speaking Cree and working in the language laboratory.
Outline
Each week vocabulary, grammar, and context for various topics are introduced and practised.
- Week 1: Overview of course, Native language family groups, language spoken in Alberta, oral tradition and protocols, standard Roman orthography, Cree sounds and syllabics
- Week 2: Introduction to verbs and tense, diminutive plurals, locatives and prepositions, Cree sound system, non-gender terminology, animate and inanimate
- Week 3: Common expressions, personal pronouns, nouns, Cree word structure
- Week 4: Cree word order, continuation of nouns and pronouns
- Week 5: Review
- Week 6: Traditions, cultural knowledge, Cree sayings, commands, verb agreement
- Week 7: Agreement of adjectives with nouns, and geography discussion
- Week 8: Question marker “ci,” interrogative “e” conjunct, oral presentations
- Week 9: Comparatives and superlatives, body parts, location markers and dwelling markers
- Week 10: Cree numerical system and money
- Week 11: Socio-linguistic definition, Cree dialects, kinship terminology, calendar
- Week 12: Feast protocols, traditional Cree teachings and storytelling, review
- Week 13: Class project due, final examination, course evaluation
Evaluation
To receive credit for INST 111, you must attend the class and laboratory regularly. The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:
| Activity | Weight |
| Assignments/ Quizzes | 20% |
| Oral Presentation | 10% |
| Midterm Exam | 20% |
| Class Project | 10% |
| Participation/ Language Lab | 10% |
| Final Exam | 30% |
| Total | 100% |
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
Physical course materials
The following course materials are included in a course package that will be shipped to your home prior to your course’s start date:
Bellegarde, Jean. 1988. Cree Language of the Plains Cree, 5th ed. Regina: Saskatchewan Indian Federated College/University of Regina.
Other materials
The course materials include language laboratory tapes for each unit. A Plains Cree glossary is recommended.
Grouped study
Sorry INST111 is not offered by Grouped Study at present.