Peskotomuhkati latuwewakon (Passamaquoddy language)

Abstract

Over the decades, Passamaquoddy has been taught in many ways and many forms. Some have tried using object identification and word(s) learning while others have tried teaching writing and reading via a phonetic form of English pronunciation. While all teaching methods and learning in any form is valid and valuable, we must first understand that the Passamaquoddy orthography is only a cut down version of the English orthography (using 17 characters plus an '). This cut down version of English characters with a Passamaquoddy grammar overlay is "still" English and can cause confusion for the adult learners of our language. And phonetic pronunciation and spelling is only as good as how we pronounce as set of letters in English. The spelling of words will vary by how our hearing processes the sounds. The methods I am presenting are not new to teaching but are new to teaching adult learner of Passamaquoddy here in our territory. I will outline the use of TPR (Total Physical Response), Picture method of discovering verb forms and practical sentences.