Introduction to Inuktitut - April 2025

Service Description

This 10-hour introductory course is tailored to the absolute beginner, with very little or no previous knowledge of Inuktitut*. The course is delivered in English. The goal of this course is to promote reconciliation and respect through an increased awareness of Inuit languages in Canada, good pronunciation, and increased confidence to start using some Inuktitut words and terms. It is targeted toward non-Inuktitut speakers working for Inuit organizations and other professionals who work with Inuit communities. Content includes: - Relationship building through the use of Inuktitut in the workplace - Familiarity with geography, dialects, and place names across Inuit homelands - Navigating simple greetings and practicing good etiquette in Inuktitut - Tools for good pronunciation - Phonological awareness: develop the ability to “sound out” new Inuktitut words on your own - Introduction to the Inuktut writing system: syllabics and Roman orthography - Familiarity with and correct pronunciation of Inuit organizations, programs, and government bodies in Canada - Individualized support: time devoted to pronunciation and translation of common terms or key project words relevant to each participant’s area of work - Cultural competency: understand how speed of speech, eye contact, speech latency and body language fit within language learning and relationship building - Secrets of polyglots: strategies for learning new languages - Resources for further learning *Inuktitut is the Inuit language spoken in the Qikiqtaaluk and Kivalliq regions of Nunavut as well as Nunavik. It is a common form of Inuktut spoken by Inuit in Southern Ontario, Quebec, and Manitoba.