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Many students take courses at SIL-UND to prepare
for field service as
linguist/translators,
literacy specialists,
language surveyors,
or signed language specialists.
Others want training in how to learn a language
to prepare for a variety of other roles.
The following charts show how students can use SIL-UND courses
to prepare themselves for the different roles listed above.
If you have questions about how to customize these training tracks
for your particular situation,
please contact the SIL-UND Director.
The charts are based on requirements to serve on the field with SIL-International.
For a complete list of training requirements for service with SIL in various specializations,
see the separate page for
general information
about SIL schools in North America.
| Linguist/Translator Track |
| 1st summer |
Package A: Language and Linguistics (Introductory) Package
- Articulatory Phonetics
- Second Language Acquisition Theory and Practice
- Syntax and Morphology I
- Introduction to Sociolinguistics
|
| 2nd summer |
Package B: Linguistic Fieldwork Package
- Phonology I
- Introduction to Writing Systems
- Ethnographic Methods in Field Linguistics
- Field Methods
|
| First field term (1-3 years) |
Some countries of service accept new workers at this point in their training.
Others require additional training before the first field term.
|
| Later summers |
Advanced courses,
possibly working toward an M.A. in linguistics.
|
| Beyond... |
Field service
together with ongoing training
(in field workshops,
at an SIL school,
or at another university).
|
| Language Acquisition Track |
| 1 summer only |
A modification of Package A (Language and Linguistics) can provide
a helpful and thorough preparation for learning a language
in a field situation.
This package is for people whose primary purpose
is not linguistics, literacy or translation—people such as missionaries, anthropologists,
community development workers, educators, diplomats, and business people.
Two courses form the core that teaches you how to learn a language:
- Second Language Acquisition Theory and Practice
- Articulatory Phonetics
Other courses can make you even more successful
as you learn to function in another language and culture.
You may choose up to two of the following courses
to fill up your course schedule:
- Syntax and Morphology I
- Introduction to Sociolinguistics
- Ethnographic Methods
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| Beyond... |
Proceed to field service.
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Literacy Specialist Track
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Students who want to serve as literacy specialists with SIL
should plan to take two summers of courses,
one of general linguistics and one consisting of the
Literacy Megacourse.
Since the Megacourse is not offered every summer,
consult with the SIL-UND Director
about when you can take each package of courses.
Students who are not planning to work with SIL,
especially those who are actively involved in teaching literacy
in formal or nonformal settings, can profitably take
the Literacy Megacourse without training in linguistics.
|
| 1 summer of general linguistics |
A modification of
Package A: Language and Linguistics (Introductory) Package
- Articulatory Phonetics
- Phonology I
- Second Language Acquisition
- Introduction to Sociolinguistics
|
| 1 summer focused on literacy |
Package L: Literacy Megacourse
- Community-based Literacy
- Literacy Program Planning and Management
- Materials and Methods in Literacy
- Introduction to Writing Systems
Students in the Megacourse who have not previously taken
Phonology I and Introduction to Sociolinguistics
should discuss with the SIL-UND director
or the instructor whether they should take
Introduction to Writing Systems for credit or audit.
|
| Optional later summers |
Other Advanced courses,
possibly working toward an M.A. in linguistics.
|
| Beyond... |
Field service as a literacy specialist in a multilingual society.
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Language Survey Track
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NOTE:
Language and Dialect Survey is currently taught at SIL-UND only in odd-numbered years.
In years when it is not available from SIL-UND,
equivalent courses are available from the
Summer@CanIL program (every summer)
and the
Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics (every January).
|
| Survey fast-track (1 summer only, appropriate for some field assignments) |
A modification of Package A: Language and Linguistics (Introductory) Package
- Articulatory Phonetics
- Second Language Acquisition
- Introduction to Sociolinguistics
- Language and Dialect Survey (not available every summer; see note above)
|
| 1st summer |
A modification of Package A: Language and Linguistics (Introductory) Package
- Articulatory Phonetics
- Ethnographic Methods (or possibly Syntax and Morphology I)
- Second Language Acquisition
- Introduction to Sociolinguistics
|
| 2nd summer |
- Language and Dialect Survey (see note above)
- Additional courses as appropriate for a person's likely field assignment, such as Phonology I, Syntax and Morphology I, Ethnographic Methods, or Field Methods
|
| Beyond... |
Field service as a language surveyor.
(If you will be working with SIL, there is normally a 2-year term of service,
which includes a 6-month internship under experienced survey personnel.)
Some surveyors continue on with graduate study in linguistics or sociolinguistics,
such as the M.A. program at UND.
For example, see the M.A. thesis by Calvin Tiessen.
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| Signed Language Track |
| 1st summer |
A modified version of
Package A: Language and Linguistics (Introductory) Package.
These courses are offered every summer.
Most of them cover both signed and spoken languages,
and lay the foundation for the advanced courses on sign languages below.
- Phonetics of Signed Languages
- Second Language Acquisition Theory and Practice
- Syntax and Morphology I
- Introduction to Sociolinguistics
|
| 2nd summer |
Advanced Courses on Signed Languages
Advanced courses focused on signed languages are offered
some years.
The following courses are planned for 2008.
- Phonology of Signed Languages (2-3 credits)
- Morphosyntax of Signed Languages (2-3 credits)
- Field Methods (using a signed language) (3 credits)
- Technological Tools for Signed Language Research (1 credit)
Most of the advanced courses require having previously completed the
courses in the box above for the first summer.
Please see course listings for further details.
If you are interested in taking these courses,
please contact the SIL-UND director
to discuss your particular needs and interests
and how well they fit with what we have to offer.
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| Beyond... |
Field service in a particular signed language
and/or further training
(e.g. in language survey or other advanced courses),
possibly working toward an M.A. in linguistics.
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SIL-UND Catalog
UND A-to-Z Index