Many of the second-language speakers and students at LSI are parents of young children, and they are determined to pass the Lakota language on.  One of these is Denny Gayton, of Standing Rock.

Denny told us he has brought his two children with him to LSI this year, because “I want them to have the passion, to grow in the language.  They want to learn it, but they have not had the environment – except at our house – where people are excited about it or even meaningfully encouraging about it.”

What he sees happening at LSI is something very powerful: “Here, people are excited and free,” he said, “using the language, talking and not afraid to make mistakes.  They either self-correct or someone will offer a correction for them to use.”

As an enthusiastic second-language student, Denny taught an evening class himself at last year’s LSI.  “This year I’m taking all of the same classes again – Teaching Methods in the morning and Intensive for Intermediates in the afternoon – so I can have fun with the language.”

For even more fun, Denny is helping LLC with an experiment – Lakota translations of these updates.  Watch for those!