Start Here — How to Use This Course¶
Read this page first before opening any chapter.
This is a complete, self-paced course. You do not need a teacher in the room to do this work. Everything you need is built into this website. This page explains exactly how it works.
What This Course Is¶
Dakhotiyapi — Beginning Dakota Language is a full-year high school language course that teaches the Dakota language alongside the history and culture of the Očhéthi Šakówiŋ (Seven Council Fires). Every chapter combines language learning with American Indian Studies (AIS 112) content — you will not study the words without studying the world those words come from.
By the end of the course, you will reach ACTFL Intermediate Low — able to introduce yourself, describe your world, discuss values and history, and engage meaningfully with the Dakota language at a beginner level.
The Course at a Glance¶
| Semester | Chapters | Exam | ACTFL Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 — Háu/Haŋ · 2 — Otóiyohi · 3 — Wóuŋsipi · 4 — Čhaŋté | Mid-Year | Novice Low → Novice Mid |
| 2 | 5 — Wóčhekiye · 6 — Makóčhe · 7 — Wóoyake · 8 — Oyáte | End-of-Year | Novice Mid → Intermediate Low |
Your Tools — What Everything Does¶
| Tool | Where to find it | What it's for |
|---|---|---|
| Chapters | Top nav → Chapters | Main learning content. Start here every session. |
| Quizzes | Inside each chapter | Check your understanding after completing a chapter |
| Exams | Top nav → Exams | Mid-year (Ch 1–4) and end-of-year (Ch 5–8) assessments |
| Games | Top nav → Games | Vocabulary and grammar practice. Use after each chapter section. |
| MicroSims | Top nav → MicroSims | Interactive exercises embedded in Chapters 1 & 2 |
| Flashcard Drill | Games tab | Best for learning new vocabulary |
| Sentence Scramble | Games tab | Best for practicing SOV word order |
| Glossary | Top nav → Glossary | Alphabetical vocabulary reference — look things up anytime |
| FAQ | Top nav → FAQ | Answers to the most common questions about the language and course |
| Pronunciation Guide | Top nav → Pronunciation | Learn how to read Dakota accent marks and special characters |
| Exit Ticket | Bottom of every chapter | Rate your confidence; flag language errors |
How to Do a Chapter — The Exact Steps¶
Every chapter works the same way. At the top of each chapter, there is a green box titled "How to Complete This Chapter — Step by Step" that gives you the specific steps for that chapter. Here is the pattern:
The 7-Step Chapter Pattern
- Prepare (5 min) — Review previous chapter vocabulary. Skim the Concepts list.
- Read and Study (90 min across multiple sessions) — Work through each section in order. Read vocabulary tables aloud.
- Complete Exercises (30 min) — Write answers in a notebook. Sample answers are in collapsible boxes below each exercise.
- Practice Interactively (15–20 min) — Use MicroSims (Chapters 1–2) and at least one game.
- Check Yourself (10 min) — Complete the Completion Checklist at the bottom of the chapter.
- Exit Ticket (2 min) — Rate your confidence. Flag anything that seemed wrong.
- Take the Quiz — Only when your checklist shows you're ready.
How to Know You're Done With a Chapter¶
Every chapter ends with a Completion Checklist in three parts:
- Part 1 — Tasks: A list of every activity in the chapter. Check each one off as you go.
- Part 2 — Self-Reflection: Rate yourself on each key concept using this scale:
| Rating | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 🔴 Not yet | I'm still confused — I need to re-read or practice more |
| 🟡 Getting there | I understand it but would need to look it up |
| 🟢 Got it | I can do this without looking at my notes |
| ⭐ Can teach it | I could explain this clearly to someone else |
- Part 3 — Reflection prompt: You write or say aloud: "The most important thing I learned was . One thing I'm still not sure about is ."
You're ready for the quiz when you can rate yourself 🟢 or ⭐ on at least 6 of the Self-Reflection concepts.
Pacing — How Long Each Chapter Takes¶
See the Pacing Guide for a full week-by-week schedule. The short version:
- Each chapter = ~4 weeks (~30–45 min per session, 3–4 sessions per week)
- Each section = 1 session
- Exercises + games = 1–2 sessions
- Review + quiz = 1 session
Total: ~36 weeks for the full course including exams.
First Steps — Do These Right Now¶
- Read the Pronunciation Guide — 15–20 minutes. You cannot study Dakota without understanding how to read the accent marks and special characters.
- Open Chapter 1 — Háu / Haŋ — Read the green "How to Complete This Chapter" box at the top.
- Check the Pacing Guide — Find week 1 and know exactly what you're doing this week.
A Note About the Language Content¶
The vocabulary and grammar in this course were generated with AI assistance and have not yet been reviewed by Dakota-speaking community members. The AIS 112 historical and cultural content is more reliable. If you speak Dakota or have community knowledge and you notice an error, please use the Exit Ticket at the bottom of any chapter to let us know — your feedback directly improves this course.
For verified Dakota language resources, see Resources or visit dakhota.org.
Questions? Check the FAQ first — it answers the most common questions about both the language and the course.