According a story in the Kodiak Daily Mirror, the Native Village of Afognak has produced several sets of Alutiiq flashcards for use on mobile devices such as iPhone and iPad. The Flashcards display Alutiiq words and phrases in three categories: commands, weather, meet & greet. Each card contains a written Alutiiq phrase; tapping an icon plays a recording of the phrase. Tapping below the phrase displays the English translation. Users can monitor their progress in memorizing phrases; less known cards cycle back around to give the learner additional practice.
While the Alutiiq Flashcard sets are freely available, they require the gFlash App, which must be purchased for $4.99. At first glance, this seems to be a limitation. However, relying on the gFlash App allows the language developers to separate software from content, focusing on the latter. Once the gFlash App is downloaded and installed, users have unlimited capability to edit and expand the flashcard sets. This can be done right in the App itself or remotely using GoogleDocs. Audio files and images can be added by simply posting them to a website and then typing in the relevant link. And the developers can easily add new card sets without needing to update the App. Finally, all content is downloaded to the device, so an internet connection is not required in order to use the flashcards.
Clearly mobile Apps such as this are not sufficient to revitalize a language, but they can be important tools for language learning. While modern approaches to language learning have tended to emphasize interaction and communicative context, the role of memorization in language learning cannot be denied. The Alutiiq gFlash App brings the time-honored tradition of using flashcards for language study into the modern world.
edit cards right in the App!
