Benny is a Navajo and works as a guide, taking visitors into Canyon de Chelly (pronounced Canyon de Shay) in eastern Arizona. Benny grew up in the canyon, and didn’t begin to learn English until he was twelve.

There are three brief audio interviews with Benny below.

Navajo life in the canyon (0:27)

Mostly like, uh, (1) __________ Navajos, mostly we’re just, uh, (2) __________ by hunting and (3) ___________, and then, uh, we live in the (4) ___________ summertime, wintertime on the (5) ___________. Then our traditional food is like (6) ___________, (7) ___________, cottontail rabbit, and then (8) ___________, hare … [?]. My… our language is Athabascan language, so we speak the (9) ___________. language like the Eskimo up in the (10) ___________, yeah, Canada and Alaska.

Ten words are missing in this next text. Good luck.

Navajo history (0:27)

And also like (1) ___________ Navajo, like (2) ___________ back around the land (3) ___________ time, the ice (4) ___________ , they were (15) ___________ the Navajo
(6) ___________ migrate from Asia, Asia on up to Canada, (7) ___________ , and (8) ___________ migrating down this way, (9) ___________ [two words here!] in Arizona, up here in (10) ___________ Arizona.

Navajo Language (0:46)

Getting the information right is the most imortant thing in all conversations. So this time listen to the audio without the text and answer the following questions in your own English.

1. Who speaks Athabascan in Benny’s family?
2. Do his children study Athabascan?
3. When and where do they study Navajo language and culture?
4. Do you think Benny is confident that his children will maintain the Navajo language (Athabascan) and culture? Why or why not? (Cite evidence from the dialogue).

Transcription of Audio
Kevin: Do you want your kids to learn the Navajo language?
Benny: Yeah, uh huh, so that’s why I’m… I always speak to them, I always speak to them, speak my own language to them. Then my mom she speak English also. That’s why I keep lettin go with my dad, my dad, he’s the only one that speaks Athabascan also, so that’s why I’m always just lettin go with him.
Kevin: But the kids don’t go to a kind of Navajo school where they learn Athabascan, or…
Benny: Just a class. Just one classroom or two classroom. They’re teaching Navajo cultures in there. They attend… Mostly all the students required … is required to go there… to have that Navajo culture and Navajo history.

 

 Benny, Navajo life at Canyon De Chelly [0:27m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (362)

 

 Benny, Navajo History [0:27m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (61)

 

 Benny, Athabascan Language [0:46m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (55)