Creating Language Learning Apps for Endangered Languages

Lisa Johnson

Kevin Martens Wong

Memrise is a free web and mobile application (Android and iOS) that uses adaptive technology to help learners master new vocabulary and basic structures, and allows users to build and customize their own courses for any language. While no app can replace meaningful conversation with a native speaker, Memrise is an ideal tool for language revitalization because it’s flexible, community-oriented, easy-to-use, fun, and free. It’s also a great way for fluent elders and more tech-savvy young people to collaborate on a revitalization project. By the end of the week, workshop participants will be able to use Memrise for both teaching and learning. They will have practiced all of the steps required for building a functioning custom course in Memrise. Sample data will be provided, but those who bring their own data can produce a small but functioning course by the end of the workshop. This workshop is for everyone: community members, students, and researchers. Participants should be computer literate, but no programming experience is required. Participants should bring a laptop (Mac or Windows) with a web browser for hands-on training and course creation.