CLEY assessing GN language training

Inuktitut and Innuinaqtun, are to become the working languages of the territorial government in 2020.

And, to prepare the GN for this, Louis Tapardjuk, the minister for culture, language, elders and youth, said his department is conducting an extensive Inuktitut language training needs assessment. The assessment is aimed at improving Inuktitut language training for GN employees.

In a statement last week to the legislature, Tapardjuk said the assessment will look at employees’ current knowledge and abilities in Inuktitut or Inuinnaqtun, and look at language training “gaps, interests, and barriers.”

Tapardjuk said the information gathered would remain confidential.

An Inuktitut language literacy assessment and survey has already been completed in Iqaluit, Tapardjuk said, although he didn’t share any of its findings.

Tapardjuk said that, in 2006, language assessments would continue in the three regions, and in 2007, CLEY will look at Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun second language training needs across the GN.