KCA’s Ute language and culture program is led by Ute speakers and cultural role-models who bring authenticity and depth to the learning experience. Students are introduced to basic conversational Ute through engaging methods such as games, dialogue practice, and multimedia activities, making language learning interactive and fun. Cultural understanding is fostered through project-based learning, where students explore aspects of Ute culture and create their own cultural products to demonstrate their knowledge. The program also features regular guest speakers who share their expertise, and students participate in a variety of cultural field trips throughout the year, providing real-world connections to what they learn in the classroom.
Throughout the year, students explore a range of culturally relevant topics that deepen their connection to Ute identity. Alongside learning vocabulary for each theme, they engage in meaningful discussions and hands-on activities that foster pride in their heritage. Ute language lessons are taught using a mixture of Second Language Acquisition methods where English is not used at all. Students learn to speak Ute both with fluent speakers and through interactive Google Slides that include audio recordings, American Sign Language, and visuals to support immediate understanding and engagement. Student growth is measured in spoken progress monitoring activities where students demonstrate their increased knowledge of Ute culture and language.
KCA has written three storybooks to illustrate our unique Ute language. We have also created three companion videos to go with these storybooks. If you would like to view these videos, please fill out the form below, and we will email you the password for access.
