Mayan Language Institute: Jason McKinley Student Profile

Interview by Emma Kainz 

 

Jason McKinley is a rising junior at Tulane, he is studying Linguistics, Anthropology and Latin American Studies. He is proficient in Spanish and on his second year of Kaqchikel study, he is currently the Kaqchikel language ambassador for Tulane. This interest in languages ties in with his future plans to work in linguistic revitalization. 

 

Why did you decide to participate in the Mayan Language Institute? 

I took a semester of Kaqchikel at Tulane and the discussions of MLI in class were very compelling. I wanted to learn Kaqchikel in this environment where Kaqchikel is spoken, from multiple Kaqchikel speakers with varying dialects. 

 

What have you learned from this experience that was unexpected? 

I was not expecting to learn so much in such a short time! I can tell I have improved so much. 

 

Do you think the Mayan Language Institute will have an impact on your future? How? 

I do, because I want to work in Mayan linguistics and language revitalization. The connections and information I am able to obtain here will be very useful for my future goals! 

 

Share with us an anecdote from these past weeks/days. It can be something that condensed the learning experience, or a memorable experience you had with your peers, professors or the community. 

This past week, I was interviewed fully in Kaqchikel for a TV news station for the Academy of Mayan Languages. This was a very interesting experience and highlighted how far I’ve come in my language learning as it was the first time I had a formal conversation with someone outside the program in Kaqchikel. Also this week was my birthday and I got a cake at class! 

 

 

 

The Mayan Language Institute is a 6-week program to train students in either Kaqchikel or K’iche’ Maya, two of the most widely-spoken Mayan languages in Iximulew (Guatemala) today. The program is sponsored by the Stone Center for Latin American Studies at Tulane University and the Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies at Vanderbilt University. Thanks to the collaboration between U.S. American faculty and Maya teachers, participants can study at the beginning, intermediate, or advanced levels of either language. The program’s highly individualized classes combine language immersion activities, lectures, one-on-one conversations, guest speakers and cultural excursions. If you are interested in learning more about the Mayan Language Institute or other Summer Programs click here.