Matt Crosland has a Doctor of Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary. He has a wife (Tiffany) and seven children. He is currently serving as the Administrator for Academic for SIL-PNG. His current research interests include language program planning and management, MUSE, and the affects of anthropology on these subjects.
How the Trainee Shaped the Training in PNG: An End User Driven Approach
Abstract
How do we know that the training we are providing for mother tongue translators is relevant, appropriate and actually meeting felt needs? This paper will provide a case study for a new approach the Academic Training Department of SIL-PNG is developing to provide more culturally appropriate training by including end users in curriculum design and development.
The number of Papua New Guinean translators has steadily grown over the last decade while the number of expatriate translators has been on the decline. This shift has made mother tongue translator training more critical than ever in Papua New Guinea. The Academic Training department of SIL-PNG has recognized that no single training model can work in all situations and that we must meet people where they are in a culturally appropriate way if we are to provide useful training.
This case study will outline the process used for creating Academic Training’s new Melanesian Language Program Planning and Management course. It will also examine some of the reasons Academic Training decided to try this new approach, some criticisms of the approach and course feedback from the end users.