Course structure

Summer School

This two-week program will be delivered in collaboration with Anangu tutors from the APY Lands in South Australia. The tutors will work with small groups throughout the course and will provide first-hand knowledge of the Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara language and culture from an Anangu perspective.

By the end of the course the students will be:

• familiar with a basic vocabulary
• familiar with the sounds of the language and be able to reproduce them
• have a basic grammatical knowledge with an understanding of the four noun and four verb classes, and four or five tenses of the verbs in each class
• be able to converse in simple sentences.
• familiar with basic cultural and community protocols for good communication and relationships in Anangu communities.

Note to University students (students from both UniSA and other universities)
A limited number of places are held for UniSA students to study this course as part of their undergraduate or postgraduate degree.
UniSA applicants should enrol into LANG 2031 or LANG 5029 through the usual enrolment process.
Cross institutional student from other Universities can enrol here: https://askcampuscentral.unisa.edu.au/app/single-course-admission
UniSA and Cross institutional student are required to purchase the course materials for $275.

Advanced 

This class is designed for students who have a (minimum) basic vocabulary and grammatical understanding of Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara language and wish to deepen their engagement with more complex language experiences. 

The class will involve conversational language activities, vocabulary and grammar revision and development, and will apply these understanding to constructing and working with texts. The class will include a focus on written translation including cultural and ethical issues relevant to this work.

Completion of Summer School or previous in-depth engagement with the language is required for entry into the course.

Course is limited to a maximum of 15 participants.

Winter School 

The Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Language Winter School will benefit those who have contact with Pitjantjatjara people in the course of their work. People completing the Winter School should be able to enter into elementary conversations with Pitjantjatjara people. There will also be historical and cross-cultural information within the curriculum.

Consisting of oral practice, elementary vocabulary basic grammar and written exercises, the School will be conducted with sessions of role play with an emphasis on oral fluency, small group sessions for revision and practice or oral language and grammar sessions. It will provide structures on which students can build to enable further progress in the language.

This intensive program will be delivered with the assistance of traditional tutors from the APY Lands and northern parts of South Australia. The tutors, who come from communities such as Umuwa, Ernabella and Amata will work with small groups of participants throughout the course and will provide first-hand knowledge of the Pitjantjatjara language and culture from a traditional Aboriginal perspective.

By the end of the School students will be:

• familiar with a basic vocabulary of approximately 300 words
• familiar with the sounds of the language and be able to reproduce them
• have a basic grammatical knowledge with an understanding of the four noun and four verb classes and four or five tenses of the verbs in each class
• be able to converse in simple sentences.

Available courses

Additional information

Cancellation policy

Summer, Advanced and Winter School 2024

Cancellation requests should be made, in writing, to AnanguEducation@unisa.edu.au. 

If a participant is unable to attend a substitute participant can be nominated. 

A 10% administration fee will be charged to participants who withdraw from the course after registration.  This fee will be charged on registration costs only (not materials).

Participants who withdraw from the course 10 days prior to the course commencement will be charged a 25% cancellation fee.

No refund will be issued 5 days prior to the course commencement.

Full refunds will be issued in the event UniSA cancels a course.

Accommodation 

Kindly be aware that participants are accountable for covering their own expenses for meals, accommodation, and transportation to and from events.