Language nest

Language nests, an immersion-based approach to language revitalization, originated in New Zealand in 1982 as a part of the Māori language revival. The term "language nest" is a translation of the Māori phrase kōhanga reo.

In a language nest, older speakers of the language take part in early-childhood education with a view to improving intergenerational language transference.

The first kōhanga reo was founded in Wainuiomata in 1982, and was followed by the establishment of primary schools and secondary schools (Kura Kaupapa Māori) where Māori is the primary language of instruction.

According to Al Jazeera, the percentage of Maori people speaking the language has increased by a few percentage points from the early 1980s to 2014. Linguist Christopher Moseley says that this statistic is "quite encouraging" because "compared to how quickly a language can disappear, in just one generation in extreme cases, the figures are good."

In Hawaii, the Hawaiian-language equivalent, the Pūnana Leo, has been running for 24 years and has also been successful in producing first-language speakers of Hawaiian.

In Minnesota, the Enweyang Ojibwe Language Nest, started in 2009. In collaboration with UMD's College of Education and Human Services Professionals and Eni-gikendaasoyang, the Center for Indigenous Knowledge and Language Revitalization, the program targets 4-5 year olds in a half day session in the Duluth area.

In North Dakota, Lakȟól’yapi Wahóȟpi, the Lakota Language Immersion Nest, opened on September 12, 2012. Full day schooling aimed at 3-year olds, with parents also receiving training to encourage at home efforts is key to this program.

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