The class is an elective and 10 students participated this year. Kills Small teaches the students about structure and intonation as well as the basic grammar. Each class seemed to have a theme, which made it easier to learn the language. One day Kills Small took his class to the park where they learned the names of animals. Kills Small would speak mostly in Lakota and the students learned quickly.
Some students come to class with a large background in Lakota, but many have none or very little.
Kills Small finds it is important to review every day with his students and to give them motivation. He finds that most are really interested in preserving their language and it helps students find more to love about their culture. Learning and preserving the Lakota language brings Native American children closer to who they really are.