2012 IDIEZ Summer Nahuatl Institute in Los Angeles
The Zacatecas Institute for Teaching and Research in Ethnology (IDIEZ), Macehualli Educational
Research (MER), la Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas (UAZ) and California State University Los
Angeles (CSULA) are partnering to offer the opportunity to study Classical and Modern Nahuatl at the
beginning and intermediate-advanced levels in a summer intensive course.
Where: California State University Los Angeles (CSULA).
When: July 2 to August 10, 2012.
Instructors: John Sullivan, Victoriano de la Cruz Cruz, Delfina de la Cruz de la Cruz, Sabina Cruz de la
Cruz, Ofelia Cruz Morales, Catalina Cruz de la Cruz, Eduardo de la Cruz Cruz, Abelardo de la Cruz de la
Cruz, Ana Delia Cruz de la Cruz.
Objectives: The course seeks to: 1. develop students’ oral comprehension, speaking, reading, writing
and knowledge of language structure, as well as their cultural wisdom and sensibility, in order to
facilitate their ability to communicate effectively, correctly and creatively in everyday situations; 2.
provide students with instruments and experiences that demonstrate the continuity between past and
present Nahua culture, through the study of colonial and modern texts, and conversation with native
speakers; 3. penetrate into the historical, economic, political, social and cultural aspects of Nahua
civilization; and 4. prepare students to take university level humanities courses taught in Nahuatl
alongside native speakers.
Activities and schedule: All students will have class approximately five hours per day, Monday through
Friday for a minimum total of 145 contact hours: two hours and fifteen minutes of Modern Nahuatl
immersion and introductory grammar with native speaking instructors; two hours of Classical Nahuatl
taught by John Sullivan; and an additional three hours of individual work per week on a research project
of the student’s choice with a native speaking tutor. Intermediate-advanced students will study specific
topics drawn from Older and Modern sources, using Nahuatl as the sole language of class discussion,
and continue to work with individual tutors. Optional extracurricular activities include traditional dance,
song, and embroidery, as well as public presentations given by students on their research projects.
Materials: All students must have personal copies of the following texts: 1. Karttunen, Frances. 1992. An
Analytical Dictionary of Nahuatl. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. $31.77 @ amazon.com; 2.
Lockhart, James. 2001. Nahuatl as Written. Lessons in Older Written Nahuatl, with Copious Examples
and Texts. Stanford: Stanford University Press. $22.10 @ amazon.com; 3. Molina, Alonso de. 1977(1555-
1571). Vocabulario en lengua castellana y mexicana y mexicana y castellana. Colección “Biblioteca
Porrúa” 44. México: Porrúa. Contact John Sullivan at idiez@me.com regarding the purchase of this book;
4. Two weeks before class begins students will be sent, free of charge, electronic copies of the exercise
manuals, grammar charts, vocabulary lists and manuscripts which will be studied.
Credit: The Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas will register students, issue grades and grant 145 hours
of course credit.
Tuition: Tuition of 5,000 dollars is payable to our US non-profit corporation, Macehualli Educational
Research. A receipt for a tax-deductible donation will be issued upon request.
Financial aide: IDIEZ will make every effort to ensure that financial constraints are not an obstacle to
participation in the program. If you are in need of financial assistance for the Summer Nahuatl Institute,
please contact John Sullivan at idiez@me.com. Financial aid may also be available in the form of FLAS
fellowships through your own institution or another Title VI funded National Resource Center for Latin
American Studies.
Room and Board: Information regarding on-campus room and board options at CSULA will be available
beginning in February. Students who choose not to stay on campus may make their own arrangements
for off-campus housing.
Contact: This course description is available at http://www.macehualli.org. Please direct all questions to
John Sullivan at idiez@me.com, +52 1 492 103-0195 or +52 492 768-6048.