Where Are Your Keys?

Where Are Your Keys? (WAYK) is an interactive technique for learning languages directly from native speakers. It is a game-based approach that uses gesture and sign language to facilitate immediate communication in the target language.[1] The game is based on repeated questions and answers, with a set of gestures. Initially, the student makes gestures for specific, concrete objects, such as keys or a rock, and then moves on to adjectives. The student always responds in full sentences. The language gestures used are based on American Sign Language.[2] Because the focus is creating an interactive game between the native speaker and the learner, it may be preferable to select a native speaker without language-teaching experience. The game trains speakers in language fluency.

The technique has been used in instruction of Alutiiq,[3] Chinuk Wawa, Konkow,[4] Kutenai,[5] Mohawk,[6] Navajo,[7] O'odham,[7][8] Squamish,[9][10] Unangax,[11] French,[12] Latin,[13] Irish,[14][15] Korean,[16] Turkish,[17] and at a Chickasaw language immersion camp for families.[18] Users report that the Where Are Your Keys? technique can be used with any language for which a willing fluent speaker is available.[2][19]

According to creator Evan Gardner, Where Are Your Keys? is partially based on the Total Physical Response technique.[1][20]

Where Are Your Keys? language acquisition workshops have been held at the American Indian Language Development Institute of the University of Arizona,[7] at Stanford University,[21] at Northwest Indian College,[22] at the 2010 "Save Your Language" Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia,[23] at the Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages,[24] and at the 2012 Maryland Foreign Language Association Fall Conference, held at Notre Dame of Maryland University.[25]

As of 2012, a Where Are Your Keys? podcast[26] and wiki[27] are available, as well as online videos and an official website.[4]