Evaluation of the contribution of the Ko’one’ex Kanik Maaya Program to the Mayan Language Learning

Abstract

This study was grounded in the significance of the Mayan language in the educational sphere, particularly in the face of linguistic endangerment in urban contexts. The objective was to assess the contribution of the communicative approach to learning the Mayan language as a second language, based on the Ko’one’ex Kanik Maaya (Let’s Learn Maya) program in sixth-grade students at a General System Primary School located in Mérida, Yucatán. Using a mixed-methods approach, linguistic skills were analyzed, and feedback was collected from students, parents, teachers, and school director. Results indicate that benefiting students reach a basic level of proficiency, comprehending, responding, reading, and writing common, everyday phrases in their context, underscoring a significant achievement in Mayan language learning. Nonetheless, areas for improvement were identified. This study highlights the importance of preserving indigenous languages in urban settings and demonstrates the effectiveness of the communicative approach.