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]