Te ‘Gana Tuvalu - Tuvalu Language Week
This page contains suggested activities and curated website links to help you and your learners learn about and celebrate indigenous Tuvalu language and culture.
About this resource
It will help you demonstrate that you value Tuvalu as a heritage language and are willing to partner with learners, families, and communities to make it part of learning at and beyond school. The suggestions are consistent with culturally responsive pedagogy as described in Tapasā: Cultural competencies framework for teachers of Pacific learners.
Te ‘Gana Tuvalu - Tuvalu Language Week
Fakatalofa atu!
Tuvalu Language Week is part of an annual series of Pacific language weeks that aim to promote and raise awareness of the diversity of our Pacific languages in Aotearoa New Zealand.
To find out the date and theme for this year’s Tuvalu Language Week visit the Ministry for Pacific Peoples website.
Pacific language weeks: More than a celebration describes more about the purpose of the language weeks and suggests links to help you build your knowledge and competencies as an effective teacher of Pacific learners.
How can you get involved?
You may have learners and whānau with Tuvalu heritage as well as speakers of ‘gana Tuvalu in your school community who may be willing to share their expertise with you and your class. Work collaboratively with these experts to build your own knowledge of 'gana Tuvalu and to design activities around the language and culture of Tuvalu.
Ministry for Pacific Peoples website: Download a range of resources to promote Tuvalu Language Week in your school community.
Ministry of Pacific Peoples Facebook page: The Ministry’s Facebook page provides up-to-date information on what is happening each year.
Tuvalu Language Week Facebook page: Join this Facebook group for specific news, resources, and events about Te Gana Tuvalu.
Ministry for Pacific Peoples regional offices: There are a range of events taking place across New Zealand to promote the importance of Tuvalu language, culture, and heritage. Contact the regional offices of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples to find out what's on near you.
Keeping the language alive: Listen to teachers from a variety of settings and cultural backgrounds share why Pacific language weeks are so important to them and how they capitalise on local expertise to celebrate the language weeks. Use the reflections on the video page to think about how you embrace and keep Pacific languages alive while acknowledging The importance of identity for learners to feel supported.
A journey into the Pacific: Research aimed at improving the ability of students from Tuvalu and Kiribati to access New Zealand education
Teresa Thomson, principal of Kingsgate School, inquired into the pedagogical approaches that work best for those who whakapapa to Tuvalu and Kiribati. Teresa’s report reminds us of the value of learning about specific aspects of people’s languages, identities, and cultures that impact their ability to learn. It could be an excellent springboard for conversations with i-Kiribati learners and their families in your community.
- What are the cultural and linguistic strengths these children and young people bring?
- How can these be a foundation for learning at school?
- What are some challenges to address?
We know that talk is the foundation of all learning, and so it is important to create an environment in which:
- speakers of 'gana Tuvalu feel comfortable to use their language, and others feel supported to give it a try
- everybody feels safe to share, explore, and debate information and ideas about 'gana Tuvalu and its place in Aotearoa New Zealand.
If learners or families at your school are speakers of Tuvalu, you could invite them to model and teach their language. However, be careful not to make assumptions about their language knowledge and use. They may not know their heritage languages or may not feel confident or comfortable speaking them.
Te Gana Tuvalu Language Cards: Use these cards as a starting point for learning 'gana Tuvalu. Find a pronunciation guide, the alphabet, everyday phrases, a short prayer, and a hymn.
2016 Tuvalu Language Week resource: This resource includes information about the culture and language of Tuvalu that you can share with learners.
Tuvalu language activity book: This resource, co-created by Te Papa Tongarewa and the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, includes a crossword, a word search, colouring pages, and a game to help younger learners explore the language, islands, and culture of Tuvalu.
It is important to note the multiple ways in which people express themselves. The suggestions here include opportunities for you and your learners to explore traditional and contemporary artworks and artefacts and discuss what they say about the culture and heritage of Tuvalu people.
Tuvaluan women inspiring cultural pride: Kaiako and secondary learners could read this Education Gazette article to learn how two New Zealand Tuvaluan broadcasters stay connected to their language and culture in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Te ano: The national game of Tuvalu: Learn how to play te ano, a Tuvalu game that uses two ano (balls) at once. You could organise class competitions to find the champions of te ano at your school.
Kolose: The art of Tuvalu crochet: This resource describes one of the key art forms practiced by Tuvalu women in Aotearoa New Zealand. Learners can:
- investigate how kolose is made and what the vibrantly coloured crochet tops are used for.
- examine and discuss how artists adapt and build on traditional patterns in contemporary works.
- consider how art exhibitions can promote and share the languages, cultures, stories, and traditions of Pacific peoples.
Ili craft: This resource, from Ngā Kete Wānanga o Ōtautahi, describes how to make an ili (fan) using card, ribbon, and felt pens. Learners could take inspiration from images of Tuvalu ili as they create their own designs.
A great way to get your students involved in te gana Tuvalu is to incorporate texts on Tuvalu topics and themes within your teaching and learning programme. Along with these texts, you and the students might also draw upon the knowledge and perspectives of community members as part of a bigger inquiry into significant themes and topics from across the curriculum, such as migration, navigation, climate change, or colonisation.
Pasifika Poetry: This resource includes poems by people of Pacific descent. You might make poetry part of your week, engaging with poems by Tuvalu poets and writing your own. Or you could look at other art forms that use language, such as plays or action songs. These could become part of a performance for the people who have supported you to plan the week.
Learn about Tuvalu settlement to Aotearoa New Zealand through the following resources:
Te Ara | The Encyclopedia of New Zealand, "Island groups and recent migrations"
Your learners could interview Pacific peoples in your community whose families have also migrated here to find out:
- when and why their families moved to Aotearoa New Zealand
- how the stories are similar and different from each other.
Aotearoa New Zealand’s Histories: Connections across the Pacific: This resource shows how four texts from the School Journal series can be used to support learning in the context of whakapapa me te whanaungatanga through the topic of voyaging.
Digital Pasifik: This website aims to empower people in and of the Pacific Islands by enabling them to see, discover, and explore items of digitised cultural heritage that are held in collections around the world. Your learners can use this resource to explore the diverse cultural heritage of specific nations and examine similarities and differences across multiple nations.
The Long Pause: This article from Connected explores the mystery of the long pause between the two major periods of Pacific migration. Use this text with learners to explore some of the connections between Māori and Pacific peoples, particularly in terms of whakapapa and navigation.
Tuia Mātauranga: Tuia Mātauranga is a programme developed by the Ministry of Education to support teaching and learning about our dual heritage and shared future. It highlights local people, places, and events that have helped shape our nation’s history. It has four main topics: voyaging, first encounters, Aotearoa New Zealand's Histories, legacy of learning.