Integrate Pacific languages and practices into your classroom programme
Suggestion for implementing the strategy ‘Building an inclusive, culturally responsive classroom environment’
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On this page:
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Go to top of current page: Integrate Pacific languages and practices
Go to top of current page: Integrate Pacific languages and practices
Support students to enjoy and express their cultural identity
Support students to enjoy and express their cultural identity
Schools should reflect and accommodate the diversity of their students in their uniform policies. This can be achieved by including items of cultural or religious significance as part of the uniform and/or allowing adaptations. Include a specific provision in the policy permitting
students to wear items of cultural or religious significance with, or instead of, uniform items (e.g. ie faitaga).
The Human Rights Commission
Build on cultural experiences
Build on cultural experiences
Draw on the rich and meaningful cultural experiences of Pacific learners for teaching and learning.
Value and share languages
Value and share languages
Teachers who value and share the languages Pacific learners bring into the classroom, while building English language skills, are supporting them to succeed.
Connect cultural heritage to learning
Connect cultural heritage to learning
Some practical ideas to try in your classroom
- Invite students to bring an object or a photo from home that they can keep in the class, that best reflects their ethnic identity. This gives them physical space in the classroom for a connection from home.
- Encourage the students and their families to translate some positive learning phrases into Pacific languages, for class use. Provide opportunities for Pacific learners who speak Pacific languages to teach the class some basic vocabulary. Translate key words into students' home languages
- Establish classroom communication practices that include vocabulary from Pacific languages or Pacific cultural forms. For example, to gain attention use clapping sequences from Samoan culture (pati male po).
- Learn to pronounce your students’ names correctly with their help. Model the correct pronunciation to the class. Encourage all students to use the correct pronunciation.
- Identify how you can specifically include a Pacific component into curriculum topics, such as including holidays and festivals that are important to your Pacific learners in learning activities.
- Engage with the Pacific school community and family to bring their knowledge and expertise into the school.
Foster students own language
Foster students own language
Rae Siʻilata, urges educators to create opportunities for students to bring their language into the classroom.
Useful resources
Useful resources
Pasifika dual language books
A series of texts to help new entrant Pasifika children transition to English medium schools. These early reading books come in five Pasifika languages (Gagana Sāmoa, Lea Faka-Tonga, Cook Islands Māori, Gagana Tokelau, and Vagahau Niue) and English.
Next steps
More suggestions for implementing the strategy “Co-design a culturally sustaining environment”:
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Current page Integrate Pacific languages and practices
Return to the guide “Supporting Pacific learners”
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How to use this site
Guide to Index of the guide: Supporting Pacific learners
Strategies for action:
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Develop cultural capabilityShow suggestions for Develop cultural capability
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Explore Pacific perspectives on inclusionShow suggestions for Explore Pacific perspectives on inclusion
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Know your Pacific learnersShow suggestions for Know your Pacific learners
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Establish reciprocal relationships with familiesShow suggestions for Establish reciprocal relationships with families
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Build community networksShow suggestions for Build community networks
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Build a culturally responsive environmentShow suggestions for Build a culturally responsive environment
- Integrate Pacific languages and practices
- Provide leadership opportunities
- Support English language learners
- Use technologies
