Build relationships through connection, understanding, and trust
Suggestion for implementing the strategy ‘Knowing your Pacific learners and their contexts’
On this page:
On this page:
Current page section: Build relationships
Go to top of current page: Build relationships
Go to top of current page: Build relationships
Go to top of current page: Build relationships
Releasing the potential of cultural capital
Releasing the potential of cultural capital
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Make informed connections
Make informed connections
Find out where your Pacific learners were born, the cultures they connect with, and the languages they speak and hear in their families.
Use this knowledge to connect experiences to learning.
Culture and the classroom
Culture and the classroom
O tu, aganu’u, ma agaifanua a le tamaititi o le a le mafai ona ulufale atu I le potuaoga sei vagana ua fa’atauaina ma faaulufaleina muamua I le loto ma le agaga o le faiaoga.
The culture of the child cannot enter the classroom until it has first entered the consciousness of the teacher.
Samoan saying
Support learning relationships
Support learning relationships
Anthony Faitaua advocates creating a safe environment by understanding the students’ culture and values.
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Characteristics of a good teacher
Characteristics of a good teacher
According to Pacific learners (and Pacific parents), a "good teacher":
- understands that my identity, language and culture is important to me
- pronounces my name and words in my language properly
- recognises that English might not be my and/ or my parents’ first language and communicates with us in a way that we can understand
- makes an effort to learn and use simple words like saying ‘hello’ and ‘thank you’ in my language
- does research to know more about me, my family and my culture and island nation(s) that we come from
- understands the values that are important to me such as faith, spirituality (church) and family
Source: Tapasā: Cultural competencies framework for teachers of Pacific learners (opens in a new tab/window)
Useful resources
Useful resources
Language enhancing the achievement of Pasifika
The LEAP resource aims to bring together all the factors that can support bilingual Pasifika students’ learning. It suggests ways in which teachers can explore, in practical ways, language teaching and learning principles that can help them work more effectively with bilingual Pasifika students.
Publisher: Pasifika Education Community
Next steps
More suggestions for implementing the strategy “Know your Pacific learners”:
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Current page Build relationships
Return to the guide “Supporting Pacific learners”
![11440 [Pasifika-students.jpg]](https://inclusive-live-storagestack-assetstorages3bucket-3uty0hejzw6u.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/inclusive-education/guides/featured-images/Pasifika-students__FillWzIwOCwyMDhd.jpg)
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
- Build relationships
- Ask the student what will help
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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
