First university-level Tongan classes offered in NZ Featured
9 September, 2018. An Auckland tertiary institute says it's the first in New Zealand to run university-level Tongan language classes.
The Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) in Otara started offering a free level three certificate in the Tongan language in July.
The school's deputy chief executive Pasifika, Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, said MIT's board agreed to prioritise Pacific learning outcomes late last year.
"Our belief is that if students are strong in their language, their culture and their heritage and understand where they come from and where they're going to, they're going to be more successful in the classroom and out in society," he said.
Seventeen students had signed up to the Tongan language paper and MIT planned to offer a level four certificate next year, said Mr Lotu-Iiga, who is a former National Party MP and Minister of Pacific Peoples.
"It's about strengthening student voices, recognising our Pacific language and culture on campus and celebrating the really good parts of Pacific communities here in Otara and around Manukau."
-RNZI
1 comment
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The problem here stems from the home . It's the parents fault that their children don't speak the mother tongue , because of the erroneous thinking that children born overseas should speak English because they are citizens of an English speaking country , and so the parents will always speak English to the children instead of the native tongue , most probably so they could practice their English on the children . which benefits no one , the children don't speak the mother language but speak fluent English the parents on the other hand still speak broken English . That's why parents can't explain the history or custom of their homeland to their offspring in the mother tongue because the children don't speak the language nor in English 'cause the parents them self can't speak proper English , so the children who are born abroad are the ones who lose out in the end because of the shortcoming of the parents . Families who speak the mother tongue at home to their children give their children the advantage of being able to read and talk two languages , but not all . Yes a good idea .