The low-key launch of the book ‘Tusitusi i le Gagana Samoa’ at the Samoa Primary School on Friday, belies the importance of this valuable resource book for educators teaching children to write in Samoan.
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This reader-friendly book with a larger-than-usual font, clear diagrams, a glossary and easy to follow sections is designed for easy and up-to-date reference for students writing in Samoan.
Written by Auckland-based Levi Tavita Muliagatele, Vavao Fetui and Saili Aukuso, the trio has an impressive range of teaching experience ranging from Year 1 through to university level.
As well as being totally committed to what Saili calls ‘additive bilingualism’, all three hold Masters degrees in either Languages, Education or Language Teaching.
“Our philosophy is that language is aligned,” said Saili. “You need to emphasise the importance of the first language (Samoan) to be able to learn another (eg English).”
“The purpose of the model of additive bilingualism is that when you introduce English in Year 4, you are adding, not subtracting to the first language.”
Saili, will be attending the Samoa Conference at the National University of Samoa, during her visit to Samoa.
The three authors, as the Ola team, have formed a trust with other arms to their initiatives. Their website is OLA Puletini A’oga, offers an online educational bulletin produced in Samoan and distributed freely internationally. Its three main goals are:
1. to support educational programmes or curricula that teach the Gagana Samoa or use it as a medium of instructions;
2. to support the common task of promoting and nurturing the Gagana Samoa as New Zealand’s third most communicative language;
3. to support its utilization as a cultural capital of the Samoan people.
OLA operates under the umbrella of the Niu pacific Information Trust which main goal is to facilitate information to promote biliteracy and classroom achievements through bilingual education.
The Niu Pacific Information serves under three operations:
1. Evaleon Books & Educational Resources, that prepares, publishes and distributes resources.
2. Niupac Publishing that caters to the publishing needs of our Samoan community, as well as other communities.
3. OLA Puletini A’oga that informs clients and community on relevant educational issues of the day, as well as supporting children’s learning.
The Keynote Address at the book launch was delivered by the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture Matafeo Falanaipupu Tanielu Aiafi. Co principals of Samoa Primary School, Anne Leauga, Pa’u Iakopo and
Sue Sua also spoke at the launch attended by teachers and their senior pupils who sang beautifully in three-part harmony.
The opening prayer was delivered by Enefatu Lesa of the E.F.K.S. church.
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