What a year 2020 was.
Before we move on, here’s a few reflections from The Reo Project
Full-immersion language learning is awesome.
It isn’t for the faint-hearted which, in my opinion, means it’s potentially for everyone. Preparation is key, and most of the preparation is mental. The biggest barrier to developing your Reo is whakamā, the feeling of embarrassment or discomfort, especially around speaking.
Tūwhitia te hopo, mairangitia te angitu
Doing non-language learning is super helpful for part-time language students.
Part-time Te Reo Māori students are usually pretty busy and meet for a couple of hours one night per week. By switching my watching, listening and reading to material by Māori and about Māori meant that I grew my understanding of the context of Te Reo. And spending time listening to people speak Māori is genuinely helping your language learning, so this isn’t even cheating!
As a starter for 10, you should:
Watch: Māori Television in general, and Waka Huia specifically. Short, beautiful documentaries in Te Reo (subtitled) with many native speakers.
Listen: I can’t say enough good things about Tāringa Podcast. Start at the beginning and hang on.
Read: Too many books to mention them all but if you’re stuck, start with The Parihaka Woman.
Everyone has something to teach and something to learn
I was part of a course which emphasised the tuakana /teina approach to learning. That is, tuakana (elder, or more advanced students) were expected to support the learning of teina (younger, or less advanced students). The primary environment for this was the weekend wānanga reo (language workshops). These two-night noho (residential) had students of all levels mixing, working, teaching and learning from each other and provided the richest learning opportunities of the whole year.
Talk. Talk. Talk.
Firstly: To learn Māori, speak Māori as often as you can. Read aloud. Ask questions. Make Te Reo the first thing and the last thing you say in a meeting. Make it the first thing you say in the morning.
Secondly: Speak Te Reo outside your classroom. Be part of the revitalisation. Normalise the use, the learning and the sound of Te Reo in your community.
Thirdly: Pass on what you have learnt. Both your knowledge of kupu and grammar, but also your story. Inspire, encourage and affirm other people on their own Reo journey.