WHO AM I?  WHERE

IDENTITIES, LANGUAGES AND

CULTURES COLLIDE

MANU FAAEA-SEMEATUON GLOBALEDTALK.COM

I'm a Samoan educator, born in New Zealand, often known in professional circles as a person of Pasifika/Pacific Islander to the rest of the world, the South Pacific to be precise, isn't there a musical with the same name? 

WHO AM I?  WHERE IDENTITIES, LANGUAGES AND CULTURES

COLLIDE

WHERE IS SAMOA?

1. Samoa mao'i - "Samoa mo Samoa"2. Fluent gagana Samoa, no fa'aSamoa3. Fluent Fa'aSamoa , no gagana Samoa4. Some gagana Samoa, no Fa'aSamoa

IDENTITY CONTINUUM OF SAMOANS (MULTIPLE

IDENTITIES OF SAMOANS)

THE BEAUTY OF SAMOA

5. Some Fa'aSamoa, no gagana Samoa 6. Brought up in the Fa'aSamoa, chooses not to engage in Fa'aSamoa or speak gagana Samoa7. Not brought up in the Fa'aSamoa but chooses to engage in Fa'aSamoa and gagana Samoa8. No gagana Samoa, no Fa'aSamoa

IDENTITY CONTINUUM OF SAMOANS (MULTIPLE

IDENTITIES OF SAMOANS)

1. Diaspora Samoan vs. Samoan born Samoan2. Second language learner (gagana Samoa is the mother tongue)3. Academic language learner (gagana Samoa is studied at tertiary level)4. Passive vs. Active (understanding gagana Samoa rather than speaking it)5. Relationship between gagana Samoa and Fa'aSamoa, practises gagana Samoa

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THE IDENTITY CONTINUUM OF SAMOANS

(MULTIPLE IDENTITIES OF SAMOANS):

WHERE IS NEW ZEALAND?

6. Formal school learning environment (does it allow for gagana Samoa and Fa'aSamoa?)7. Family environment (is gagana Samoa or Fa'aSamoa practised as family values?)8. Palagi showing cultural competence  - Palagi developing fluent gagana Samoa and now teaching it9. New milliennium Samoan 10. Ethnicity vs. Identity

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THE IDENTITY CONTINUUM OF SAMOANS

(MULTIPLE IDENTITIES OF SAMOANS):

Where we fit in the identity continuum and whatever factors contribute to the various points in the identity continuum - is important for educators of Pacific Island/Pasifika learners to understand.  You must first reach in order to teach.The concept of the identity continuum can be applied to any ethnic group(s). 

How will you get to know learners like these in your own classrooms?  How will you make sense of when identities, cultures and languages collide?

WHERE WE FIT

You can read more about Manu Faaea-Semeatu's thoughts in her blog:http://manuscr1pt.blogspot.co.nz/

Check out the other posts from educators and those that care about education on www.globaledtalk.com

Educator? Blogger about Education? Contact us contributors@globaledtalk.com

WHERE WE FIT

WHO AM I?  WHERE

IDENTITIES, LANGUAGES AND

CULTURES COLLIDE

MANU FAAEA-SEMEATUON GLOBALEDTALK.COM