Exploring the Vagahau Niue in the New Zealand Curriculum document.

Exploring theVagahau Niue in the New Zealand Curriculum document.

Vagahau Niue in the New Zealand Curriculum documentVagahau Niue in the New Zealand Curriculum has been designed and developed to support the teaching and learning of vagahau Niue as an additional language in New Zealand Schools. It provides recognition of the Niue language and reflects the goals and targets of the Ministry of Educations Pasifika Education Plan 2006-2010 by increasing opportunities to build strong Pasifika language foundations and contributing to raising achievement for all Pasifika students (Ministry of Education, 2007).Visual representation of the Vagahau Niue in New Zealand Curriculumdocument.Vagahau Niue in the New Zealand Curriculum [VNiNZC] is not a teaching programme, but instead provides guidelines for planning Vagahau Niue programmes in New Zealand early childhood education settings as well as in primary and secondary schools (Ministry of Education, 2007).

This document is comprehensive, and provides robust strategies for the implementation of Vagahau Niue, providing and opportunity for students to develop the appropriate skills for engagement with the language.

There are many strands and values in this document. Only three, Level 2 strands will be represented visually as Hiapo (Tapa) patterns. The three strands of focus are: Vagahau Language, Fakaaogaaga he Vagahau - Communication , and Aga Fakamotu Culture. Level 2 was selected, as this is the curriculum level that I will be teaching next year.

Tau La La: Vagahau Strand: Language

Tau La La: Vagahau Strand: Language Explanation behind the design:

I developed this pattern to reflect the intricacies of learning another language. The pattern has seven main components, which represent the following: Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing, Visual language, Dialects, and Loto Fakalofa Language of the heart.

At this level, students should be able to:listen to short conversations and texts and read short texts, identifying key details; interact in simple conversations; write simple sentences using spelling and punctuation conventions and copy accurately; understand and express meaning in stories, crafts, and performances through visual images (VNiNZC, p. 62).

Tau La La: Fakaaogaaga he Vagahau Strand: Communication

Tau La La: Fakaaogaaga he Vagahau Strand: CommunicationExplanation behind the design:

This pattern represents the Renown Taro plant (Colocasia Escalenta). The Taro grows in all corners of the world and is an important staple to many Pasifika Oceanic nations. This is acknowledge by the four leaves facing different directions. Therefore, consideration is given to the fact that just like the Taro plant, Communication is a fundamental segment within communities, households and schools, and is necessary for ongoing progression and survival.

At this level, students should be able to:

identify and describe people, places, and things; understand and use time expressions, such as day, month, year, and dates; offer, accept, refuse, and deny things; ask others to do something; express interest and enjoyment; express feelings, emotions, and needs (VNiNZC, p 63).

Tau La La: Aga FakamotuStrand: Culture

Tau La La: Aga FakamotuStrand: Culture Explanation behind the design:

This pattern represents the Niuean culture, Niuean values, beliefs and customs, practices, language and heritage. Culture comprises many factions, each playing a role in the growth and development of the people.

At this level, students should be able to:

Understand and differentiate social roles and interrelationships, for example, those in the household family and in the tribal family; use appropriate forms of language for themselves and others in particular situations and contexts;

Fakaue lahi, Kia monuina