9SAM - SAMOAN

Samoan Language (Gagana Samoa) is spoken by nearly half a million people worldwide, including 85 thousand people in New Zealand, making it the third most widely spoken language in New Zealand (after English and te reo Māori). Whether you are learning Samoan to strengthen your identity as Samoan, to communicate with family members, for career enhancement or another reason, this subject will provide you with an opportunity to build on prior learning and to develop problem-solving, risk-taking and communication skills.

This course will introduce you to learning Gagana Samoa - Samoan language and cultural aspects of Samoa. You will learn how to talk about yourself, your family, school, hobbies and everyday activities.

Topics covered:

·       Greet and farewell and acknowledge people

·       O au Sini – My Goals

·       O ai A’u? – Who am I?

·       O lo’u Aiga, ma nu'u – My Family, my village

·       Ou te fiafia e – Things I like to do

·       Aso ma Masina o le Tausaga – Days and Months of the Year

·       O lo’u Aoga – My School

·       O Numera - Samoan numbers

·       Mea’ai taumafa – Samoan food

The main language focus will be to communicate in Gagana Samoa -Samoan Language. To learn by listening, observing and speaking as much Samoan in the classroom as possible. There will be different tasks, which will help develop all language skills: speaking, listening and writing. 

Your focus will be to interact and engage through  understanding and using everyday vocabulary. Learning will be encouraged through a variety of mediums  using fun paired, group and whole activities.

Students are also encouraged to join the school’s Pasifika Performance Group, where you will learn how to perform a Samoan siva/dance, and other Pasifika islands dances too,

A positive attitude to give it a go. Learning a new language is, sometimes, challenging as you find yourself in a different classroom environment, but it is also a lot of fun too. 

Assessment in the Junior School

Learning Progressions are an evaluation of student progress using various modes of learning as evidence (not just a one-off test).  They are based on the New Zealand Curriculum, and show the level at which a student is demonstrating knowledge or skills.  Our Learning Progressions Framework maps out students’ development as they move through Years 9 - 11.  

Within each subject, at the end of a phase of learning (ie. topic, unit or skill), students will be evaluated using these indicators: Emerging, Developing, Proficient, Advancing.  For more information about what these mean, please see the Year 9 - 11 section of our website.