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January 4, 2023

The Importance of Respecting your Parents

Importance of Respecting your Parents

In our Pacific cultures, the family is the centre of our way of life. There is an important connection between our identities and how it has been influenced by the people who have come before us. This is why it is so important to teach our Pacific learners the value of respecting their parents.

This video provides an overview of the fundamental value of respect; specifically, the importance of respecting your parents illustrated through a Pacific worldview. With reference to the “golden rule,” we explain to kids three reasons why showing respect for their parents is so important.

Here are 5 more cultural videos you might like:

  1. Observing the Sabbath – In this short video, Mele and her mum talk about how the Sabbath has been observed in Tonga.
  2. Tapa cloth designs – At Pacific Learners, we love producing videos that highlight different cultures and customs.
  3. Building Identity through culture – In this video, Talia sings Ua e manumalo, a song that she has been learning at church.
  4. Building Cultural Connections – Incorporating culture into daily home life means children build long lasting cultural connections.
  5. The Lords Prayer in Tongan – The importance of passing on simple cultural phrases, prayers and songs can have a positive and meaningful impact on the child’s sense of belonging and identity.

Why it is important to respect your parents

Reason 1 – Your parents do so much to keep you well

They send you to school, they work to put food on your table, and they provide you a roof to live under. They raise you and they shape you.

Reason 2 – It is a part of our Pacific culture

Family is at the centre of our way of life. They are our home and provide us with our identities.

Reason 3 – They brought you into this world

Showing respect is one of the only ways we can show our parents appreciation for what they have done.

December 29, 2022

Be Proud of Where You Come From – Pacific Culture

Be Proud of Where You Come From – Pacific Culture

Being proud of our culture means that we know we have a home when we feel alone. Being proud of our culture means that we know that we are not walking through this world alone. We have a community – a culture – behind us, supporting us, and pushing us forward. 

This video explores why it is so important to be proud of where we come from – from a Pacific worldview.

At Pacific Learners Education, we are passionate about the health and wellbeing of our Pacific children. For more videos like this, visit our Pacific Learners Video Library.  

Why it is important to be proud of where you come from

  • The first reason is that it is a part of our identity
  • The second reason is that it keeps our cultures alive for generations to come
  • The third reason is that being proud of our culture means we can also learn from other cultures
  • The fourth reason is that culture gives us a sense of belonging
December 28, 2022

Te Whare Tapa Whā – Health and Wellbeing

Te Whare Tapa Whā – Health and Wellbeing

Te Whare Tapa Whā is a Māori health concept illustrating the four cornerstones of Māori health and wellbeing (hauora). With its strong foundations and four equal sides, the wharenui represents the four elements of Māori well-being.

Although Te Whare Tapa Whā is a Māori health concept, it equally applies to Pacific health and wellbeing. 

The Elements of Māori Health and Wellbeing (Hauora)

• taha hinengaro – mental health and emotions.
• taha wairua – spiritual health.
• taha tinana – physical health.
• taha whānau – social, family and community.

At Pacific Learners Education, we are passionate about the health and wellbeing of our Pacific children. For more videos like this, you can view our full range of videos here: Pacific Learners Education Video Library

Learn more about Te Whare Tapa Whā below.

December 21, 2022

Samoan words for celebrating Christmas

Samoan words for celebrating Christmas

Christmas is an important time in our Pacific culture where we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

In this video, we bring you Samoan words that you can use during the Christmas holidays, such as aso fanau, meaning birthday, or fa’amanatuga which means celebration or meaalofa meaning presents.

At Pacific Learners, we passionate about the revitalising Pacific languages, we do this through providing regular videos focusing on Samoan, Tongan, Fijian, Cook Island, Kiribati and Rotuman content. 

If you are interested to see our ‘Tongan words to celebrate Christmas‘ video, click the link

December 19, 2022

Tongan Words for Celebrating Christmas

Tongan words for celebrating Christmas

With the Christmas season fast approaching, we give you a video of 14 Tongan words that you can use when celebrating Christmas. Christmas is a time of giving, spending time with family and, most of all, remembering the birth of Jesus Christ. 

At Pacific Learners, we are passionate about bring you Pacific language videos that you can use for occassions such as Christmas, Easter, and other festive celebrations. 

For more Tongan language videos, visit our Tongan Language Resource Page where we have 10 more videos dedicated to the Tongan language and culture. 

 

October 2, 2022

Learn Fijian Words for Family Members

Fijian Words for Family

At Pacific Learners, we are passionate about releasing Pacific Language videos that can help improve your Pacific Language journey. Our videos include common words and phrases for the Samoan, Tongan, Kiribati, Rotoman, Cook Island languages and more. So, in this video we bring you Fijian Words for Family Members.

You can learn Fijian words like ‘Tinaqu’ which means ‘Mother’ or ‘Makubuqu’ which means ‘Grandchild’, and many more like this.

If you are interested to learn more about the Fijian Language, you can also visit our Fijian Language Resource Page.

Five Common Fijian Words for Family Members

  • Fijian for Family – Vuvale
  • Fijian for Mother – Tinaqu
  • Fijian for Father – Tamaqu
  • Fijian for Son – Luvequ Tagane
  • Fijian for Daughter – Luvequ Yalewa

View our full list of Fijian words for Family members below:

Family – Vuvale
Grandfather – Tukaqu
GrandMother – Tubuqu
Parents – Tubutubu
Father – Tamaqu
Mother – Tinaqu
Husband – Turaga na watina
Wife – Marama na watina
Brother – Ganequ
Sister – Taciqu
Nephew – Vugoqu Tagane
Niece – Vugoqu Yalewa
Baby – Gone dramidrami
Boy – Tagane
Girl – Yalewa
Daughter – Luvequ Yalewa
Son – Luvequ Tagane
Grandchild – Makubuqu
Aunty – Nei
Uncle – Momo

September 28, 2022

The Lords Prayer in Fijian

The Lord’s Prayer in Fijian 

In this Pacific Learners video, we have translated the Lord’s Prayer from English to Fijian.

Passing on simple cultural phrases, songs, stories and scriptures can have a positive impact on our children’s sense of identity and belonging. So we have translated one of the most well known scriptures in the Bible, the ‘Lord’s Prayer’ from English to Fijian.

Use the translations below to follow along with the video.

For more Fijian Language videos, visit our Fijian Language Resources Page.

The Lord’s Prayer translation from English to Fijian:

Our Father who art in heaven
Tamai keimami mai lomalagi,

Hallowed be your name
me vakarokoroko takin n yacamuni,

Your kingdom come
me yaco mai na nomuni matanitu,

Your will be done on earth,
me vaka sa caka na lomamuni e vuravura

as it is in heaven
me vaka sa yaco tiko mai lomalagi,

give us this day our daily bread
ni solia main a siga oqo na kakana e rauti keimami

forgive us our sins
ni bokoca neimani valavalaca

as we forgive those who sinned against us
Me vaka keimami sa bokoca oti, nodra era sai valavala ca veikeimami

lead us not into temptation
Ni kakua ni kauti keimami kina vere

but deliver us from evil
Ka moni vakabulai keimami mai na ca

For yours in the Kingdom
ni sa nomuni na matanitu

the power and the glory forever
keina jaukauwa keina lagilagi ka tawamudu

Amen
emeni

August 25, 2022

How bridges are made

How bridges are made

As we continue our theme of STEAM learning, we bring you a brief video about how bridges are made, and what makes them so strong.

The bridges we touch on are Beam bridges, and Suspension bridges. Both bridges are build different, this is due to the size of the bridge and the weight they carry.

In our collection of STEAM videos we recently highlighted the role of engineers, and the type of engineer that would design and build bridges. This type of engineer is called a Civil engineer. You can watch the video here: What is Engineering?

At Pacific Learners, we are passionate about providing content that would ignite and spark the interests of our Pacific children, in particular around STEAM subjects.

For more STEAM videos, you can check out our STEAM Resource Page

August 22, 2022

What is the Arts?

What is the Arts?

In understanding the subjects of STEAM learning, we take a look at the ‘Arts’. When we think about the Arts we tend to think about drawing, sculpting, painting and photography, however the Arts takes into consideration much more.

To be effective in the Arts, you require creativity, expression and interpretation. By combining these things, you are likely to improve academic performance, increase motor skills and boost your decision making ability.

At Pacific Learners Education, we believe our Pacific and Māori Peoples are naturally suited to the Arts, this is demonstrated through tattoo designs, tapa and carving designs. In addition, Pacific and Māori culture is heavily steeped in history where stories, songs and traditions are handed down from generation to generation.

For more STEAM Learning videos visit the STEAM Learning Resources Page

August 21, 2022

What is Engineering?

What is Engineering?

As we continue our STEAM Learning video series, we introduce a STEAM topic known as Engineering. At Pacific Learners Education, we are passionate about focusing on subjects that are naturally suited to our Pacific children’s gifts and talents.

This video also contains Tongan translations for key words. For more STEAM videos, visit our STEAM video resource page.

Engineering allows for someone who is a problem solver, innovator and analytical thinker.

Engineering falls into 4 main branches.

  1. Civil Engineering: Deals with the design, construction and maintenance of structures such as dams, roads, bridges and buildings.
  2. Mechanical Engineering: Takes into consideration science, mathematics and physics to design and manufacture mechanical systems.
  3. Electrical Engineering: Takes into consideration electronics and electricity when creating and designing products such as communication, navigation systems as well as electric motors and components.
  4. Chemical Engineering: These engineers take raw materials and create products that improves production. These products can include fertiliser, medicine and fuels.
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