Samoan Language Week

Happy Samoan Language week!! The theme for this year is  'Lalaga Le si'osi omaga mo se lumana'i manuia'. Although I can not speak fluent Samoan, I think that it is important for everyone to learn and hold onto the language, so that they can speak it in the future. This can help our next generations to learn their language and be able to speak it, too people that are Samoan or to people that can understand the language. I think that learning the language of your heritage can maintain your culture, and strengthen your identity. Some things that can help us progress the languages we speak, is to go to church with fluent speakers or take classes. Languages are important in every aspect of our lives because it allows people to communicate with others, and understand the meaning of speaking those languages. 

Cells

In science, we have been learning about two different kinds of cells. One being Animal cell and the other being Plant cell. Things that are in these cells are Nucleus, Cell membrane, Mitochondria, Cytoplasm, Vacuole, Nuclear membrane. Something that is different between each other is that the plant cell has a Cell wall, Chloroplast, and a large vacuole while the animal cell doesn't.

Another science activity we did was using a microscope to see through to a leaf, to see what it looks like close up. We used one strand of grass and a leaf, we also took photos to show what it looks like.  The way we took the photo was that we connected the microscope to the back camera of our phones and placed it by the strand of grass and other leafs to see how different it was compared to each piece. 

What is a Community?

Today in social studies we were given a task to find out what we think community is and what it means. I think that a community is a place where everyone is welcomed, where you live and where everyone is well known. There are many characteristic that have things in common. The community that I live in is called Glen Innes ( G.I ) and like any other community this community has similar things. Things that our community face are children under the age of eighteen are doing illegal things such as smoking and drinking. Something positive that are community have faced are that everyone in this community is helpful and caring for how our community is looking. We have so many people that have kept this community clean and spotless especially when we have visitors from different countries.

History of Te reo maori

20 years back from now Te Reo was known for one of the dying languages. back then te reo was a worthless language to teach students because it was not high value  in schools and no one spoke the language as much. it was like all the attitudes had changed and no one really bothered to speak Te Reo.

for most of the 1900’s Te Reo was forbidden. most of the maoris were living in the countryside but then moved to the city, but when maoris left the countryside to go to the city they had to speak english. out of 5 maoris only one could speak Te Reo, which I think meant that the rest weren’t bothered to learn Te Reo or either let it die because of the ban of it in schools. years later Te Reo became more popular not only in schools but also in music. nowadays there are options for students to take maori classes so they can learn more about the language and are able to speak it. it is also being used more in songs by maoris that are proud of their ethnicity and want to carry that with them for other people to learn it.

now that there were many Te Reo speakers, some new zealanders thought that the european history was more important than new zealand history. that’s why people may have stopped speaking Te Reo, but now everyone is believing that both histories are important and that’s what I think to. more often there are teachers that are teaching toddlers to speak maori, and most toddlers have picked it up quickly. there is one teacher that has taught a class of toddlers Te Reo and they have performed a waiata in maori of the  colours and numbers in new zealand. I think that it is a gift to have the ability to be able to speak a language especially one that you family has grew up on.

I think that it's great that Te Reo is more popular now and is getting used in songs by people that are proud of there culture, and also getting taught to students at school. I hope that in the future there will be more people that are speaking Te reo.