Cultural Learning – A‘oa‘oga Fa‘aleaganu‘u

Fa‘asàmoa, which includes the cultural life and customs of the Samoan community in New Zealand is often expressed through the language. Learning about fa‘asàmoa is part of the way in which children and students learn Samoan. For Samoan children, learning Samoan is bound up with their sense of identity as Samoans. For non-Samoan children, learning Samoan and about fa‘asàmoa in New Zealand will provide a deeper understanding of what it means to be a part of a multicultural society.
Cultural learning is specified in this statement as a separate component to ensure that it receives due emphasis. However, when developing programmes, teachers and early childhood supervisors should plan in ways that integrate learning about aspects of culture with language learning opportunities.
At each level, specific suggestions are described for approaches to cultural learning and for aspects to be focused on.