Working with Pasifika learners

Louise Falepau, learning adviser at Student Learning, provides advice for working with Pasifika learners.

It’s really important to engage and connect with students and these are just some of the ways to do that. There are also lots of resources available through the Ministry of Education and Ako Aotearoa.

Create a respectful learning environment

Start by making a positive connection, and find common ground

Use a getting-to-know-each-other activity and include yourself so that students get to know a little about you too.

Make an effort to pronounce names correctly

If you don’t know, ask, and then practise, privately. This can make all the difference to engaging the learner in the topic.

Use a variety of learning and teaching strategies—keep teaching snappy and interesting

Contextualise content

Link new concepts to familiar contexts to support comprehension and application of content to real-life experiences.

Use 'think, pair, share' for group discussions

This technique encourages participation and engages learners.

Some students find big group question-and-answer discussions uncomfortable (that is, it can favour the talkers). Be aware that silence may not mean students have nothing to contribute but instead are taking time to think through their response, and allow for that.

Communicate effectively

• Outline the aim/purpose of the tutorial or one-to-one discussion at the beginning so that students know what to expect.
• Give clear, simple instructions and check understanding of your instructions.
• Give your full attention to the student to show you are listening.