Faafetai lava mo le avanoa/thank you for the opportunity
Bula! Namaste! Kia orana! Malo e lelei! Mauri! Kia ora! Talofa lava !
O lou igoa o Joanna Tugia-Luamanu-TuiSamoa
I entered teaching a long time ago because I was passionate about helping our Pacific People. Early in my journey I quietly shared my culture – a little bit of language and always took the cultural groups. Today it is so much more – no one explicitly tells you to use your first language in your every day teaching. PTAP encourages you to use your first language; it emphasises how and why it is so important to make those connections through all curriculum areas.
My teaching career started in Auckland at Freemans Bay Primary, from there I went to Wesley Intermediate and then I moved on to Life Education.
I have been in Hamilton City for over 7 years; teaching at the Marian Catholic School and Deanwell Primary, where I lead and taught the Te Reo Classes and the Pasifika liaison in the School. I am currently teaching at St Joseph’s Catholic School (Te Kuiti).
In 2010 I was the co-facilitator for the PTAP in the Hamilton region. I so enjoyed and had lots of fun learning from our Project Director Rae Si’ilata. This inspired me to apply for a TESSOL Scholarship. I know from completing the TEAL qualification and from being involved in the PTAP my teaching practice has continued to improve for all, especially for our ESOL learners.
Manuia