- Published: 28 August 2017
- ISBN: 9780143771470
- Imprint: Raupo
- Format: Paperback
- Pages: 288
- RRP: $38.00
Maori at Home
An Everyday Guide to Learning the Maori Language
Extract
HE NGOHE-Ā-WHĀNAU
WHĀNAU ACTIVITIES TO MAKE ‘BEFORE SCHOOL’ A MĀORI LANGUAGE DOMAIN
NGOHE-Ā-WHĀNAU TUATAHI
FAMILY ACTIVITY 1
On the way to school in the car is an opportune moment to use
te reo Māori with the kids because they can’t go anywhere! You
have a captive audience! Having fun while learning, especially
with kids, always works best. So try downloading this song
from the following address: soundcloud.com/heireowhanau.
The lyrics to the song are below. It has been specially written
to reinforce key phrases that are used regularly each morning.
Play the song in the car, get the kids to sing along, but most
importantly, use the lines in the song during your conversations
to the children. You will find that it won’t take long for those lines
and phrases to become a normal part of your family’s morning
routines.
Mōrena, mōrena!
Kei te pēhea koe? How are you?
Kei te whiti, kei te whiti mai Shining, the sun is shining
te rā
Me maranga me te horoi You should get up and wash
kanohi your face
Me te waku niho, me te here And brush your teeth, and tie
makawe your hair
Kei te whiti, kei te whiti mai Shining, the sun is shining
te rā
Me mau kākahu koe You should put clothes on
Me mau hū rawe koe You should put on some cool
Shoes
Kua rite mō te puta, kua rite All ready to head out, ready
mō te rā! for the day!
NGOHE-Ā-WHĀNAU TUARUA
FAMILY ACTIVITY 2
Activities to encourage language development at breakfast time.
Whānautanga ki te 2 ngā tau (from birth to 2 years old)
Identify colours in the room, colours of objects, or colours of
food.
He aha te tae o tēnei kai? What is the colour of this
food?
He aha te tae o tēnei What is the colour of this
taputapu? object?
He aha te tae o tēnei pātū? What is the colour of this
wall?
He aha te tae o tēnei tūru? What is the colour of this
chair?
Kōwhai Yellow
Whero Red
Waiporoporo Purple
Māwhero Pink
Mā White
Kākāriki Green
Pango Black
Upsize the reo you use with pēpi from one word to three or four.
Kei hea a Māmā? Anei a Māmā. E aroha ana a Māmā ki a koe!
Where is Mummy? Here is Mummy. Mummy loves you very
much!
Kei hea a pēpi Maiana? Anā a pēpi Maiana. Kei te kai a pēpi
Maiana.
Where is baby Maiana? There is baby Maiana. Baby Maiana is
eating.
E 2 ngā tau–4 ngā tau (2–4 years old)
Place familiar objects in a container and get kids to pull them
out, one at a time, and tell you what it is and what they use it for.
Ko taku pōro tēnei. Ka tākaro au ki tēnei pōro. He pōro pai.
This is my ball. I play with it. It’s a cool ball.
Ko taku Tāne-pekapeka tēnei. Ka patu ia i ngā nanakia.
This is my Batman. He defeats villains.
Identify body parts then ask the kids what they are used for.
He aha tēnei? (Ka tohu koe What is this? (Pointing to
ki tō ihu) your nose)
He ihu. A nose.
Hei aha te ihu/Mō te aha te What is your nose for?
ihu?
Hei hongi putiputi/Mō te For smelling flowers.
hongi putiputi.
He aha tēnei? (Ka tohu koe What is this? (Pointing to
ki tō waewae) your leg)
He waewae. A leg.
Hei aha te waewae/Mō te What is your leg for?
aha te waewae?
Hei oma/Mō te oma. For running.
E 4 ngā tau–6 ngā tau (4–6 years old)
Begin to talk about spatial relationships. Individual words can
be used here then start to upsize like we did previously when
they were babies. Hand actions are a great way to explain these
words and ingrain them into the developing vocabulary list of
our kids.
Tuatahi First
Tuarua Second
Whakamutunga Last
Waenganui Middle
Mua Front
Muri Back
Mauī Left
Matau/Katau Right
Runga Above
Raro Below
Roto Inside
Waho Outside
Kā On
Weto Off
Rere Running (tap, etc.)
Kati Off (tap)
Kei runga ā koutou tina i te tūpapa.
Your lunches are on the bench.
Kei raro i te tūru katau o te waka tō pikau.
Your (school) bag is in the car, under the right-hand-side seat.
Kei waho ngā tamariki e tatari ana.
The kids are waiting outside.
Kei roto tonu koe i te wharepaku?
Are you still in the toilet?
Whakawetoa te pouaka whakaata, kei muri mātou it e whare
e piki ana i te waka.
Turn off the TV, we (us, but not you) are behind the house (out
the back) getting into the car.
Encourage the children to name everything they use during
morning time and while eating breakfast. They can eventually
graduate to self-narration, which is a great learning tool for you
too if you are a beginner with te reo yourself.
Kei te tiki au i te miraka I am getting the milk
Kei te tiki au i ngā puarere I am getting the rice bubbles
Kei te riringi au i te miraka I am pouring the milk into my
ki taku oko puarere bowl of rice bubbles
Mmmmm, he reka! Mmmmm, yummy!
Kua pau taku kai I have finished my food
Kei te tuku i aku utauta kai I am putting my dishes in the
ki te puoto sink
Kei te haere au ki te waku I am going to brush my teeth
niho
Maori at Home Scotty Morrison, Stacey Morrison
The accessible and fun guide for everyday Kiwis looking to learn and speak the Maori language around the home.
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