Language School connecting cultures and people
“Today, I felt free!”
“I felt I belonged.”
“This is my dream to be in a place where people who are different can gather.”
“I learnt a lot. I didn’t know that the Islands were different. I thought they were all the same.”
“I say thank you to New Zealand. I am here!”
“It was nice to feel happy. In my country, it’s not good.”
This is a sample of the feedback received from learners with MIT – Te Pūkenga School of Languages after a Cultural Day held last week at ?tara campus.
Students from thirty different countries were represented at the event where they were invited to share music, dance, food and traditions from their homelands.
“At the school, we have an increasing number of students from different ethnic backgrounds attending,” says senior lecturer Susan Lotoa, who organised the event in collaboration with learners.
“This includes a large number from refugee backgrounds. A common experience for many of our students is when they enrolled at MIT, is that this is the first time many have experienced people from different cultures. Students learn to connect, share and experience diverse backgrounds.”
The experience built on the pōwhiri all have received on campus developing a sense of belonging and acknowledgement of where they come from.
Under the new canopy recently installed over the Quad courtyard, the audience was treated to Afghan musical performances, with dances and song from Rarotonga, India, Samoa, Tonga and Ukraine. While in the Pasifika Community Centre, there were displays of Tongan handicrafts, Chinese tea making, dumplings and sugar cane drinks, Korean games, Japanese origami, India henna patterns and food from around the world.
The event providing the opportunity for students to feel pride in where they come from, allow them to understand in Aotearoa New Zealand we value their cultural identity while promoting a sense of place and positive mental well-being.
“At MIT-Te Pūkenga, the School of Languages and Community Education lives the value Manawa nui – we reach out and welcome in,” says Head of School Ricky Versteeg.
“The cultural day was our way to welcome and celebrate the different ethnicities in our school. It was heart-warming to see how ākonga grew confidence when they were allowed to showcase their culture and language, and how they engaged and learned from each other.”
The event was such a success students and staff are already looking at more ways to promote further opportunities for self-expression as well as increased engagement with Māori and Pasifika cultures.