“I chose to learn the Tongan language because I grew up around Tongan all my life being half Tongan. I heard it spoken. I’ve seen it written down, I’ve sung songs but never really knew the language, and so I wanted to study it.
Opportunities where I’ve used my Pacific language skills are mostly in the classroom learning the speeches. I intend to do a speech at my father’s upcoming 75th birthday.
I enjoyed learning the culture and what things mean, I’ve grown up around terms and things that I didn’t really understand, and now I have an understanding of those.
I think it’s important to learn a language, if that is your culture, because it does teach you a lot about the culture, beyond the language. I think it’s also good to learn it if it’s not your culture too, because it gives you a broader understanding of other people.
I like studying at MIT – the facilities are awesome. MIT make it very easy to enrol and apply. The lecturers are really good and it’s local, which is great.”
Karena Maka
MIT graduate
