Whitireia Lecturer Launches Book at International Conference
Whitireia lecturer Le’autuli’ilagi M. Sauvao has recently returned from the International Conference for Samoan Language
and Culture, held in Long Beach, Los Angeles. She was invited to deliver a paper outlining methods of teaching language
and culture to students in tertiary institutes. This is her research area, documented in her new bookSulatoga. Sauvao
launched her book at the conference.
“It was a fantastic conference which encouraged development in language and culture in the young generations and also in
the professional development of teachers,” said Sauvao. Whitireia provided the funding, observing this as an opportunity
to market its resources overseas and provide Sauvao with international knowledge she could share on her return.
Sauvao delivered her paper as a practical exercise; that is, participants took turns at practising activities prepared
from poems in the book. ‘Participants gave positive feedback about the paper and how well it was prepared and
implemented,’ Sauvao reported.
Sauvao returns to New Zealand planning a national release of her book. A number of Whitireia staff will attend,
including Don Campbell, Arthur Graves, members of the research committee, and Pacific Liaison staff, who will be
presented with a copy of the book for the polytechnic’s library. Member of Parliament, the Hon. Winnie Laban, and
Porirua mayor Jenny Brash have also been invited.
The national book release will take place on 20 September at PIC House, 207 Champion Street, Porirua, at 10 am.
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