An Auckland librarian and te reo speaker is looking forward to sharing the final day of performance at Te Matatini with Mandarin speakers.
This Saturday Lidu Gong will be interpreting and explaining what is happening on stage in Mandarin.
Gong, originally from China, works as a librarian at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in Mangere. He said he learned Te Reo for two reasons.
“The first reason is I am working in a Māori organisation. To work well, I should be integrating myself into the Māori world, and te reo is a very important means of getting involved in the Māori world.”
Gong said his second reason was to “find the best way to learn a language”, as he had “been teaching language for many years”.
This is where he used a methodology he called “holistic learning”.
“I didn’t have a desirable learning environment. But I don’t learn grammar, and I don’t learn words. I learn exactly what I need to learn.
“I use the language to learn it, rather than learn the language to use it, in a normal way.”
Gong said this method allowed him to learn specific phrases and words in certain situations, which in turn led to him learning more about the language and eventually becoming more proficient.
He said it is different from how languages are traditionally taught, and first included words like karakia, whakatau, tauparapara and whaikōrero.
“That is why I could talk [for over] 50 minutes in three months of learning te reo.”
On the final day of Te Matatini, he said he will be using what he has learned to describe the performances on stage for Mandarin speakers.
“I will use what I have learned about Māori culture and Chinese culture and convey the concept of what Matatini means in respect to Māori culture.
“It is more than the dancing, performing, and language. It is about the whole Māori world.”
On tips for others who hope to learn te reo, Gong said people “don’t need to worry” about how much they learn.
“What we need to understand is the language is more than a means of communication. According to Māori scholars, te reo is first of all an expression of emotions.
“It is to connect the physical world and the spiritual world.”
On its final day, translation will also be available in Tongan, Samoan, Fijian, Cook Island Māori and an audio description via the festival app.
