JOIN A LOCAL TE REO CLASS
We all know practice makes perfect, and there are lots of ways to keep te reo present in your everyday life even when you’re speaking English. Start by using te reo place names and learning a few greetings. My favourite? Adding te reo labels to your kitchen items – by picking up the cinnamon/hinamona every few days, you’re bound to remember it easily!
DO SOME SOLO LEARNING
There are lots of great resources out there to facilitate solo learning. Head to your local library or a nearby bookstore to browse the many te reo Māori study books that exist. These are full of exercises on vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation – and they often come with a CD or a link to a website so you can listen to the sounds as you go.
IMMERSE YOURSELF IN MĀORI CULTURE
Like many of the wonderful languages in the world, the origin of words can be tied to mythology and stories. For instance, did you know that one of New Zealand’s favourite birds, the pı¯wakawaka, is responsible for Maui’s death in Māori mythology? Immersing yourself in te reo history and culture will no doubt help you remember some useful words and sentences.
LISTEN TO PODCASTS, MUSIC AND RADIO
A huge part of the Māori language revolves around pronunciation. Many words are accented and, if mispronounced, could mean something completely different (I’m looking at you keke [cake] and kēkē [armpit]). Just listening to the sounds, even if you don’t understand everything, can be incredibly helpful – save some Māori radio stations to listen to on your ride to work, or have a boogie to some te reo songs while making dinner.
Although learning at home is great, attending a class gives you that little boost of motivation – having a set time holds you accountable and teachers can
also correct mistakes on the spot.
Many nearby schools and community centres offer classes you can join for a small fee (browse Neighbourly organisations to find your closest spot!).
It’s also worth asking your employer whether any te reo Māori programmes exist within your organisation.
If you’re ever at loss for the meaning of a word, just whip the Te Aka Māori app out to find out more about its origin and pronunciation. And if you’re more of a slow-burner learner, also consider subscribing to the Kupu o te Rā newsletter, which emails you a new word (kupu) every day. Have I missed anything? Let us know by sharing your learning experience on Neighbourly.