Lecturer launches book at international conference

Le’autuli’ilagi M. Sauvao.

Whitireia Polytech 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 book Sulatoga. 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.

The national release of the book will take place on 20th September.