Saini Tuitopu, one of the trustees of the Talalelei Life Futures Fund recently visited Samoa, and was even more fortunate to meet with the students at their support meet-up.
On the day Saini visited, students were focusing on tips and tricks for developing and improving their English.
Students are taught in English at the National University of Samoa and developing their fluency is a critical aspect of their education.
Using the Iam Tongi* version of James Blunt’s song “Monsters”, they looked at each line of the song and discussed the meaning.
Songs and their lyrics are considered to be valuable teaching and learning tools. They can help learners of English as a second language improve their listening, comprehension and pronunciation.
Saini reported the students being highly engaged as they interrogated the song’s meaning and they were excited to realise that such an enjoyable, everyday activity could help them develop their English.
Saini was also able to share with them her career journey at Air New Zealand, where she manages content creation.
When asked what they had learned from the day, it was that education gives you options.
*Just in case you didn’t know, William "Iam" Guy Tongi is the first Pacific Islander to win the American Idol, which he did this year.
Monsterssong played by Iam Tongi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k53D5D0sYLU