Professional Reading #2

Title of Book/Reading/Study Programme
Talanoa Research Methodology
Author/s or Lecturer/s or Speaker/s
Timote M Vaioleti
Synopsis
Author Timote argues that TALANOA is a personal encounter that enables peoples to story their issues, their realities and aspirations, allows more mo'oni (truth, pure, realities) information to be available...Talanoa can be referred to as a conversation, a talk, an exchange of ideas and thinking whether formal or informal. In a good talanoa encounter, noa creates the space and conditions, Tala intermingles the researcher/teacher and participants/students emotions, knowledges and experiences. This alliance leads to an energising and uplifting of the spirits, and to a positive state of connectedness and enlightenment (Vaioleti, 2006).
Motivation
This reading reinforces the importance of ensuring I know how to best communicate with my Pasifika learners. Taking into consideration my target students ethnic background, the group consists dominantly of Pasifika and Maori students. The Pasifika way is spoken rather than written, based on oratory and verbal negotiation which have deep traditional roots in Pasifika cultures. Talanoa for Pasifika inquiries and researches will make available more valid and authentic information than other methodologies. 
How will it help me? How has it helped me?
What I enjoy about talanoa with my students is the fact it removes distance and provides presence and a face they could connect to. It's a technique where the nature of the questions has not been determined in advance, but will depend on the way in which the Talanoa develops. It is a respectful, reciprocating interaction. The reciprocity embedded in the talanoa will raise the expectations that teacher and students have of each other, promoting mutual accountability, which adds to the trustworthiness and quality of the learning.
So What?

I'm going to encourage the talanoa methodology more effectively in my literacy lessons. Rather than having semi-structured comprehension open/close ended questions, give time and space for a talanoa to take place. Encourage the students to talanoa because research says that this particular methodological framework is more appropriate when inquiring or researching about Pasifika peoples (ie. my Pasifika learners).