Title of Book/Reading/Study Programme
Finding your voice in a digital world
Author/s or Lecturer/s or Speaker/s
Core Education Blog post - Kit Haines - Head of English at Kelston Boy's High School
Synopsis
The mana behind Talanoa. A powerful tool that ALL teachers could implement into their classroom/google meet sessions.
I am an avid advocate for Talanoa. I use this framework in my classroom on a daily basis because I know how significant it is. It provides an opportunity to share stories and personal experiences with each other (Teacher-student). Talanoa in Room 11 (in the classroom and on google meets) is a philosophy that my students and I live by.
The word 'talanoa' is a daily occurrence in my household. Growing up I was oblivious to why my grandparents house was always a 'meeting spot' for the extended family. There was a never a day my grandparents 4 bedroom statehouse in Massey was vacant. I would wake up to the sound of laughter and the polyphonic tone of voices coming from the living area. I remember the daily feeds, non-stop requests for a 'hot cup of tea' and the late night singing.
Decades later, as a postgraduate tertiary student, I'd hear my lecturers talking about the notion of 'Talanoa'. It became a word I'd hear in most of my classes. We even role played what talanoa would look like and guess what? I used it as a methodology for my Masters paper.
It finally dawned on me why my grandparents house was a place of gathering. Why I'm so close with my huge Tongan extended family. Why it's important to be hospitable and that it shouldn't be a burden to serve others. Because it's part of TALANOA. As Kit pointed out in his post "...talanoa is as much about journeying through conversation together as it is the destination".
Haines (2021) identified 4 attributes that make 'talanoa' meaningful and rich: 'Ofa, Mālie, Mafana & Faka'apa'apa. All 4 attributes indigenous to the Tongan way of living, written and researched by my aunty Dr.Linita Manu'atu in 2002. A respected academic who contributed to developing the Talanoa Model. The literal translations of these words are as follows: 'Ofa = Love, Mālie = Enjoyable/Humourous, Mafana = Warming & Faka'apa'apa = Respectful. Talanoa is not talanoa if one of these 4 traits are missing.
I can relate to Haines findings because similar occurrences happen in my own classroom setting.
OFA
When we talanoa, we talanoa about whatever comes to my learners minds. It's an opportunity for all to speak and listen to each other. They absolutely love this. The students are comfortable to open up and talk and it's an unexplainable atmosphere. It took some time to develop this vā and it made me realise the importance of teachers giving the learner space and time to find that 'moment' to share their stories. Yes, there were moments where I had the same students speak and some did not speak at all. But at this very moment, I can say that every learner of R11 has spoken in our talanoa sessions.
MĀLIE
I think I'm funny. My students are funny. We're like a happy family lol. I can guarantee you that every recording I have includes moments of laughter. It brings comfort and emphasises the realisation that we can be who we are without the 'cover-up'. The humour allows us to enjoy the talanoa and also each others' company. Humour breaks the awkward silent moments, whether instigated by myself or the students', it's good to know that we can take silly digs at each other and have a laugh about it.
MAFANA
Talanoa has to 'hit the fatu'. Ofa and Mālie creates the warmth needed to bring mana to the talanoa. Mafana is unthreatening, it's an open forum where silence is ok and confrontational moments are not offensive. Mafana can either come from the deliverance of the speaker or felt through listening. It's about connection and familiarity with what's being said or heard. I believe Mafana comes to me when I share some of my personal stories with my students. They love hearing about High School because for most of them, they'll be in High School next year. I've shared some of my highs and lows of high school, the choices I made, the consequences I faced but most importantly, the lessons learnt and the accomplishments created. Being able to share things so dear to my heart was a mafana moment for me but also for my students, to hear that their teacher is 'human' after all.
FAKA'APA'APA
Respect is mutal in talanoa. Teachers give the same respect to the learners as they would expect from them. It involves listening, trust and open-ness. It's central to talanoa and is an expectation from the parties involved. Faka'apa'apa is given when I step back and share the stage with my learners and at the end of it, we can all stand together and take a bow because we did this, together!
However, I contradicted my own belief. Haines pointed out that teachers would usually begin their sessions by saying "Mute your mics" and I held my breath for a milli-second because I am guilty of this. I don't say it daily, but I have mentioned it to my kids a couple of times before. Where's the respect? Where's the trust that my learners can sit and listen and have their mics on? Haines reminded me that I should be providing opportunities for rich 'un-muted' conversations to take place.
So what next?
I could go on but, reflections become boring when they're too long to read. I enjoyed writing this reflection because the thought of my students and talanoa sessions in Room 11 would replay itself in my mind. What I need to do though, is continue to record our talanoa sessions. I use to stop recording, at my students request, I think they somehow had an understanding that recording our sessions meant we were being watched. Luckily Johanna came on, to remind them that the purpose of the recordings were for teachers to reflect on better their practice, not for management. I think the learners breathed a sigh of relief.
All in all, Let's continue to talanoa. It's a powerful tool, especially for our Maori/Pasifika and ethnic minority kids.