Advantages for Third-Language Study
How many letters are in the Hawaiian alphabet?
13
Do you think cooperation between Hawaiian language programs and other Indigenous groups, like Alaska Natives and American Indians, helps or complicates language revitalization efforts? Why?
It helps because these groups can share strategies, resources, and support each other in common goals. Learning from one another's successes and challenges builds a stronger, united front for Indigenous language revitalization.
Who warned that English-medium schools made kids “no longer Hawaiian”?
Mataio Kekūanāoʻa
What language was once used in Hawaiian homes, churches, and government before English took over?
Hawaiian
Why should we learn Hawaiian as a Third-language
Because it helps keep the culture alive, makes our brains stronger, and lets us connect more with Hawai‘i.
What additional language advantage do students in Hawaiian-medium schools have beyond Hawaiian and English?
They often study third languages like Japanese, Latin, and Mandarin, and research shows that immersion students have an easier time learning additional languages.
What did foreigners do instead of shutting Hawaiian schools down all at once?
Slowly cut funding and support
What type of schools banned Hawaiian completely and sped up language loss?
Boarding schools
Learning Hawaiian helps students connect with the history and culture of the islands, giving them a stronger sense of place and belonging. For Native Hawaiian students, it can deepen pride in their heritage, while for others, it builds respect and understanding of the culture around them. This shared knowledge strengthens community bonds and creates a bridge between past and present generations.
How could private schools working together with public schools help strengthen and revitalize the Hawaiian language?
If private and public schools collaborated, they could share resources, teacher training, and curriculum development. This unified effort would increase access to Hawaiian-medium education and show that the language is valued across all educational systems, helping normalize its use in daily life.
Why were people originally concerned about Hawaiian-medium education in relation to English proficiency?
They believed that children educated primarily in Hawaiian would fail to learn, speak, and write English properly.
According to a Hilo High survey, what percent of students had Hawaiian blood but did not identify as Hawaiian?
51% had Hawaiian blood, only 26% identified as Hawaiian
What 1917 Hawaiian newspaper warned that children were no longer speaking Hawaiian?
Ka Puʻuhonua
What advantage do immersion students have when learning third languages?
Research shows that students in immersion programs (like Hawaiian-medium schools) are better at learning third languages because they’re already used to switching between languages.
Why do you think some private schools, like Kamehameha, still follow practices that reflect the old ban on Hawaiian-medium education, even though it's no longer in place?
Some private schools may continue these practices due to tradition, curriculum limitations, or fear that Hawaiian-medium education could affect students’ English proficiency or academic performance. Others may not fully recognize the importance of language in cultural identity or are slow to adapt to modern revitalization efforts.
What does research from Canada and other countries show about language immersion programs?
It shows that students in immersion programs (like French in Canada) often reach equal or higher levels of English proficiency compared to those in English-only schools.
What percent of Hawaiian immersion students identified as Hawaiian?
96%
Name one cultural thing that was lost or weakened when Hawaiian was no longer spoken.
Poetry, songs, speeches, worldview/Hawaiian perspective
How does studying Hawaiian as a third language contribute to brain development and learning skills compared to studying only one or two languages?
Research shows that people who learn three or more languages develop stronger multitasking, focus, and memory skills. Hawaiian in particular trains the brain to think differently because it uses unique sounds, sentence structures, and ways of expressing ideas. This mental exercise makes students more flexible learners and better at picking up additional languages in the future
What can we learn from the success of the Māori language movement in New Zealand, where 44% of preschoolers were in Māori-medium schools by 1998?
The Māori experience shows that with strong community support, government backing, and quality early education, language revitalization can succeed. It also proves that immersion programs at a young age are effective in maintaining and growing a native language.
How does Hawaiian-medium education support cultural identity while also teaching English?
It grounds students in Hawaiian language and culture, which makes learning English feel less like a threat to identity. English is taught as a tool for communication with outsiders, not as a replacement for Hawaiian.
What quote warned that losing a people’s language means losing the people?
“If a people loses its mother tongue, that people will disappear.”
Name one Polynesian language Hawaiian speakers could partly understand.
Tahitian, Māori, Samoan, or Tongan