If you want to develop your listening skills, try these tasks as you listen to the text. The answers are at the bottom of this page, after the Vocabulary. Thanks to Natasha Groves for preparing the tasks.
If you want to listen and read, just scroll down to the text.
1. Listening for main ideas
First, just listen to the text, taking notes if you wish. What information can you catch during this first listening?
2. Now listen again and answer the following questions:
- When is Kiribati Language Week?
- What does it celebrate?
- What was held yesterday in Porirua?
- What do many libraries and museums have this week?
- When did Kiribati gain independence?
- How many people from the Kiribati ethnic group were there in New Zealand in 2023? And in 2018?
- Which government ministry supports the different Pacific Language Weeks?
- How many Pacific Language Weeks are celebrated in New Zealand?
Text
This week, 6-12 July, is Kiribati Language Week. The theme for the week is ‘Living our valued cultural practices through love and respect upholds our dignity and growth for a successful future’. There are many events around the country to celebrate the language and the Kiribati community in New Zealand.
The official opening ceremony was held yesterday in Porirua, and today there was a flag-raising ceremony there. There are cultural events to show Kiribati songs, dance, and crafts during the week in Auckland, Levin, and other centres. Many libraries and museums in cities and towns have displays about Kiribati and its language and culture this week, so you may find one at your local library or museum. Kiribati gained independence from the United Kingdom on 12 July 1979, so the Kiribati community will also celebrate Independence Day on the last day of their Language Week.
Kiribati is an island country in Micronesia, in the central Pacific Ocean. According to the 2023 Census, there were 4,659 people who identified with the Kiribati ethnic group in New Zealand, up from 3,225 in 2018. There are also many other communities of Pacific Island peoples in New Zealand, and it is important for them all to maintain their languages and cultures here. Therefore, the Ministry for Pacific Peoples supports them in delivering their Pacific Language Week every year. This year for the first time there is a Language Week for Bislama, the national language of Vanuatu, so there are now 12 Language Weeks throughout the year, for Rotuma, Samoa, Kiribati, Cook Islands Māori, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, Fiji, Niue, Tokelau and Solomon Islands. For the exact dates, visit the Ministry for Pacific Peoples website or follow the Ministry on social media.
Vocabulary
uphold – to support something that you think is right and make sure it continues to exist
dignity – the fact of being respected
celebrate – to show that something is special
crafts – things that people make by hand, or the activity of making things with your hands
museum – a building where people can see important cultural, historical, or scientific objects
census – an official process of counting a country’s population and collecting information about the people
Answers – you don’t have to write a complete sentence as long as you have the key idea in your answer
a When is Kiribati Language Week?
This week, 6-12 July
b. What does it celebrate?
The Kiribati language and community in New Zealand
c. What was held yesterday in Porirua?
The official opening ceremony
d. What do many libraries and museums have this week?
Displays about Kiribati and its language and culture
e. When did Kiribati gain independence?
12 July 1979
f. How many people from the Kiribati ethnic group were there in New Zealand in 2023? And in 2018?
4,659 in 2023; 3,225 in 2018
g. Which government ministry supports the different Pacific Language Weeks?
The Ministry for Pacific Peoples
h. How many Pacific Language Weeks are celebrated in New Zealand?
12