Tēnā koe. Nau mai ki Te Whanake TV.
Welcome to Te Whanake TV. This website of two thirteen-part serials complements the Te Whanake series of textbooks and resources for learning Māori. Each episode of both serials is about twelve minutes long. The remainder of each 26-minute programme consists of explanations of language and aspects of Māori culture.
The first thirteen-part serial is called Te Kākano and has been designed for beginner and intermediate learners to develop listening comprehension skills. The serial has an urban setting and uses everyday language. Episodes are based on themes from the textbook Te Kākano. As the name suggests, the drama serial and related activities have been designed to complement the textbook, study guide, CDs and podcasts of Te Whanake 1 Te Kākano. Ideally, learners who have already some knowledge of the language will gain the most from watching each episode of the serial. If you have already studied the first few chapters, or even all of the book, Te Whanake 1 Te Kākano, you will benefit from working in sequence through the activities designed around each episode of the Te Kākano serial.
The second thirteen-part serial is called Te Kai a Te Rangatira and has been designed for intermediate and more advanced learners to develop listening comprehension skills. It is a serial about a city restaurant run by the whānau that own the restaurant land as the result of a land claim. The emphasis is on modern colloquial Māori. The story centres on themes that come from the Te Pihinga textbook. If you have completed most or all of the textbook, study guide, CDs and podcasts of Te Whanake 2 Te Pihinga you will enjoy and benefit from watching and listening to each episode of Te Kai a Te Rangatira and completing the related activities.
Do not expect to understand everything you hear in the dramas. In fact, in the early stages there may be very little you understand. Do not be alarmed by this. You are not expected to comprehend everything you hear. You should try to understand the gist of the story by using the visuals, your developing knowledge of the characters and the language you do understand to build up a general comprehension of what is being said. Guessing the meaning of new words and phrases is an important skill in learning new language. You will benefit by watching these dramas several times
Explanation
These programmes were originally produced for university Māori language distance courses. The programmes were produced to complement the teaching and learning resources of the Te Whanake series for viewing on television. Because of their value, particularly in developing listening comprehension skills, they are now being made available free for the benefit of all Māori language learners.
Exercises have been added for each episode of the serials to guide you and to help you gain maximum benefit from watching and listening to these.
NB Because these series were created over ten years ago some of the information about the Te Whanake resources on the programmes is no longer correct. See the Te Whanake Resources website for up to date information about these resources.
