My teaching philosophy is grounded in creating a supportive, inclusive, fun-learning environment where both the student and the teacher look forward to meeting up. I like to create environments where students feel safe to ask questions, make mistakes, and engage fully—especially in their journey with te reo Māori. I place strong emphasis on listening to students’ needs and encouraging correct pronunciation to ensure respectful and confident language use. No matter what the setting, I aim to empower students to feel confident in using our reo in their everyday lives.
My teaching experience spans both large lecture settings and more intimate tutorial environments. I spent four years tutoring the 100-level Māori Society paper at the University of Otago, working closely with groups of around 25 students to build their understanding of key concepts. I then stepped into the role of teaching fellow for the same paper, where I delivered lectures to classes of up to 600 students, managing 12 tutors, further developing my skills in engaging and managing large audiences. Over the past 18 months, I have also worked as a private tutor, offering tailored, one-on-one support to students, which has deepened my commitment to responsive and student-centered teaching.