Let's Celebrate Cook Islands Language Week

This week is Cook Island Language Week, with a special theme for 2023 of: Ātuitui’ia au ki te au peu o tōku kāinga Ipukarea. This means ‘Connect me to the traditions and culture of my homeland’. A special part of any culture is its language, and if you want to learn about the Cook Islands language, the library can be a good place to start.

As well as dictionaries and books about Cook Island culture, we have a good selection of engaging children’s books that are interesting for anyone wanting to help learn the Cook Island language. Just look for the spine label: J 499.44 COO

Then there’s Language Nut. This is an online database the library subscribes to with a selection of languages for beginners to learn. Among those on offer is Cook Islands Māori. Click on the button for an easy-to-use course designed for children, although I found it works just as well for adults too. It’s a lot of fun and will help you build your vocabulary, create sentences and understand grammar.

Follow the link for more about Cook Island Language Week here.

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