Curriculum Vitae of

Levi Tavita

Contact: Email: ltavita8@gmail.com Phone: 09 269-6186 Post: 20 Rebecca Rise Weymouth, Manurewa

Talofa!

I come from a multiservice working background comprising government, education and

information service that spanned thirty years. In 1990 I initiated a community support trust

which provided administrative and information support to our Pasifika communities

in South Auckland. I've worked as a managing editor of a bilingual newspaper, having had

seven years of work experience in the field as a journalist and commentator on issues pertaining

to politics, religion and education. I started out as a public servant of the Samoa government,

serving at the Prime Minister's department for eight years. Part of my duties was the service of

Cabinet ministers by means of research into archives, and sharing responsibility on the service

of its two subcommittees: Staff Training and Scholarships, and The Housing Committee.

I am a New Zealand trained and qualified teacher with nine years of classroom experience at

both secondary and primary levels. I've been directly involved with teaching ESOL students at

secondary as well as playing a supportive role in the facilitation of programmes for bilingual

children at primary of ESL backgrounds here in Auckland.

My interest in ESOL learning led to pursuing a postgraduate study in Language Teaching which

I have completed at the University of Auckland in 2012. The degree of Master of Professional

Studies in Language Teaching (for locals) is the equivalent of the MTESOL which it offers for its

foreign students. My focal point of research interest is ESOL learning in the Pasifika context

specifically on areas of retentive skill and human input in biliteracy teaching, or the interaction

between opportunity to use a language and the willingness to use it.

The argument is that, opportunities made available or the means by which such opportunities

present themselves are the same that act as a deterring force against children’s language

usability and overall classroom learning outcomes.

At present I am managing a trust which focus is the promotion of Pacific resources for use in

bilingual programmes across the country—even abroad. I also edit an online publication titled

OLA which promotes the Samoan language and resources. We reach out to at least 2,000

readers (teachers, students, parents) locally and overseas.

Since 2000 I have authored at least 15 books as well as co-authored at least 10 more, most of

which have found their way into schools and libraries across Auckland. In total we have published

more than 50 titles, all catalogued by the National Library of New Zealand.

In summary, I can bring into a job the sum of my experience in the three areas that I’ve

mentioned. Having worked within a variety of work environments (government-education-

information service and media network-charitable work–general community), I can offer

quality of experience upon learning to an ESL classroom.

My skills in media work and publishing I am happy to share. I built our own group website and

which I’m happy to present here also as part of my work reference. The website address

is www.ola888.com (ola-puletini-aoga).

EMPLOYMENT SUMMARY

2014—Present

Managing Editor. OLA Educational Bulletin (Online);

Publisher, Evaleon Books

2003 – 2013

Teacher - Into ninth year of teaching in New Zealand. (Full/part-time) Six years at secondary level. Into third year at primary level Manage The Niu Pacific Information Trust Board

1997 – 2002

Media/Publishing Administrator – Six years work in the Samoan media as a news reporter, writer, editor and publisher. Still involved in Publications as a voluntary editor, writer and publisher for a Charitable Trust [The Niu Pacific Information Trust]

1992, 1994-1995

Three formative years experience in the local work environment 1977-1987

Public Servant - Eight years of work in Samoa’s public service.

EMPLOYMENT DETAILS The Niu Pacific Information Trust Board (Auckland) Manager of The Niu Pacific Information Trust and its publishing Operations—Niupac Publication and Evaleon Books. Co-editor of OLA bulletin

Samoa Express Newspaper (Auckland) Position: Managing Editor Start date: Feb 1999 End date: May 2002 Responsibilities: Managing Editor of a bilingual newspaper serving the Samoan community in Auckland, Brisbane and Christchurch. Reason for leaving: Pursued teaching career

Samoana Newspaper (Auckland) Position/Title: Journalist/Writer. Start date: Dec 1994 End date: Dec 1998. Responsibilities: Charged with the coverage of community news, including education, politics and religion. Reason for leaving: Moved to a new position

Trade and Commerce Ltd Position/Title: Employment Tutor 1994. Responsibilities: Help run a training programme for the Labour department on the unemployed to improve their prospects in the job market. Reason for leaving: Moved to a new position.

New Zealand Special Olympics (Auckland) Position/Title: Administration Officer. Start date: July 1994. End Date: Sep 1994. Position: Administration Officer (Temporary). Responsibilities: Charged with the general administration of Auckland Office including involvement in organizing a national annual conference. Reason for leaving: Contract completed

Prime Minister’s Office (Apia, Samoa) Position/Title: Secretariat Officer. Start date: Sept 1977. End date: Dec 1987. Responsibilities: Provide secretarial support for the service of Cabinet and two of its sub-committees – Scholarships, and Housing: Prepare the agenda and record minutes of meetings for the two sub-committees. Reason for leaving: Emigrated overseas.

Part-time Employment (Auckland) Market Research Interviewer Worked for AMG Group Ltd in 1994 on interview research door to door around the Auckland area Music Tutor - teach students on how to read and play music

QUALIFICATIONS

Master of Professional Studies in Language Teaching (2011) Graduate Diploma of Secondary Teaching; Auckland University of Technology (2002) Bachelor of Theology; University of Auckland (1996) Bachelor of Arts (Administration/Politics); University of the South Pacific (1983)

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Undertook a one year pastoral care training in Samoa (1993) Participated in workshops/seminars/conferences (local and abroad pertaining to literacy/language development/NCEA assessment/teaching initiatives and learning enhancement/employment (2003 2008)

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

2003-2008

Mangere College (South Auckland Secondary School)

English, Literacy, ESOL Studies Taught junior classes in accordance with the respective curriculum guidelines, the school policy and employment requirements

Samoan Taught NCEA subjects Level 1 including Assessment responsibilities – Internal/ External. Social Studies Taught junior classes in accordance wth the

curriculum, the school policy and employment requirements

Extra-curricular Organised meetings with the Samoan

community, fundraising, etc. Supervised the Samoan group during Polyfest season. Helped out with rugby coaching duties.

2009 – May 2010

Kowhai Intermediate (Central Auckland) Biliteracy Teach a Samoan bilingual class using the dual-medium approach. Students are from Year 7 and 8 respectively.

2011—2013

Finlayson Park School (South Auckland) Biliteracy Relief teaching in a Samoan bilingual unit using the dual-medium approach (across all levels).

MEMBERSHIP & OTHER PROFESSIONAL COMMITMENTS Member of Board 2000 – Current. Founder and member of The Niu Pacific of Trustees of Information which aim is to facilitate educational information for the Pacific communities. Administer the Trust’s policy through the voluntary roles of editor, writer and publisher. Former Chairperson Mapu i Manurewa Refuge Centre 1996-1998. BOT duties including counselling and pastoral care for its clients.

PUBLICATIONS (books)

Moon Kites (2014) Evaleon. (poetry) Tusitusi i le Gagana Samoa. Resource Book for Writing in Samoan (2014) King of the Island. A story of Felix Bernhardt David. 2011 (biographical sketch) Lau Amata: Nauna, Suinauna, Soanauna & Fuiupu Nauna An Applied Samoan Grammar Workbook. Book 1. 2010 (Samoan grammar). Flying Diamonds. 2010 (children’s literature) Lau Amata: Veape, Fuiupu Veape, Soaveape & Upega Soaveape. An Applied Samoan Grammar Workbook. Book 2. 2010 (Samoan grammar) ESOL: English Samoan. English for Second Language Learners Book 2. 2009 (word reference) Motu o le Fe’e ma le Meava’ai a Sekoa. 2008 (children’s literature) Talanoa. Model Conversations for Learning Samoan. 2007 (language) Samoa Entry: A concise history of Samoa. 2006 (historical reference) ESOL: English Samoan. English for Second Language Learners 2006 Book 1 2006 (word reference) Se'i A'o La'u Faitau (Let's Read Samoan) 2005 (language) Leo Matala o le Gagana Samoa. 2005 (language) Ioane Viliamu (A Samoan biography of Rev John Williams. 2003 (religious biography) Ia Malamalama: O se tala i lotu a Samoa. 2000 (religious reference) Flower in the window. 1999 (poetry) Aupa o faamoemoega. 1995 (poetry) (translations) Sione Uesile (a translation of Dr Basil Miller’s John Wesley) 1999. Taimane Felelei (a translation of Flying Diamonds. 2010 (children’s literature) Sosola (a translation of Sheila K. McCullagh’s In Hiding. 2008 (children’s literature) (online) OLA (a Samoan educational weekly bulletin)

REFEREES 1 Vavao Fetui (Senior Lecturer) University of Auckland Auckland City Telephone: Extension 88037 (09) 373 7599 Direct Dial: 9238037 Email: v.fetui@auckland.ac.nz

2 Faatili Iosua Esera (Principal) Sutton Park School 89 Vine Street Mangere East, Auckland Telephone: (09) 276-8192 (021) 250-6684 Email: principal@suttonpark.school.nz

3 Paul Douglas (Intermediate School Principal) Kowhai Intermediate 26 Onslow Road Kingsland 1024, Auckland Telephone: (work) 09 846 7534

www.kowhai.school.nz