NZQA registered unit standard
26354 version 3
Page 1 of 4
Title
Demonstrate knowledge of language acquisition of Pasifika children
in an ECE service
Level
5
Credits
10
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard, in the context of an
early childhood education (ECE) service, are able to:
demonstrate knowledge of language acquisition; observe and
document examples of bilingual acquisition and communication
by Pasifika children; and discuss the importance of Pasifika
language acquisition and development for Pasifika children’s
learning and cultural identity.
Classification
Pacific Islands Early Childhood Education > Pacific Early
Childhood Education: Curriculum
Available grade
Achieved
Explanatory notes
1
This unit standard is intended for those who are student teachers, trainee managers,
or supervisors of Pasifika children in ECE services.
2
An early childhood education (ECE) service may include a centre-based service,
hospital-based service, or home-based service. The home-based service may be
nominated by the child’s parent, be the child’s own home, or the home of the
educator.
Evidence of one type of service is required in this unit standard.
3
Language may include:
verbal – spoken word, songs, stories, poems, chants, questions, descriptions, prayer;
non-verbal – body language;
symbols – written, graphics, visual, spiritual.
4
Language acquisition theories may include but are not limited to – studies by B F
Skinner, N Chomsky, J Piaget, L Vygotsky, J Bruner.
5
People seeking credit for this unit standard will be required to show that their
demonstration of the evidence requirements arises from teaching and/or practicum
experience in an ECE service, through observing and implementing Te Whāriki and
current legislative requirements relating to curriculum.
NZQA National Qualifications Services
SSB Code 130301
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
26354 version 3
Page 2 of 4
6
Definitions
Three 'broad age groups' are defined in Te Whāriki for children. These are
overlapping age categories and are defined as:
infant – birth to 18 months;
toddler – one year to three years;
young child – two and a half years to school entry age.
Educator may be persons and groups including teachers, supervisors, co-ordinators,
whānau/families, and nannies who are involved in the learning and development of
children.
Pasifika children are pre-school members of Pasifika communities in New Zealand,
and may include but are not limited to – Cook Islands Māori, Fijian, Niuean, Samoan,
Tokelauan, Tongan, Tuvaluan.
Pasifika languages are any of the languages of the Pasifika communities in New
Zealand, eg gagana Samoa, lea faka-Tonga, te reo Māori Kuki Airani, vagahau Niue,
vaka Viti, gagana Tokelau, gana Tuvalu.
7
Legislation includes but is not limited to:
Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008
Vulnerable Children Act 2014
and subsequent amendments.
8
References
Education Council New Zealand, The Education Council Code of Ethics for
Certificated Teachers; available at http://www.teacherscouncil.govt.nz/content/codeof-ethics-certificated-teachers.
Ministry of Education, Kei Tua o te Pae/Assessment for Learning: Early Childhood
Exemplars – Books 1-20. (Wellington: Learning Media, 2004-2009); available at
http://www.education.govt.nz/early-childhood/teaching-and-learning/ececurriculum/assessment-for-learning/.
Ministry of Education – Te Kete Ipurangi (TKI), Pasifika languages and resources,
available at http://pasifika.tki.org.nz/Pasifika-languages.
Ministry of Education, Te Whāriki: He Whāriki Mātauranga mō ngā Mokopuna o
Aotearoa. Early Childhood Curriculum (Wellington, Learning Media, 1996); available
at http://www.education.govt.nz/early-childhood/teaching-and-learning/ececurriculum.
Ministry of Education, Developing programmes for teaching Pacific Islands
languages (Wellington: Learning Media, 2000).
Ministry of Education, Guidelines for Cook Islands Māori Language Programmes:
planning guidelines to accompany developing programmes for teaching Pacific
Islands languages (Wellington: Learning Media, 2000).
Ministry of Education, Guidelines for Niuean Language Programmes; planning
guidelines to accompany developing programmes for teaching Pacific Islands
languages (Wellington: Learning Media, 2000).
Ministry of Education, Guidelines for Samoan Language Programmes: planning
guidelines to accompany developing programmes for teaching Pacific Islands
languages (Wellington: Learning Media, 2000).
Ministry of Education, Guidelines for Tokelauan Language Programmes: planning
guidelines to accompany developing programmes for teaching Pacific Islands
languages (Wellington: Learning Media, 2000).
Ministry of Education, Guidelines for Tongan Language Programmes: planning
guidelines to accompany developing programmes for teaching Pacific Islands
languages (Wellington: Learning Media, 2000).
NZQA National Qualifications Services
SSB Code 130301
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
26354 version 3
Page 3 of 4
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Demonstrate knowledge of language acquisition in the context of early childhood
education.
Evidence requirements
1.1
Language acquisition theories are discussed in the context of early childhood
education.
1.2
A bilingual acquisition theory is described in the context of early childhood
education.
1.3
The teacher’s role in supporting language acquisition for Pasifika children in an
ECE service is described in terms of language acquisition theories.
Outcome 2
Observe and document examples of bilingual acquisition and communication by Pasifika
children in an ECE service.
Range
evidence of one age category is required.
Evidence requirements
2.1
Documentation records observations of bilingual language acquisition by
Pasifika children in an ECE service.
Range
2.2
Documentation records observations of bilingual communication by Pasifika
children in an ECE service.
Range
2.3
two observations of language acquisition are required.
two observations of bilingual communication are required.
Documentation records observations of the educator’s role in strengthening
language acquisition development for Pasifika children in an ECE service.
Range
three examples of the educator’s role are required.
Outcome 3
Discuss the importance of Pasifika language acquisition and development for Pasifika
children’s learning and cultural identity.
Range
evidence of acquisition and development for – infant, toddler, young child.
NZQA National Qualifications Services
SSB Code 130301
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
26354 version 3
Page 4 of 4
Evidence requirements
3.1
The importance of the acquisition and use of Pasifika languages to the
development of the cultural identities of Pasifika children is discussed in terms
of how language development is planned for and supported within an ECE
service and by Te Whāriki.
3.2
The importance of the acquisition and use of Pasifika languages to the
development of Pasifika children as learners is discussed in terms of how
language development is planned for and supported within an ECE service and
by Te Whāriki.
Planned review date
31 December 2019
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
9 December 2010
31 December 2017
Revision
2
8 December 2011
N/A
Rollover and
Revision
3
20 August 2015
N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0182
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA,
before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses
of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies
to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The
CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing
to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors
and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact NZQA National Qualifications Services nqs@nzqa.govt.nz if you wish to
suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
NZQA National Qualifications Services
SSB Code 130301
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016