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Intensive English Course Prepares Tahitian Students

Tahiti in the summertime means time for hanging out on the beach and surfing at Teahupoo, but for one group of students hoping to attend BYU–Hawaii, this summer meant English class, five hours a day, five days a week for eight weeks.

Many young members of the Church in Tahiti want to study at BYU–Hawaii, but overcoming the language barrier can be very difficult. Most families in Tahiti speak French and Tahitian at home, making English a third or even fourth language for many. Some young adults have served missions in Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S., and while they are able to speak English, they still lack academic vocabulary and grammar skills. The rest of the students are briefly acquainted with English in school.

BYU–Hawaii President Steven C. Wheelwright and Elder Michael Call, a former BYU (Provo) professor now serving a full-time mission in the Self-Reliance Center in Tahiti, developed the idea for a new intensive English language class to help Tahitian students prepare to attend BYU–Hawaii. This summer course is intended to help them improve their English speaking skills and Michigan test scores and prepare for the American-style university experience, which can differ from the French style. The class also covers essay writing, idioms, current events, American history, and Church history, as well as physical and natural sciences.

The course was a success, with 36 students showing up on the first day of class. Some students improved their Michigan test scores by as many as twenty points, qualifying them for admission to BYU–Hawaii right away. “The BYU-Hawaii prep class really helped me a lot,” says Marania Levy, a student from Tahiti who attended the class and is now a student and tour guide at the Polynesian Cultural Center. “I got really high scores on my EIL test, and the class helped me so much. The vocabulary tests, the essay writing, etc. were really important and helped me so much. The class really prepares new students to be ready.”

“This experimental intensive English class served as an impetus to our young Tahitians to succeed, to progress by taking advantage of the marvelous educational opportunities offered them, and to become truly self-reliant as individuals and as future parents,” says Elder Call. “As they achieve their educational goals, they will qualify for better paying jobs, which will in turn allow them to offer the same opportunities to their children.  The long-term effect will be enormous for the Saints in Tahiti.”

The class was taught by Kori Hapairai, a former tour guide at the PCC and teacher from Utah who now lives in Tahiti with her family. She attended BYU–Hawaii for one year, and helping Tahitian students prepare to attend BYU–Hawaii reminded her of her own fond experiences at the university. “I am so thankful for the opportunities I had at BYU–Hawaii,” says Hapairai. “My most treasured memories involve the people I was able to meet from all over the world. I still stay in touch with my roommate Lise Tuia from Samoa.” Hapairai, a BYU (Provo) graduate, has taught both in the American school system, at Eagle Gate College, and at the high school level in the French system in Tahiti, giving her a unique insight into the two different educational environments. “I think an education at BYU–Hawaii really gives our Tahitian students an unparalleled opportunity to see the world and have their minds opened to so many incredible possibilities,” says Hapairai. “The spiritual and educational experiences students have there are amazing.”

Some Tahitian students make great sacrifices to attend the class – one had to catch a 4:30 AM bus to be there on time. Other students gave up summer jobs, opportunities to travel, or time spent with family or friends. Some families found it difficult to give up a breadwinner and helper around the home during the summer, but those families also became excited to have a family member attend BYU–Hawaii. They realized the impact having a university graduate would have in their home. “What we hope for the class is to be able to have many more students from Tahiti go to BYU–Hawaii,” says Hapairai. “We want Tahitians to have the same opportunity to learn and grow and be the leaders of tomorrow.”

Read more testimonials below from Tahitian students who attended the class.  

Kamy Tekurio

“I have heard a lot about BYU–Hawaii during my high school years here in Tahiti. Friends and family members would tell me of the amazing and life-changing experiences they had there. Back then, education wasn't much of a priority to me. I was just going through the motions as most of us teenagers do. I had no idea what I wanted to do in life.

“Then, I left for a two-year mission in 2012 to the beautiful land of New Zealand! My perspective of life changed greatly, and I understood how education truly plays a major role not only in our temporal welfare but also and most importantly in our spiritual progression. There, I learned the importance of obedience and that getting an education was counsel given by our prophets (D&C 130:18). 

“This has been enough to turn me towards BYU–Hawaii and the possibility of getting an education in an amazing multicultural university combined with the presence of the spirit of the Lord to guide me. I couldn't ask for more. I am preparing to get there as soon as possible. I have prayed about it and felt that it was the right thing to do. Now that I have received an answer, I am determined to do whatever it takes to succeed. I finally know what I want to do in life, and it will all start with studying at BYU–Hawaii!” 

Teraimateata Maro

“Studying at BYU–Hawaii has always been one of my biggest goals. BYU–Hawaii has so many great majors, it’s hard to choose just one I want to study, and I also know I will be in a safe and nurturing place. When I heard about the BYU–Hawaii prep class being taught here in Tahiti, I couldn’t wait to participate. I loved the topics we covered because they were so interesting. It also really helped to hear someone speaking English with an American accent as well as someone who could explain American sayings and idioms. It helped me a lot to gain the confidence to speak in a learning environment. It was great preparation before we leave for BYU–Hawaii. I am so thankful to have had this opportunity.”

Manuarii Dauphin

“These past eight weeks of the English BYU–Hawaii preparation classes were fantastic. The BYU–Hawaii president was inspired to launch this new project for the Tahitians. I am so proud of being a part of this great program. Thank goodness we had an awesome teacher who always reminded the class about punctuation marks. She would give us advice like "Be careful on your pronunciations," “Watch English movies with French subtitles,” “Listening to English songs and sing along with the music helps a lot,” etc.

“One thing that I personally liked about the time I spent in this class is that I have been able to see where my English level was at. Speaking, reading, understating, and writing are connected to each other. However, it does not connect right away in the mind of a native French speaker like me. It takes time. But the more effort you put into it, the faster you will learn.”

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