Language rejection

Children being raised as speakers of a language which isn't the main language of the country will usually experience language rejection.  This is when children recognise that their language at home isn?t the language of the outside world.  In attempts to be the same and to not stand out, children go through a stage of rejecting their minority home language in favour of the dominant language.  This also tends to happen when bilingual children reach their teenage years.

As ways of trying to cope with this you can:

• Find positive examples of other bilingual Māori speakers and model these to your children
• Ensure they have as much access to other Māori Language speakers as possible to provide them with a sense of sameness with others living outside of your home
• Don't overly enforce the 'one language only' rule.  Give children and teenagers space, whilst at the same time continuously encouraging and supporting positive attitudes towards te reo and the need to use it.  Build up their Critical Awareness.  Tell them exactly what you are doing with the language and why.  Let them take some ownership and responsibility in revitalising the language