Speaking (Kōrero): Interaction, Pronunciation and Structure
Speaking (Kōrero) is assessed through spoken interaction and presentation. The Level 2 standard asks you to communicate information, ideas and opinions in te reo Māori, sustain interaction, and use language fit for audience and purpose. Accuracy matters, but so do range, fluency and pronunciation.
Core rules
- Vowel length carries meaning: hold macrons clearly in kāinga, rātou, hākinakina; distinguish wh and ng from English sounds.
- Vary sentence patterns: simple sentences, contrast with engari, reason with nā te mea, link with ā, and give opinion with ki a au nei.
- Structure a talk: mihi, kaupapa, two or three points, whakamutunga. In interaction, ask and answer, acknowledge, and clarify with He aha tō whakaaro?
- Use me for what should be done, e tika ana for what is correct, and kia for purpose or encouragement.
Worked example
Task: give a one-minute talk on whether school sport should be compulsory. Draft: “Tēnā koutou. Ki a au nei, me whakamana te hākinakina i roto i te kura, engari kia kaua e herea te katoa. He pai te hākinakina mō te hauora, ā, ka ako te tangata ki te mahi tahi. Engari, ko ētahi ākonga, he mahi nui ō rātou i te kāinga, nō reira me whiriwhiri rātou.” Reasoning: the mihi opens; ki a au nei signals opinion; me whakamana recommends; engari contrasts; ā links ideas; nō reira concludes. Pronunciation targets: long ā in hākinakina and rātou.
Traps
Flat vowels and missing macrons; memorised rote delivery that ignores a question; translating English idioms word for word; mixing a-category and o-category possession; using he where te or ngā is needed.