Abstract
The use of the Samoan language in qualitative educational research in Samoa is on the rise. This is because regardless of a researcher’s written or verbal Samoan language skills, it is the language preference of the Samoan participants that makes the Samoan language important in educational research today. This paper is the result of a request from some first time student researchers who wanted some advice on using the Samoan language in educational research. The paper briefly discuss the Samoan alphabet, differences between Gagana K and Gagana T as well as the language of chiefs before highlighting specific aspects of the Samoan language that seemed problematic during the research process and offers some practical tips for first time researchers in Samoa.
