Families from around the world

I would be teaching a UPK classroom and I decided to look up the country of Tonga.

First I would look up what language they speak so I know if I will need to get an interpreter somehow, or if we will be able to communicate. In Tonga, they speak both Tongan, which is an Austronesian language of the Oceanic subgroup, as well as English.

 I would look up information on the place/history of where they live.

• Tonga is a small island in the middle of the South Pacific. This is a country that is still ruled by a Polynesian monarchy, and where most Tongans live in small villages not big towns or cities.  This is the only pacific island that was NEVER colonized by a bigger nation or power.

Next I would look up information on their education system to see where that falls into their list of priorities.

• Tonga provides for its citizens free and mandatory education for all. Secondary education with only nominal fees and foreign-funded scholarships for post-secondary education! Tongans enjoy a relatively high level of education, with a 98.9% literacy rate, and higher education up to and including medical and graduate degrees (pursued mostly overseas).

Then I would look at religious belief or customs.

•  Everyday life is heavily influenced by Polynesian traditions and especially by the Christian faith; for example, all commerce and entertainment activities cease from midnight on Saturday until midnight on Sunday, and the constitution declares the Sabbath sacred forever. 

After religion, I would look up any cultural "hobbies"(for lack of a better word).

• the most famous local craft is the making of Tapa, a decorative bark cloth painted with traditional symbols and designs. Tapa is usually offered as a gift of respect at weddings, births and funerals. Tongan arts and handicrafts, including bone carving, wood carving, basket making and fine weaving made using techniques passed down through generations of Tongan craftspeople.

Finally I would look at their traditions.

•  Food is the occasion for a family gathering only at the end of the day. But they can eat freely during the course of the day. The ritual of kava drinking characterizes both formal and daily events. It is nonalcoholic but slightly narcotic. People sit cross-legged in an elliptical pattern whose long axis is headed by the bowl on one side and by the highest-ranked participant on the other.
• People shake hands when they meet, and relatives kiss by pressing each other's noses against their faces and soundly inhaling through the nose.
• Most food is eaten with the hands, although silverware also is used. It is customary to wash one's hands at the beginning and end of a meal.  
• The gesture of raising the eyebrows in conversation expresses one's understanding of the speaker's speech and is an invitation to continue. It is difficult for people to admit failure in understanding or to respond negatively to requests.

  
  I would know that I should be able to at least communicate with them to a certain point because we would speak the same language. Although depending on how frequently they used English they might not have as much vocabulary, but we could work through it together! I would also know how to greet them when we met, some cultures don't like to touch while others are very touchy/feely. Also the child might not use utensils often, so they might eat with their hands when we get lunch/snack in the classroom.

  
  Reference:

http://www.thekingdomoftonga.com/