Here for Gagana? Let’s Talk.. Again

If we haven’t met yet, I’m Lilieni. Lils.

If this isn’t your first time here, remember when I posted this post from January 2024, promising that the site was under “heavy reconstruction” and would be cleaned up “soon”?

Yeah.. here’s what happened instead.

My ambitions for Gagana Samoa got big, bigger, biggest… and when I compared them to the skills I actually had for building the dream, reality hit like a brick and I got concussed.

I got overwhelmed and just.. jumped ship for a little bit.

Where did I go?

Well, I have a day job. I focused on paying the bills and taking care of family… but I also went back to university.

I am a self-taught web developer from way back when we only had one kind of CSS and JavaScript was only made in vanilla. When I realized how outdated my tech skills were now, I enrolled in a software development degree to refresh myself. Bonus would be finally getting that ‘paper’ to prove that I know stuff, right?

I’ve still got a year left on the degree (doing it part time) but the more I learn – with every module, every assignment, every late-night coding session – the more I’ve been itching to come back to my Samoan language and cultural preservation project, my passion for so much of my life, and make things happen.

For reals this time.

SO.. for the past few months, I’ve been quietly working on a complete rebuild of Gagana Samoa. Like… a full on reconstruction from the ground up! And it is… beautiful! I mean, it’s everything I wanted this language resource to be, that I didn’t know how to build before.

By the time you see this post, the new Gagana Samoa will already be live and I hope you love it.

Here’s what you’ll find:

• A comprehensive Samoan-English dictionary – YESS! + happy dance. We’re starting with hundreds of entries and it’s growing daily. Each word includes pronunciation guides, example sentences and is backed by a whole system of language reviews by me – your resident Samoan grammar geek – and a native Samoan speaker who happens to also be a professional translator (a.k.a. my mom). No more wondering if you’re using the right word in the right situation.
• A searchable database of Samoan grammar rules – Because understanding the structure of our language is just as important as knowing the words. Each rule explained clearly, with real examples you can actually use.
• Interactive lessons that actually make sense – Building on the foundation we started, we’ll continue regularly posting story- and scenario-based Samoan language lessons.
• Quizzes and activities – Because learning should be fun! Test yourself, track your progress, challenge your friends and actually enjoy reconnecting with your heritage language.

This Is Just the Beginning

Although I was born in Samoa and grew up in a Samoan speaking household, I’m your typical diaspora Samoan who is more comfortable speaking English. Gagana Samoa is the resource I wish I had when I first got serious about learning my heritage language.

If that goal has ever tickled at your braincells, too, then this site is for YOU, too! Come along for the rebuild journey.

Over the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing behind-the-scenes updates about the reconstruction process, the decisions we’re making, and the philosophy driving this project. I want you to understand not just what we’re building, but why and how we’re building it.

Stay Connected

For regular updates (and reminders to come do your Samoan lessons), join our mailing list!

In the meantime, ia malie lou loto, please bear with us as we pull all the pieces of this Gagana Samoa site together to deliver a language learning resource that is worthy of our language, our culture and community.

Ma le fa’aaloalo lava…

Amene.