February • Cultural Insight

Tapati Rapa Nui

The survival of the Moai culture. On Easter Island, this festival is a fierce competition of strength and skill designed to preserve the Rapa Nui identity. This lesson explores the impact of extreme tourism on remote cultures and whether a festival can save a language from being swallowed by the modern world.

Speaking Discussion

How can a tiny, remote island maintain its unique culture in the age of the internet?
Is it fair to turn a sacred culture into a tourist spectacle for money?
What can the history of Easter Island teach us about the future of Earth?
Would you risk your life in a banana trunk race to prove your loyalty to your heritage?
Should remote islands be closed to tourists to protect their traditions?

Activity 1: The Island Elder

The Task: You are an elder of Rapa Nui. Write a 3-sentence welcome speech to a group of tourists, explaining 3 sacred rules they must follow to respect your land.

Activity 2: Rapid Fire Debate

Is globalisation a slow form of cultural murder?

Key Vocabulary

Preserve (V) Maintain (something) in its original or existing state.
Identity (N) The fact of being who or what a person or thing is.
Moai (N) Monolithic human figures carved by the Rapa Nui people on Easter Island.
Spectacle (N) A visually striking performance or display.
Globalisation (N) The process by which businesses or other organisations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale.

Fluency Catalyst

Native Phrase: When discussing impact, use: "To hold your own against the world."

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