What began as homesickness for Guam led Brant Songsong, a former computer science student, to become University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s sole Chamorro language lecturer.
“I didn’t know there was a Chamorro language program, so I decided to enroll. I missed home and wanted to be around other Chamorros,” said Songsong who is from Rota, a Mariana Island north of Guam.
Songsong began by assisting Faye Untalan, a public health faculty member who championed the course. After her retirement, he formalized the class under UH Mānoa’s Indo-Pacific Languages and Literatures department.
Custom curriculum
Teaching a small community language comes with distinct challenges. One major hurdle is the lack of standardized orthography (conventional spelling system). Unlike widely spoken languages, Chamorro does not have an abundance of textbooks or digital materials, requiring Songsong to develop his own curriculum.
“There aren’t that many resources because we are a small community. I had to do a lot of my own digging—figuring out why we say things the way we do so I could put it into words students can understand,” Songsong explained.
He also faces the challenge of teaching a language with multiple dialects.
“Even how I say things and write things might be an issue for some because their dialect says it differently. But at the end of the day, it’s the same word, and the meaning doesn’t change.”
Start asking questions
Songsong recognizes that students enroll in Chamorro courses for a variety of reasons—some are reconnecting with their heritage, while others are linguistics enthusiasts. For students wanting to deepen their connection to their Chamorro roots, Songsong offers simple yet impactful advice: start asking questions. He encourages learners to engage with family members, explore online resources and take advantage of the cultural events available to them.
Language preservation
Despite challenges, Songsong sees a bright future for Chamorro language at UH Mānoa—envisioning continued growth, greater institutional support, and an expanding community of learners committed to preserving the language.
“Right now, I’m the only one teaching Chamorro on Oʻahu, and the program depends on me. My hope is that someone else will take over one day and that we can build a stronger support system,” Songsong said.
For more information go to the Chamorro program website.
—By Tia Flores
