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A prayer from Auckland Rotuman Fellowship group chairman, Faga Fasala, at the start of the language class last Saturday.
Mr Fasala also urged the participants to learn as much as they can from the sessions.
One of the tutors Tivao Mario says the focus is to encourage more young Rotumans to learn the language.
"We've got a bigger focus on our kids. We don't want them to lose their identity - the Rotuman language - which is very important to all of us. This is how we are going to be going forward. Lessons. Dancing. People will learn and know more about us and they can come and join. It's very nice to know the community can come together for such an important thing."
Mrs Mario says non-Rotumans are also welcome to participate in the classes which are free.
The Language Week is being organised by the Auckland Rotuman Fellowship Group Incorporated (ARFGI).
The week, which debuted last year, will be held on May 12-19 this year and will include the Rotuma Day celebrations on May 13.
Mrs Mario says the language classes started in February and they intend to continue throughout the year - only breaking for the school holidays.
"Parents are encouraged to get their youngsters to come and join us. The numbers are improving and what they are learning. It's beginning to show when we meet and greet because our little ones especially our young ones at home they are just coming up with 'Noaia Aunty' (Hello Aunty). I think it's nice to start now. It's never too late to start."
Mrs Mario says there are alot more activities this year which have attracted the youth.
For 8-year-old Gedalya Parker, learning to speak Rotuman has been a challenge.
But he says he's glad he's attending the classes because his confidence is growing.
"Noaia, o tou asa a le Gedalya Parker (Hello, my name is Gedalya Parker) and I want to learn my language so I can communicate with other people from Rotuma. It's nice because they want to come and learn how to speak Rotuman. A'te means eat. Kakou means shower. Ala means teeth."
Gedalya says his parents speak in Rotuman to their three children at home.
He says he understands them most of the time but responds in English because it's easier.
The St Leonard's School student has never been to Rotuma but hopes to visit his island home one day soon.
"The water's really clear. If you want to go to Rotuma, you'll have to go on a boat or a plane I think. There were giants a long time ago. It's a nice place - it's like Fiji. It's sunny, every day it's sunny."
Gedalya Parker and the Auckland Rotuman Fellowship Group have been preparing for the language week and Rotuma Day celebrations.
Tonight the group will practise the tautoga (traditional dance) for Rotuma Day which marks the island's cessation to Britain in 1881.
Rotuma has since been governed by Fiji.
Although Rotuma has been influenced alot by Melanesia Fiji, its culture closely resembles that of Tonga and Samoa.
