Learning Languages
Te Reo Māori in Mainstream (i.e. English medium schools) | Second Language Learning | Teacher Professional Development Years 7–8 | School Support Services | National advisers for French, German, Spanish, Japanese, and Chinese | Professional Learning in Other Countries
Te Reo Māori in Mainstream (i.e. English medium schools)
The Ministry of Education has allocated funding to employ School Support Services advisers who are competent in te reo Māori to help mainstream teachers (primary and secondary) use the new curriculum (Māori in the NZ Curriculum) and associated materials in ways that improve their students' learning of te reo Māori. The particular focus of work in this area is for teachers of years 7–10 students. For further information, please contact your nearest School Support Services provider.
Last year in 2005, the Ministry ran four pilots around the country for generalist mainstream primary teachers wishing to upskill in te reo Māori and become familiar with the new draft curriculum.
This year, in terms 2 and 3, 2006, there is a pilot for specialist Māori language secondary teachers working in Wellington, Wairarapa and Horowhenua mainstream schools. This professional learning opportunity will focus specifically on second language teaching and learning, as well as the new reo Māori curriculum. The provider is Haemata Ltd. The contact person is Hineihaea Murphy, phone 04 233 2055.
More information about the Ministry's strategy for Māori language for English medium schools (that is, mainstream) can be obtained from Te Reo Māori in Mainstream community page.
Second Language Learning
Teacher Professional Development Years 7–8
This is a new programme to develop teacher fluency and second language teaching pedagogy in a specific language for those teaching a language to students in years 7–8. Teachers who meet the requirements can expect to gain a qualification. The successful contractor(s) for 2006 are the University of Auckland for teachers of Spanish and German, and Christchurch College of Education for teachers of Japanese and French.
For information updates, see Learning Languages community news.
School Support Services
Learning Languages advisory services for year 7–10 are available in 2006 through the School Support Services in each region.
These advisers are supporting schools with students in years 7–10 as they work towards meeting the requirement to offer second language learning opportunities to their students and develop effective and sustainable programmes. In addition, Margaret Hardiman and Silvia Insley of the University of Auckland are working as full-time national coordinators to manage strategic links, coordinate services, and provide overview information to the Ministry of Education for maximum effectiveness. For information related to professional development and initiatives for Pasifika languages see the Pasifika kete.
Schools and teachers needing assistance can contact their nearest School Support Services provider.
In addition, language advisers continue to be available through School Support Services to assist senior secondary teachers with their specific needs.
For information updates, see Learning Languages community news.
National advisers for French, German, Spanish, Japanese, and Chinese
These national advisers, mostly appointed by their governments, assist New Zealand language teachers with their professional development in the particular language. These advisers place information on Learning Languages community page, and can be contacted for information specific to the language they represent and their work programme schedules.
Professional Learning in Other Countries
Opportunities exist for languages teachers to spend time in countries where the language they are teaching is in daily use. Further information is available from:
- Brian Robb, Director AFS Intercultural Programmes for the Ministry of Education Language Immersion Awards (brian.robb@afs.org)
- Catherine Hannagan, Manager ILANZ (formerly ACENZ) for language teacher professional development opportunities and teacher exchange programmes (languages@acenz.c.nz)
For further information contact the national advisers or School Support Services advisers.