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  • Reflections from English Teachers in South Korea

    In January 2024, six New Zealand teachers were selected to spend part of their summer season teaching English in South Korea as part of the New Zealand Korea FTA Partnership English Language Training Programme.  

    This programme is supported by Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) who assists with the teacher recruitment process. This was one of the key KNZFTA programmes recently discussed during the South Korea Government delegation visit to New Zealand late last year.  

    The group of six New Zealand teachers selected to teach English in South Korea in January. From left, Jane Bassett, Food Technology Teacher from Havelock North Intermediate School, Sharon Powell, English Teacher from Long Bay College in Auckland, Kara Shortland, Acting Team Leader (Bilingual) from Whangārei Intermediate School Te Tai Tokerau. Glenn Cheyne, Head of Learning Area Social Sciences from Nayland College in Nelson, Gordon Sim, Social Science teacher from Hillcrest High School in Hamilton, and Dan Greer, Social Studies/Drama teacher from Logan Park High School in Dunedin.

    Kay Lee, ENZ Senior Market Development Manager – Korea, said that it was an absolute pleasure to see New Zealand teachers continue to travel to South Korea to teach English during their summer break.  

    “There are so many positive outcomes from the running of this cross-cultural programme for both the Korean students and the New Zealand teachers participating.  

    "On one hand, the students get the opportunity to hone their English language skills while experiencing the New Zealand teaching style, learning more about New Zealand, including its culture and education system. Meanwhile, while teaching English and serving as ambassadors of a New Zealand education, the teachers can immerse themselves in Korean life for a few weeks, seeing new sights, trying new food and making new friends.  

    Gordon, Jane, and Dan, sampling Korean cuisine at the end of the teaching day.

    "Our Korean government partner for educational programmes, EPIS, has acknowledged ENZ for its significant contribution to the programme’s success through effective teacher recruitment. These positive outcomes are testament to the strength of our NZ-Korea Government-to-Government partnership,” added Kay.  

    Upon their return to New Zealand, two of the teachers who are trained in teaching English as a Second Language (ESL), shared their experiences with ENZ. Read on to hear about the reflections from their two weeks abroad.... 

    Jane Bassett (지안 (Jian) from Havelock North Intermediate School with her students.

    Jane Bassett is a Food Technology teacher at Havelock North Intermediate School and said that the experience of exchanging cultures whilst teaching in an overseas classroom environment was an absolute privilege.  

    “Our students were aged 14 – 17 years old and came from all over South Korea with family backgrounds in the Agricultural and Fisheries industries. Each student had been awarded a scholarship from the Korean government to attend the two-week intensive English programme organised by the Hyundai Research Institute. 

    "The Institute went above and beyond in their efforts to ensure an incredible experience for both the students and our group of teachers.   

    “The teaching programme included a wide range of modules and as well as English grammar, we covered lessons on New Zealand culture, history, tourism, agriculture, sports, famous New Zealanders, and school life.  My class was also exposed to the New Zealand Technology curriculum and was tasked with developing a new snack product. As part of the project, I introduced them to several New Zealand snacks and Kiwi classics such as WeetBix, Marmite and Watties Baked Beans, to varying degrees of enjoyment!”  

    Students were encouraged to speak in English throughout the day via fun-games, readings, conversations and plays so that the teachers could fine-tune their English to help them become more fluent with more natural English phrasing.  

    "We also explained aspects of Māori culture and the significance of pepeha (way of introduction). The students, who were from agricultural and fisheries backgrounds, were quickly able to identify their  own awa (river) and maunga (mountain), showing their own personal connection to their land.”   

    Jane said that a personal highlight was being able to spend her birthday in Seoul learning about Korean cuisine through a cooking class on kimchi making and tea ceremony in a traditional house. She admitted that this was an appropriate birthday experience for a New Zealand Food Technology teacher! 

    She summed up the experience by saying that the group of teachers gained a greater understanding of cultural diversity and appreciation of the challenges learning English poses for new learners, learnings which they will take home with them.  

    “We really hope that our students will remember their experience as fondly as we will and that they will look to study and visit New Zealand in the future.” 

    Drama and Social Studies teacher, Dan Greer, of Logan Park High School with three of his students.

    Dan Greer, is a drama and social studies secondary school teacher from Logan Park School in Dunedin. He joined Jane as one of the six teachers selected to travel to South Korea, his second experience as an English language teacher in South Korea, having taught in Ulsan 12 years ago.   

    “I had such an amazing time participating in the Hyundai Research Institute’s programme. It was great to have other quality teachers on this experience with me and we were able to work together, mixing up the style of teaching and activities. I had the more beginner level class, and as a drama teacher we added games to my traditional English teaching. The students really enjoyed it, and it gave them more confidence to give things a go”. 

    Dan reflected on the fact that there was one practice of teaching English in Korea that he had often thought was a little unfair, that being the naming of Korean students with English names.  

    “As an English teacher in Korea, you are often asked to name Korean students with English names. Sometimes this is because they want them, sometimes it is because they ’have’ to, and for many it is because westerners find Korean names hard to pronounce. I have named nine children in my life, one being my daughter and the other eight have been my Korean students”. 

    Dan used this practice as a topic of discussion in class one day and shared his opinion that it had not always felt right to him as he felt that if Korean students were taking the time to learn the English language, that teachers should make an effort in return.  

    He then asked his students whether English teachers should have Korean names. This prompted them to ask many questions about Dan including who he is when he is not “Dan the teacher”, his whakapapa, and the meaning of his name in English.  

    Dan said “You can imagine my surprise when my students were all waiting for me when I arrived the next day. One wonderful student then stood up and using perfect English gifted me a Korean name. I was no longer just “Dan the Teacher,” but also now 도혁 (Dohyuk), which meant I was ‘leading them to a bright path’.   

    “This was such a humbling experience that I will cherish forever. For me, this is what makes teaching and life so special,” added 도혁  (Dan). 

    If the Korean organisers decide to run the NZ-Korea FTA Partnership English Language Training Programme in the future, ENZ will continue to share the applications with NZ school teachers through the Asia NZ Foundation and Schools International Education Business Association (SIEBA).  

  • Kiwi students attend Tokyo Experience School

    Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) supports a range of international exchange programmes that, as well as attracting international students to New Zealand, also provide New Zealand students with the opportunity to have their own international education experiences overseas. These offer unique cross-cultural learning opportunities that develop our global citizens, serve to plant the seed for future overseas education experiences in our learners, while also promoting New Zealand’s education system on a global level.  

    One such programme is that organised by the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education (Tokyo MBoE), an Education Cooperation Partner of ENZ since 2017. The programme fosters education exchanges between New Zealand and Tokyo and each year, the Tokyo MBoE invites students to attend the Tokyo Experience School through an application process, promoted to secondary schools by ENZ. In 2023, Rangiora High School was selected by the Tokyo MBoE to send four students and one chaperone to Tokyo, joining other students from around the world for ten days in December.  

    Lachlan Palmer, SeungWoo Jeong, Ariana Ferguson and Oliver Burns are all studying Japanese at Rangiora High School, and were the fortunate students selected to attend on behalf of their school. The four students were accompanied by their school’s Teacher in Charge of Japanese, Jessica Bradley. 

    The experience proved to be a true immersion in Japanese culture and student life for the Rangiora High School Year 11-13 students with the students staying with local host families, travelling to school in rush hour, attending class and joining club activities such as chalk art, judo classes, and rugby training. The experience also gave students the opportunity to take part in several traditional experiences such as getting dressed in a kimono and attending Sado (tea ceremony). 

    All four students said that this Japanese exchange trip was one of the most interesting and valuable experiences they had every done and couldn’t wait to go back. 

    Lachlan said “The real highlight of this trip was with my host family and my time at school there. Seeing the differences and similarities between Japan and New Zealand in person allowed me to enjoy and learn about Japan in a way like no other and gave me the chance to share my own culture from New Zealand. It is safe to say I will be returning as soon as I can”.  

    One of Ariana’s favourite moments of the whole experience was trying on the kimono. She said "it was amazing to experience what it was like to wear, walk and feel in a Kimono and it is something I will never forget. I also loved meeting students in my class and not only learning about their likes/dislikes but sharing mine too and a New Zealand culture with them. They were so kind and welcoming, and I honestly can't wait to go back!” 

    Ariana Ferguson with her travel companions; Lachlan Palmer, SeungWoo Jeong, and Oliver Burns, trying on traditional Japanese dress.

    Lachlan Palmer and SeungWoo Jeong, tried Judo with their host brothers.

    SeungWoo enjoyed experiencing in person the culture that he has been learning so much about at school. He said “my host brother and I went to several famous places in Japan such as Tokyo Tower, Skytree, Akihabara, Shinjuku, and Shibuya. However, I believe that the highlight of the trip was being able to experience the Japanese food my host family made for us, and the amazing experiences my host brother and I have experienced such as karaoke.’ 

    Lastly, Oliver noted how interesting it was attending a Japanese school and some of the differences. He said “there was a lot of school spirit, much more so than my home high school, and I loved how much the student body supported each other. My favourite parts of school were the friends I made in class (and the bento lunches!).” 

    ENZ will continue working with Tokyo MBoE on cross cultural education opportunities. If Tokyo MBoE continue the Tokyo Experience School, ENZ will share the EOI with New Zealand schools when it is available, usually around September. 

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  • Singapore

  • Advertising opportunity for Japan’s New Zealand Study Guidebook

    The publication is the only one of its kind supported by the New Zealand Embassy in Tokyo and Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ). KBUNSHA distributes 20,000 copies to Japanese schools, universities and education organisations as well as education fairs and seminars.    

    ENZ’s Business Development Manager – Japan, Tomomi Kontani said that there is increased demand for information on New Zealand’s education offering.  

    “We are continuing to see significant interest in New Zealand as an education destination from students and their parents, schools, and education agents here in Japan.  

    “The KBUNSHA New Zealand Study Guidebook is a trusted publication in Japan and advertising here is a great opportunity for education providers and regions to promote New Zealand education to the Japanese public. Destination marketing plays a key role in student attraction for a market like Japan with a tourism focus and we hope regions can also participate in this special opportunity to introduce their regions and activities”, said Tomomi. 

    This guidebook was distributed at the annual student fair and education stakeholder events hosted by ENZ Japan in 2023 which attracted over 1,000 people. The New Zealand Study Guidebook will remain the main information source referred to and distributed at upcoming education events in Japan.  ENZ encourages NZ providers attending the New Zealand Fair in Tokyo October 2024 to consider advertising in the Study Guidebook to reach your target audience in Japan. 

    Advertisement rates for individual providers range from approx. NZD 2,500 to NZD 6,020 for guidebook and/or website listings. With the “Premier Plan” and “Advertorial Plan”, the school logo will be listed on the new scholarship campaign page built by KBUNSHA. Individual providers can download the proposal here. Advertising copy can be provided in English.   

    For regional groups, download the proposal here for further details on the guidebook and pricing (approx. NZD 2,200 for a 2-page colour advertisement and NZD 3,300 for a 4-page colour advertisement). 

    Bookings must be made by 28 June 2024. For more information, visit the KBUNSHA website here. You can view last year’s guidebook here.  

    Alternatively, interested New Zealand education providers and regional groups can contact KBUNSHA for any questions (available in English). 

     

    KBUNSHA contact:  

    Minori Takahashi (Director) 

    Tel: +81-3-3234-1744 

    Email: minori@kbunsha.com 

  • Next webinar for the schools’ sector – 20 March 2024

    Join Mary Camp on Wednesday March 20th 11:00 – 12:15 for discussion on the theme: 

    Growing Positive Public Perceptions of International Education. 

    Session highlights: 

    • Marie Clark, ENZ Director Insights, will present recent research on New Zealanders’ perceptions of international education 

    • Sai Raje, ENZ Senior Advisor Communications, will show us a toolkit for communicating the benefits of international education in your communities  

    • We’d love to hear your tips of what you’ve seen work well in harnessing community support for your international programmes.  

    Next webinars (topics TBC):

    • Wednesday 17 April 

    • Wednesday 15 May 

    • Wednesday 19 June.  

    Register in advance for these webinars: https://enz.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0od-Cprj0iHdYcue0gGAXPY04bC7cMjPps  

    You can register once and attend any or all sessions. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. 

    Please note these sessions are for NZ schools only – agents should check out https://agentlab.enz.govt.nz/ 

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