Photo Essays: Foreign Languages


Figure 1.--The art rooms in New Zealand high schools are a beehive of activity and covered with imaginative and exciting examples of the students' work. 

Foreign language curricula in most countries commonly reflects the languages og neigboring countries. Cultural and economic factors are also important. Of course there are not amy other coutries close to New Zealand, except Australia which also speaks English. The nearest country besides Australia is Indonesia. The foreign language program consists mostly of other European languages. As in Britian, French is the most common. There is more emphasis on Spanish than in Britain, probably because of the geoographic importance of South America. One interesting development in recent years has been the addition of Japanese to the foreign language program, reflecting Japan's economic importance. Maby schools also offer Mairi, but that can not be called a foreign language.

Principal's Report: Ascademic

Develoment of language programmes was an area identified in the Strategic PLan. Japanese has continued to develop with its extension into the Form 3 option choices with the intention that it should be offered at Form 4 in 1997.

Francis Douglas Memorial College, 1996


Japanese Speaking Competitions

This year, eleven students from Kelston Boys entered the Annual Schools Japanese Language competition. The team had immoderate success with Tim Hickey ... being placed 5th out of 53 competitors in the 5th form division and John Chapan being placed 5th out of 32 competitors in the 6th form. Ian Preston of 5A received a certificate of high commendationand other Kelston students received certificates of commendtion. John Chapman and Tim Hickey attended the Prizegiving ceremony at the Auckland College of Education on the 30th October. The prizes included a trip to Japan.

Richard Steward, Kelsonian (Kelston Boys' High School), 1996


Korean Language and Cultural Group

With Korea uddenly taking over Britain as New Zealand's fourthlargest trading partmer, the government has placed a large emphasis on learning the language and culture. This has carried through to schools including Kelston Boys. Backing for the subject is provided by a group called Asia 2000 which receives its funding from the government and big business in New Zealand and Korea. Asia 2000 also hired two Korean femle assistants to help Mr. Spence in his job of teaching the two Korean classes in the third and fourth form. Mr. Spence and his assistants also run the Korean Culture group activity in school. Kelston Boys has forty fee paying Korean students, some of which often socialize with the third and fourth form boys during breaks, which is great practice for their new found lsnguage skills.

Richard Steward, Kelsonian (Kelston Boys' High School), 1996









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