10 Reasons to choose Language Institute of New Zealand (LIONZ) for your daughter’s study

1. Girls Only – Research shows that girls academic performance is higher in a single sex environment (male students do better in a co-ed environment). Your daughter will be able to focus fully on study and achieve to her true potential here.

2. Heritage Villa in Mount Eden – This beautiful colonial building with its striking veranda is over a century old, which is quite a long time in a young country like New Zealand. Our students are proud of their historic building and garden, and frequently take souvenir photos with their friends here, or at the lovely local park a few houses away. Every few weeks, students and teachers stretch their legs with a stroll to the top of Mount Eden’s grassy crater – this extinct volcano dominates the leafy historic suburb, which bears its name. It is easy to enjoy a peaceful and natural life in such an atmospheric environment.

3. PREP class – LIONZ has four 12-weeks terms each year, beginning in January, April, July, and October. Where students arrive in the middle of a term, and during vacation weeks, they can choose Individualised Tutorials and self-access English assignments instead of regular language classes. This allows each student to work at her own pace and get used to the materials for a half day or a few days, before jumping in to join the class at speed.

4. 24 hours, 365 days a year, our friendly Student Liaison Officers can help with translations and interpreting, e.g. if you need to see a doctor, apply for a visa or arrange further study. The staff are available to discuss any questions about life or study with the students in French, German, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese and Mandarin. A staff member is only a phone call away, 24 hours a day. If we can make your daughter’s stay better in any way, just let us know!

5. Great Accommodation - Because of its location in an inner suburb, LIONZ can offer friendly homestays nearby – close enough for students to come by bike or even on foot. (There’s a bus stop just outside the school for those who want to take the bus). LIONZ also provides safe, pleasant and convenient accommodation. We offer handy boarding in twin rooms at the school, for a limited number of students.

6. Driving Lessons - Do you want your daughter to learn to drive responsibly and safely in New Zealand? If parental authorisation is granted, LIONZ will arrange road code workshops and free weekly driving lessons with an established and qualified New Zealand driving instructor until your daughter is ready to sit the New Zealand driving tests. It is important that students learn confidently and at their own pace, so we put no time limit on this offer – e.g. if a student stays with us for 5 years, she can have driving lessons throughout that time, until she passes her Full New Zealand Licence. LIONZ also covers the cost of conversion of overseas licences to New Zealand equivalent. Note: Unless students have parental authorisation AND appropriate licence, they are not able to drive while enrolled at LIONZ.

7. Don't Worry Mum! We understand that a parent's heart is never at rest, but always needs to know whether children are doing fine at school and in life, or whether at any time they need a "parental boost" of encouragement, support, affection. That's why at the end of every month, all our students receive a regualar report on their achievement, and parents/guardian automatically recieve a copy, at the end of every month.

8. Culture Programme – LIONZ believes that becoming familiar with culture is part of learning the language. New Zealanders are happy to talk with International Students about New Zealand culture, so part of the LIONZ curriculum for each level asks students to interview New Zealanders about an aspect of culture. Examples of topics are: a New Zealand Film, a New Zealand Food, a New Zealand Christmas, a Famous New Zealander, a New Zealand Sport. After their interviewing, students write up their data as mini-projects which appear on the LIONZ website each month, and become part of their Personal Portfolio for Term Assessment.

9. Our Director is qualified and experienced in language teaching in University and Polytechnic environments, including at the University of Auckland. Informed by educational research, the TEFL/TESOL-qualified LIONZ tutor team encourages a tertiary learning style. Students learn using research, individual thinking skills, group projects, discussions and oral presentations, as well as reviewing for examinations and writing essays. Becoming familiar with these techniques makes students more confident in their self-expression and analytical skills, as well as providing an excellent basis for further education.

10. Teddy Bears - We understand about Culture Shock – moving to another culture far from home and family is a very big change, and it takes personal effort and outside support to adjust happily. At LIONZ, we understand that a girl will have some homesick and heartsick moments while adjusting to life and study here in New Zealand. That’s why, on arrival, each student receives the gift of a personal Me-to-you teddy bear, to show we really do care.

What makes it easy or difficult to learn a new language?

From over 20 years learning and teaching languages, I have analysed several important factors for success in learning a language, such as personal situation, the practical choices made while studying, and the school/teacher quality from which students can benefit. These factors for success in language learning are explained with examples below.

Personal Situation
1. motivation
2. academic backround
3. personality

1. Motivation
The first and most important factor for success in learning language is personal: your motivation

Do you WANT to learn English? Why? If your only reason is that you need to get a certificate for immigration, you may have strong but extrinsic motivation - that means you will not enjoy your study very much and may cram rather than study in much depth - it will be a long hard slog.

Other extrinsic motivations include people studying a language because it is a compulsory subject at school or to please their family. In this case achievement may be slow even if the student is cooperative.

If your purpose is to be able to survive a new country you have chosen, your motivation is still practical and you might find it hard to learn anything unless you can immediately see it is directly relevant to your goal. E.g., you may learn to read the Road Code to get your licence, but forget the vocabulary soon after.

The lucky ones are those whose motivation is getting to know people from other cultures or enjoying language and literature. Those who genuinely enjoy reading have the largest vocabulary, while real communication with new friends is the fastest way to internalise the structure of the language. Some people say the fastest way to learn a language is to fall in love with a person who doesn't speak yours.

When we practise a skill BECAUSE we enjoy it, we learn fast and don't mind spending extra time on it. This kind of motivation is called intrinsic because the goal is inside ourselves, not outside.

If you have any questions about learning a new language in New Zealand,please visit our language learning site at Language Institute of New Zealand (LIONZ)

27 May 2004
Air sites critiqued
LIONZ' new den
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