Te Reo & International Languages

All students at Year 9 study a language for a half-year programme. This gives students a “taste” of the language and culture, forming a strong base for further study. Students select a language from a choice of four. Te Reo Maori, German, Japanese, and Mandarin Chinese are available from Year 9 – Year 13. Spanish is offered in Year 12. Studying a language through to Year 13 gives students a strong background in a language.  This will broaden their employment options, both in New Zealand and internationally, in fields such as commerce, tourism and law.

Reasons for Learning Languages

• Globalisation:The realities of globalisation make the speaking of languages more important than ever.
• Understanding:A language is a very rewarding challenge that helps you to better understand your own language AND broadens your awareness of other cultures.
• Networking:If you enjoy meeting people from different cultures, you’ll be able to communicate with them on their terms if you learn languages.
• Careers:A language broadens your choice of career.
• School Exchanges: School trips to China, Germany and Japan.
• Increases your intellectual capacity: Research has shown that those who learn languages have quicker minds!

Te Reo Maori:

‘Tôku reo, tôku ohooho, tôku reo, tôku mapihi maurea!’
My language is my strength and my awakening!
 
Learning the Maori language benefits all cultures. Knowledge of the Maori language and tikanga promote a commitment to biculturalism and fosters the ability to work in a bicultural or multicultural setting.  The knowledge of Te Reo Mâori and tikanga gives students many career opportunities, both within New Zealand and overseas. 
 
In Year 9 students will learn basic greetings, and begin to become familiar and comfortable with marae Marae protocol and tikanga. They will also learn to talk about their family, friends and school.  Year 9 has a great emphasis on the spoken language, and being able to identify and understand simple language.
 
The Year 10 -13 programmes begin to develop not only the students language skills, through the six language modes of speaking, listening, reading, writing, viewing and presenting.  Students will also begin to expand their knowledge and familiarity of cultural processes and their importance to Mâori, as well as taking part in and running these processes within our school.  Students will become aware of the fact that the language and culture run hand in hand, and the senior programmes reflect this through the thematic units students will undertake.  Students will also learn about and be involved with Mâori performing arts and Mâori visual arts throughout all year levels.
 

German:

“He who does not know foreign languages does not know anything about his own.”
(Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)
 
German is the most widely spoken language in Europe, and learning German can open up a whole world of opportunities, especially in the areas of tourism, trade, science and technology. After learning German for six months in Year 9, students will be able to understand and use familiar expressions and everyday vocabulary in German about themselves, their family and friends.  Right from the first lesson, students will be using their German comprehension, speaking and writing skills in authentic situations.

In Years 10 to 13 students will gradually expand their language skills so that they become increasingly confident to use German variably and effectively to express and justify their ideas and opinions, and support or challenge those of others. Students get the opportunity to take part in different language competitions, such as the Assessment of Language Competence and the Auckland Goethe Society Examinations.

Several exchange programmes and a scholarship are available for senior students who wish to put their German language skills into practice in a German speaking environment. In 2005 Lynfield College established a strong relationship with our German partner school in Werder/Germany. Several student groups have visited each other since then and a group of 22 students will be on their way to Germany in April 2011.
 

Links to our partner school and blogs about the exchange programme:
 
www.ernst-haeckel-gymnasium.de
  
http://werdertrip07.blogspot.com/
 
http://www.kiwis-in-germany.blogspot.com/
 

Japanese:

 
With the introduction of the new curriculum there will be a greater emphasis on students communicating through spoken Japanese. At Year 9 much time is spent on cultural aspects, with students expected to also master the written script, hiragana. However, from Year 10 courses are designed to give students the opportunity to communicate in as realistic situations as possible that best reflect each of the students’ access to Japanese.
 
For example, Year 10 and 11 students will study for two years under one umbrella theme, “School exchange with Japan – hosting Japanese students and preparations for our Japan trip.” Whereas in Year 12, students will take the next step on their journey and communicate under the theme “School exchange with Japan – Living in Japan”,  where all communicative activities from Year 10 will have some link to the current exchange program where students get the opportunity to visit Shinagawa in Tokyo, Japan, once every two years. Students are required to study Japanese to be eligible to participate on the trip.
 
The ultimate goal is to prepare students for entering such situations listed above and then in Year 13 to set up situations where students are able to use Japanese in career related situations in Japan.
 

Mandarin Chinese:

 
Chinese is a particularly significant language for New Zealand because of the economic and cultural ties this country is developing with the Chinese speaking world. The large and rapidly growing Chinese-speaking Pacific Rim populations, in particular, offer New Zealand considerable potential for tourism and trade.
 
In the Year 9 course, students learn as beginners to communicate in Chinese in variety of everyday situations. Students are introduced to pinyin and Chinese character writing systems. They have the opportunity to access to a range of computer software and applications. By the end of six months, students will be able to talk about themselves, their family and pets. They are also able to do word processing in Chinese and use interactive language-building programmes.
 
In the courses of Year 10 to 13, students’ Chinese language skills and cultural knowledge are gradually developed. Students become increasingly confident to take part in general conversation with native speakers, understand most of what is said, and contribute relevant comments. They can express and discuss many of their own ideas and opinions. They can read a variety of authentic materials and write expressively for a range of purposes.
 
Students have the opportunity to take part in a range of Chinese cultural activities and a variety of language competitions, such as the Assessment of Language Competence, AucklandChinese speech Competition and Chinese Essay competition. Several exchange programmes and AFS Language Award for senior students who wish to put their Chinese language skills into practice in a Chinese speaking environment. Lynfield College has established a strong relationship with our Chinese sister schools in Hangzhou and Guangzhou. Several student groups have visited each other since 2006. It has effectively enhanced the cultural understanding and facilitated the language learning.
 
A short article by two Year 12 students, Aghilan Newman and Nick Chong on their China experience :
                                                                  
Chinese is a very interesting subject to learn at Lynfield college; Not only are you learning a whole other language, but you also get to learn about the culture, food, history and about China’s important features. And if you are really lucky you can even get a chance to go to China and put some of what you have learnt to test.
 
We were given the opportunity to go to China in term one this year along with a group of students ranging from Year 10 to Year 13, and it’s safe to say we all thoroughly enjoyed the experience. From landing in Shanghai International Airport to staying with home stays in Huangzhou Greentown School, and even getting to walk along the Great Wall in Beijing, we all fully immersed ourselves in the culture and heritage of China and it’s people.  
 
Armed with a limited Chinese vocabulary and a thirst for a bargain, we set upon the street vendors and markets throughout Shanghai, bargaining down prices with shop owners and explored the wonders of Nanjing Road. And if that didn’t test our Chinese knowledge, we got to stay with a Chinese student in Huangzhou for a week where they showed us the sights and sounds of their city. To top off the whole trip,we got to go to Beijing and visit the Giant Pandas, the Science Museum and the Great Wall among other things. We all left with many memories, photos and even a couple of new friends. For us, the trip was incredibly interesting and the once-in-a-lifetime adventure was very helpful for my studies in Chinese and I am richer for the experience.
 
 

Spanish:
 

Español (Spanish) is a very useful language for travel, as it is spoken by 420 million people as a native language or a second bilingual language in countries such as Spain, Mexico, Uruguay, Chile, Argentina, El Salvador and Puerto Rico.  Students who go on to study Spanish at university are able to use the language to enhance a number of careers such as business, marketing and international relations.  ¡Qué útil! (Really useful!)

In the Year 12 course students learn as beginners to communicate in Spanish in a variety of everyday situations.  They use online resources to listen to authentic Spanish speakers, listen to Spanish music, practice grammar and improve vocabulary.  Students also gain an appreciation of Spanish and Hispanic cultures and ways of life. One of the real ways they do this is by visiting a South American restaurant, communicating with staff in Spanish, eating Hispanic food and even learning a few salsa dance steps in the adjoining dance school. ¡Qué divertido!( Really fun!)

By the end of their first year students are able to read, for example, menus, travel brochures, signs and simple descriptions of a range of people and things.  They can understand spoken instructions, descriptions of people, cities and food and basic dialogues.  Students are encouraged to speak in Spanish as often as possible, so they are able to talk about themselves, friends and families, ask for directions and communicate with shop assistants and waiters, among many other situations.  Students translate text with the use of other resources, write short descriptions and complete forms in Spanish. ¡Qué talentoso!(Really talented!)