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Languages


Learning Languages at WHS
Learning another language at Wakatipu High School opens up new opportunities and gives you perspectives that you might never have encountered otherwise. Personal, professional, social, and economic considerations all point to the advantages of learning foreign languages.

Active Involvement
In language classes all students are encouraged to be actively involved in all activities. Participation is an essential part of learning a language and students are encouraged to communicate with each other and with the teacher in the target language.

Lifelong Learners
It is intended that learning a language throughout secondary school will encourage students to continue to  learn about this language and culture once they have left school. We also encourage students to investigate other cultures and languages. Learning a second language is a skill for life!

Effective Pedagogy
This is supported thanks to a safe and positive learning environment where the students are given the opportunities to challenge themselves through a range of choices. Programmes are designed according to students’ needs and competencies. Students are encouraged to become independent learners while sharing ideas, reflecting on their learning, feedback and setting goals for themselves.

Our Pathways
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English for Speakers of other Languages
ESOL courses are offered to international students and to students living permanently in New Zealand who do not have English as their first language and whose level of English is not high enough to succeed at the expected curriculum level.


The nature of these courses depends on the ability of the students, their length of time in New Zealand and their educational goals. Course placement follows testing and discussion with students about their goals. Following testing students are placed in the corresponding English Learning Language Proficiency (ELLP) stage (From Foundation to Stage 3).
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French
French is a major international language. It is the first language of many people living in several European and African nations and Canada, and it is an official language of some Pacific territories within three hours flying time from New Zealand. With an understanding of French, you have an extra advantage in business, tourism or any organisation with an international marketing strategy


Maori
Te Reo Maori is one of the official languages of Aotearoa New Zealand. Research shows that the opportunity to learn an additional language has many cultural, social, cognitive, linguistic, economic and personal benefits for students. While these benefits apply to all language learning, there are some specific advantages for New Zealand students in learning te reo Māori.  
Te reo Māori and tikanga Māori are intertwined, and so learning te reo Māori gives students access to te ao Māori (the Māori world) and to Māori world views. 

Note: Students in Year 9 must select at least one option from the Languages Learning Area.

​Click on the buttons below to see the detail about the options and assessment standards for each of our Languages Learning Area courses.
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Learning Outside the Classroom
The Languages Learning Area believes that students will enhance and enrich their languages learning by stepping outside of their comfort through overseas immersion trips.

The following are offered at Wakatipu High School through the Languages Learning Area:
  • Year 9 Maori - visit of a Marae and of Kapa Haka regional competitions
  • Year 11 - 11 day long - Immersion trip to Noumea, New Caledonia
  • Year 11 to 13 - 3 to 6 month - Language Immersion Award
  • Year 12/13 - 2 month long - Swiss-New Zealand exchange
Follow this link for  more information about  these opportunities.
Academic Opportunities Outside the Classroom
Students are able to sit:
  • The International Diplomas of Language Proficiency i.e DELF, at different levels of ability.
  • Scholarship tutorials and assessment

For more information on the benefits of a bilingual brain, check this great Ted Talk.

Reasons to Learn a Language
Still not quite persuaded? Check out these nine reasons that learning a language is the right choice!
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Address
47-49 Red Oaks Drive

Frankton
Queenstown
9300
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2019 Term Dates
Term 1

Thursday 31st January to Friday 12th April

Term 2
Monday 29th April to Friday 5th July
Term 3
Monday 22nd July to Friday 27th September
Term 4
Monday 14th October to Friday 13th December

See our calendar and key dates page for more.


Report an absence
Please call the school office at
03 442 7370 or e-mail
attendance@wakatipu.school.nz

Staff Contacts
See our staff page.

Vacancies
See our current list of vacancies
here.
© 2016 Wakatipu High School - Privacy Policy
  • Home
  • Our School
    • Our School
    • Attending WHS >
      • Buses
      • Uniform
      • BYOD
      • Finance and Stationery
    • Enrolment
    • Our Staff
    • Finance
    • School News
    • Calendar and Key Dates
    • Policies and Processes
    • Charter
    • Complaints
  • Academic
    • Curriculum and Timetable
    • English
    • Arts
    • Languages
    • Health & PE
    • Student Learning Services >
      • Reader/Writers
    • Gifted and Talented
  • Extra-Curricular
    • Student Leadership
    • House Competition
    • Sports
    • Arts and Cultural
    • Outdoor Recreation
    • Duke of Edinburgh
    • Library
  • International
    • Curriculum and Activities
    • Living
    • Prospectus
    • Enrolments
  • Contact us