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.
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.
For course information, including areas of study, prerequisites, assessments and standards, please see our 2020 Course Option Booklet.
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).
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).
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.
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.
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
Academic Opportunities Outside the Classroom
Students are able to sit:
Students are able to sit:
- The International Diplomas of Language Proficiency i.e DELF, at different levels of ability.
- Scholarship tutorials and assessment
Reasons to Learn a Language
Still not quite persuaded? Check out these nine reasons or watch the video below to see that learning a language is the right choice!
Still not quite persuaded? Check out these nine reasons or watch the video below to see that learning a language is the right choice!
