Cultures ConneCting - English ƒor work everyday liƒe - English Language Partners
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Connecting
Issue 30 spring 2018
Cultures
English ƒor work
&everyday liƒe www.englishlanguage.org.nz
Volunteer | Donate
Kia ora
Taking part in the workplace is important for effective settlement. Increasingly,
New Zealand’s largest New Zealand companies are recognising the advantages of investing in former
refugees and migrants. They are typically hard-working and highly motivated
organisation working employees, keen to build new lives and contribute in their new country.
with former refugees
Working with businesses to ensure staff have the right English to communicate
and migrants. well and work safely is a priority for our organisation. We appreciate that starting
life in a new country has its challenges, and more so for people who’ve fled
war-torn countries and spent years in refugee camps.
Our programmes One business featured in this Connecting Cultures is Nelson-based XLam; 30 per
support diverse needs cent of their workforce are former refugees, and chief carpenter Dan McKean
says XLam wouldn’t be efficient without them. In the article, Dan talks about
In class the company benefits of workplace lessons; their staff now have the skills to
communicate at work, meaning a higher level of safety and quality.
English Language Groups
ESOL Literacy English Language Partners has also been working in partnership with other
settlement and tertiary providers to improve the everyday communication skills
ESOL Intensive of New Zealand’s newer community members, and this Connecting Cultures
New Zealand Certificate reflects on some of these successes.
in English Language
I’d like to thank the Honourable Iain Lees-Galloway, Minister of Immigration,
ESOL Road Code for his ‘Guest Word’ contribution to this issue.
Local programmes Nicola Sutton
For work
English for Employees Chief Executive
Work Talk
Police Recruit Literacy
Job Mentoring
At home Donate
ESOL Home Tutoring
Help former refugees and migrants start new lives in Aotearoa.
English for Migrants 3 easy ways
Mail us your donation slip (See inside back cover.)
Online at englishlanguage.org.nz
Call free on 0800 367 376
In this issue
4 7 9
‘Doing the right thing’ Keep on truckin’ Building a new life,
for business success CAL ISUZU invests in their diesel brick by brick
Workplace learning factors mechanics New migrants benefit Huntly factory
in XLam’s success
11 14 16
Getting former refugees A foot in the door A winning connection
on the road A new job seeking approach for UCOL collaboration lifts computer
Red Cross links with English Joanne Song literacy
Language Partners in Nelson
We’re
© English Language Partners New Zealand 2018
PO Box 10119, The Terrace, Wellington 6143
moving!
Level 7, Ranchhod Tower, 39 The Terrace, Wellington 6011 From December
Phone 04 471 2382 Email natoffice@englishlanguage.org.nz you’ll find
Web www.englishlanguage.org.nz us here.
Facebook www.facebook.com/EnglishLanguagePartnersNewZealand
18
Issue 30 Spring 2018
Charities registration number CC51013
Editor Grace Bassett | grace.bassett@englishlanguage.org.nz
Guest Word: Putting our Design and production Paradigm Cover Joanne Song Photo Sarah Horn
ISSN 1175-8945
hands up to be counted
Honourable Iain Lees-Galloway, Follow us on facebook
Minister of Immigration
Please recycle Connecting Cultures with family and friends before you recycle for the environment. 3
‘Doing the right thing’
for business success
Once a month, XLam staff gather outside for barbecue day.
Amy Ridout | Photos Chris Wastney
Connecting Cultures
Maung Hla Pan,
4 carpenter, XLam
Dan McKean (right) with
Maung Hla Pan and English for Employees is a 45-hour course for
XLam colleagues
residents who are in work. The programme runs
in ELPNZ centres around New Zealand.
‘‘W
e all eat lunch together,
like family,” says
Dan McKean, who is When he was young, Maung worked It also helps him connect with his
responsible for XLam’s continuous with his father, building houses, and colleagues. “I work with Indian men,
improvement. “It’s a way to celebrate farmed rice. When he was 21, he left we can’t speak each other’s language
small wins.” Myanmar, spending the next 15 years but we speak in English.”
Today, with rain bucketing down in in a Thai refugee camp. He knew
He’s still learning every day, he says.
sheets, an outdoor cookout has been little about New Zealand before he
Some words are still difficult, words
swapped for a pizza delivery, to be got on the plane, but grabbed the
with a “sh” sound. “Fish, ship, that’s
eaten in the canteen. opportunity to start a new life.
a difficult sound,” he says, adding
Preparing to break for lunch, workers Learning English was just one of a that his four children, who picked up
in orange vests move around the number of barriers Maung has had the language easily, make fun of his
large factory, where the company to overcome on his journey. “At first accent.
manufactures laminated timber, when I came here, I couldn’t do many
XLam’s first Burmese employee
used to build “all kinds of amazing things, I had to be taught so much.”
joined the company back in 2014.
buildings,” Dan says. However, honing his language skills
“Our former CEO went down to
There are 39 workers on the shop with English Language Partners has
Nelson Marlborough Institute of
floor, and a third are from Myanmar. transformed his working life.
Technology and asked if there was
Issue 30 Spring 2018
Carpenter Maung Hla Pan arrived in “Learning English has helped me with anyone suitable to join the company,”
New Zealand in 2008 and has been health and safety. It’s very important says Dan. “And they said, ‘I’ve got the
with the company for two years. to ask things related to what we’re best guy for you!’. And that was it.”
He speaks carefully, picking his way doing here. I can understand better,
slowly but assuredly through his new working with others.”
language.
5
They’re 30 per cent of the company,
we wouldn’t be efficient without
them.”
And, of equal importance in a company
where everyone is “like family,” a
shared language means a growing
staff camaraderie, Dan says.
“There’s an understanding of a
friendly exchange of laughter. The
Maung Hla Pan (centre)
more time you spend on the shop
with XLam colleagues.
floor, the more the jokes become
freely available.”
“Our Burmese staff are proud to
be New Zealanders. They’ll say, ‘I’m
a Kiwi’ and I say, ‘okay, show us the
haka then,’ which always makes
them laugh.”
Each week, teacher Trish Standring
joins XLam’s Burmese employees in
the boardroom for lessons. There’s
a clear advantage to holding classes
at work, she says.
“With classes after work, students
have to come in the evening, which
is challenging when you work all day.”
Coming to the workplace means
tutors can also ensure lessons are
relevant. “We can tailor lessons
Not only do our workers now have the skills to the workplace, and really focus
to communicate with everyone, it means there on what students need to learn,”
Trish says.
is a higher level of safety and quality.
“When lessons take place at work,
– Dan McKean, Chief Carpenter, XLam and are related to what they’re doing,
they have more motivation. To be
successful at work you need English.”
It’s important for Dan to know where “Not only do our workers now have “And in the community,” adds Dan.
“his guys” come from. “It’s really the skills to communicate with every- He would like to see more workplaces
important to identify with their one, it means there is a higher level adopt XLam’s stance of employing
individual stories, and discover how of safety and quality. Understanding former refugees.
to develop as a company with them. more English means they can do quality
checks, and helps us encourage further “We live in a multicultural society,
“Our motto here is, ‘do the right I’d like to see that reflected in New
personal development.”
thing’. We strive for excellence, and Zealand’s companies. Our success
that means doing the right thing in Knowing English is far more than a
Connecting Cultures
depends on it.”
every aspect of our work and in our day-to-day convenience, Dan says. In
relationships.” fact, the future of the company rests www.xlam.co.nz
on his Burmese workers’ knowledge.
Each week, English Language Partners
conducts classes in the company board- “If they have greater than basic More about English for Employees:
room. As English levels improve, so English, it enables us to potentially www.englishlanguage.org.nz/
6 does the company’s culture, Dan says. have enormous success. english-for-your-employees/
Keep on truckin’
CAL Isuzu in Hamilton is New Zealand’s number one Isuzu truck dealership.
Alison Robertson | Photos Michael Jeans
C
AL Isuzu employs 76 staff; spoken English is pretty good, his boss, demonstrate that the price we’re
some required to do specialist Mechanical Service Manager Alex charging for the work is justified.”
work to keep the big rigs on Boles, thought his written language
Alex had worked with English
the road. could do with some fine tuning.
Language Partners when two Sri
Umesh Nand is a diesel mechanic “Every truck we service has a job story Lankan mechanics needed to improve
who’s been in New Zealand for 11 and we need to understand that their English, but they studied off-site
years, and with CAL Isuzu for five. story correctly,” says Alex. at night classes. Because Umesh lives
Recently, he’s been working with an in Huntly, Alex says it made sense for
“There’s no room for error or mis-
English Language Partners’ teacher him to learn at work.
understanding. It has to be absolutely
to improve his written English.
accurate. Our customers are paying big “He needed a bit of a push to accept
What’s more, he has his lessons
money and they need to understand our offer of English lessons, but since
‘on the company’ in company time.
what they are paying for, that what he started we’ve definitely seen
Umesh is Fijian Indian and his first they have requested has been done, improvements. He can see where he’s
language is Hindi, and while his and we need to be able to clearly gone wrong and he’s self-correcting.”
Umesh Nand, CAL ISUZU and
Jo Kettell, English Language
Partners
Issue 30 Spring 2018
7
Alex Boles, CAL ISUZU
with Umesh Nand Umesh’s lessons are custom designed,
with a focus on workplace communication.
I see English learning the job stories and Umesh is able to you have employed someone, you do
see where he’s made a mistake and your best to retain them.
as a good investment. correct it.”
“I see English learning as a good
– Alex Boles, Mechanical Jo says Umesh is now a lot more investment,” Alex says. “The only
Service Manager, confident about speaking up in the cost is an hour’s work, so it makes
workshop if he doesn’t understand. sense to have it as part of a worker’s
CAL ISUZU
He’s extending his vocabulary and induction. I see it as a win-win.”
is also better at making himself
Meanwhile, Jo says she takes her hat
understood.
off to CAL Isuzu for their forward
Umesh’s major issue was tenses; past, Umesh admits he was initially nervous thinking.
present and future. In his job stories, about taking lessons.
“They recognised they had a problem
Umesh must state what needs doing, “It was a bit scary,” he says. “But I am and addressed it. I think more work-
what he’s done and what remains to comfortable coming to lessons now places would find value in doing the
be done. Get the tenses wrong and and I’m definitely more confident. same.”
there can be confusion and at worst, Not just at work, but at home too.
a vehicle could go out on the road I’m able to use better English and
Connecting Cultures
without the necessary work being I can practise with my children.” www.calisuzu.co.nz
completed.
Alex says diesel mechanics are hard
The job stories are the focus of the More about how we help with
to come by in New Zealand, with
weekly sessions Umesh has with English for work:
about 90 per cent recruited off-shore.
teacher Jo Kettell. “It’s very targeted www.englishlanguage.org.nz/
learning,” Jo says. “We go through That can be a long and complicated english-for-your-employees/
8 exercise, so it makes sense that once
Eric Finlay, Clay Bricks
with Ted Rediang
Building a new life,
brick by brick
Being a small town on busy SH1, Huntly is often overlooked, but taking
the time to leave the main road can reveal a few surprises.
Alison Robertson | Photos Michael Jeans
T
ake Clay Bricks, for example. and three of the workers are new They went to the Settlement Centre
It’s owned by former brick- migrants. Waikato, in Hamilton, where staff
layer Eric Finlay and his wife recommended English Language
Ted Rediang is one of the new ones.
Vickie, a former nurse and trained Partners’ Work Talk programme.
He came to New Zealand from the
midwife. Nearly 20 years ago, the
Philippines as a skilled migrant on Ted says it was just what he needed.
couple bought a piece of land, cleared
a resident’s visa. Having worked in IT, “In the Philippines, our CVs are long
the gorse, built a huge shed and
including for IBM, he thought he’d and detailed and include photos and
installed a dryer, kiln and everything
get a job fairly quickly. a lot of personal information. Mine
else necessary to make clay bricks.
was definitely too wordy. Work Talk
However, the computer programmer
Issue 30 Spring 2018
Today, they make half a million bricks taught me about customising each
with more than 10 years’ experience
each month. The plant can operate job application, and about the
says he must have applied for 50
24/7, the clay is sourced locally, and preparation that needs to be done
positions without success. Then his
the bricks are sold all over the North before an interview.”
wife found English Language
Island. There are eight full-time staff;
Partners online. Work Talk participants spend a total
two of the team are the Finlay’s sons
of 48 hours on the programme, 9
Without Work Talk,
I wouldn’t have been
able to get the job.
– Ted Rediang,
Clay Bricks
Ted Rediang, Eric Finlay
and Angie Leön Rodrïguez,
Clay Bricks
learning how to approach employers, and used to move huge stacks Talk programme. “My English still
prepare for interviews, develop pro- of bricks. “He came to grips with needs work,” she says. “I did very
fessional networking skills and tailor adjusting the robot that stacks the basic English at school. It’s sometimes
CVs. “It’s like a very long orientation,” bricks onto pallets, and the stretch difficult to understand what people
Ted says. hood wrapping machine.” are saying but I’ve just got to try.
Work Talk was useful for giving me
He followed up Work Talk with a Eric says he’d definitely take on more
confidence to speak. I’m enjoying
Migrant Employment Solutions (MES) new migrants if he needed more
the work I do here.”
programme which helped him secure staff. “I don’t think it would matter
the job at Clay Bricks. MES is run by whether their English was perfect Eric’s pleased with Angie’s progress
Hamilton Multicultural Services Trust, or not,” Eric says. “Because when and he has started to give her more
which collaborates with English Lan- you’re troubleshooting, you always responsibility, encouraging her to
guage Partners to support individuals go to the machine to be 100 percent learn more about the technical and
into work. “Before Work Talk I was certain about what’s happened.” computing parts of the operation.
getting so frustrated, and without it
Ted usually works nightshift, and, more “If other employers were looking
I wouldn’t have been able to get
recently, his wife Aileen has started for staff, I wouldn’t hesitate to
the job.”
working full-time at the factory too, recommend taking on new
Ted says he’s happy in his work and at the end of the production line migrants.”
has no plans to leave anytime soon. in quality control. Their two young
daughters, aged four to nine, are
Eric is pleased with the way Ted has
looked after by Ted’s older sister
slotted into the business, coming on
who, incidentally, financed Ted’s
board not long after the factory had
education back in the Philippines; www.claybricks.co.nz
undergone a substantial upgrade, in-
Ted being the youngest of 12 children.
cluding a new building, new kiln and
dryer and other working machinery. Another person inspecting the end For more about Work Talk:
product is Angie Leön Rodrïguez. www.englishlanguage.org.nz/
“There are so many things that can
The former real estate agent from learn-english-in-new-zealand/
happen when you’re commissioning
Colombia also completed the Work learn-english-for-work
a new plant,” says Eric. “So many
faults that arise. Ted saw a lot of
these and he learned quickly.
Connecting Cultures
He wasn’t shy about speaking up.” Work Talk is an intensive four-week course.
It wasn’t only the kiln and dryer “Work Talk taught me about the preparation that
Ted had to work on; he needed to
needs to be done before an interview.”
understand the workings of ‘Lucy’ as
well. Lucy being an AGV (automated – Ted Rediang, Clay Bricks
guided vehicle) weighing 5,500kg,
10Getting former
refugees on the road
A joint English Language Partners and New Zealand Red Cross initiative in Nelson
is giving former refugees the freedom – and employability – of being able
to take to the open road. Joanna Davis | Photos Chris Wastney
O
ne of the first things Luis programme to help former refugees
Godoy will do when he gets get their driver’s licence.
his driving licence is take
his family to the golden sands of
The ESOL Road Code programme, It’s their licence
taught by English Language Partners,
Kaiteriteri.
helps participants learn the theory
to independence,
“I love it there,” the 29-year-old says to sit their learner’s licence. jobs and freedom.
of the world-renowned beach that
is an hour’s drive from his home
The Open Road programme, de-
livered by Red Cross, provides the
– Adrian Courtenay,
in Nelson.
practical ‘behind-the-wheel’ lessons English Language
On a more practical note, a driver’s people need before taking a road Partners
licence will also improve Luis’ work test to gain their restricted licence.
situation. He works for a joiner
The programmes are funded by the
and his employer currently needs
Ministry of Business, Innovation and
to transport him to job sites.
Employment and the Ministry of
Luis is taking part in a joint English Social Development, in recognition
Language Partners and Red Cross of their importance for increasing
Issue 30 Spring 2018
Adrian Courtenay,
English Language Partners,
Margo Ruhen, Red Cross,
and Luis Goday 11Luis Goday
former refugees’ independence and Adrian Courtenay, from English “Especially in regional areas, such
helping them secure employment. Language Partners, said some refugees as Nelson, public transport is not the
had not driven before coming to best. Considering the first steps on
Luis and his wife and children fled
New Zealand. the employment ladder are often
violence in Colombia for Ecuador,
into horticultural work, you need
where they lived for two years until “So it’s not just the challenge of a
to be able to get there.”
New Zealand offered them a permanent new country and new language; it’s
home. a lot to take on board.” Red Cross allots positions on Open
Road courses according to need,
When the offer was made, Luis says Adrian says ESOL Road Code uses
taking into account employment
he turned to his wife and said: “New “lots of visuals and key words” to
need and other factors such as social
Zealand? Where is it? I think it’s far help the students, whose level of
isolation, and whether the family is
away. We better find out where it is.” English is usually initially low.
a single parent family.
Coming to New Zealand, he says, is He said the course also involved
“Usually we prioritise getting one
“the best thing that’s ever happened in-the-field education, such as taking
licence per family so they can get to
in my life. I give thanks to God.” the students to a roundabout and
work, and get to the supermarket
explaining what was going on,
Luis rode a moped in his home town or the doctor’s or hospital in an
Connecting Cultures
who was giving way to whom, etc.
of Buenaventura. But he soon realised emergency.”
This helps learners prepare for their
that in New Zealand, driving a car
learner licence test. Margo says the participants are “just
was “very important”.
ecstatic” on graduation.
Red Cross Open Road coordinator
“Here, it’s more necessary,” he says.
Margo Ruhen says one of the main She recalls one student whose wife
“And also, I have a big family.” His six
barriers to employment for refugees was pregnant. “He was able to drive
children range in age from three to 15.
12 is transportation. her to hospital when she was givingAdrian Courtenay,
Margo Ruhen
and Luis Godoy
ESOL Road Code
birth. ”Another woman was able to English Language Partners’ programme runs in Auckland, Waikato,
take her children to sports commit- Palmerston North, Nelson and Dunedin. Contact your local centre for
ments after school. more information: www.englishlanguage.org.nz/our-centres
“Driving was never in her realm of ESOL Road Code is funded by the Tertiary Education Commission.
possibility in the village she came
from. It totally opened possibilities Open Road
in the world for her.”
Red Cross runs Open Road in South Auckland, Palmerston North, Nel-
Adrian says he loves to see partici- son and Dunedin. To volunteer: www.redcross.org.nz/get-involved/
pants’ delight when they are success- volunteer-opportunities/resettlement-driver-training
ful. “It’s really a huge deal. The look
Auckland Resettled Community Coalition runs Open Road in West
on their faces and the gratitude they
Auckland and Auckland Central. For information: arcc.org.nz
express … they’re so excited.
Changemakers runs Open Road in Wellington. For information:
“Because it’s their licence to
crf.org.nz/open-road-driver-training-former-refugees
independence, jobs and freedom.”
Hamilton Multicultural Services Trust runs Open Road in Hamilton.
For information: www.hmstrust.org.nz/passport-2-drive
Issue 30 Spring 2018
Open Road is funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and
Employment, the Ministry of Social Development and the New Zealand
Transport Agency.
13B
efore coming to New Zealand
in 2017 with her husband
and son, Joanne Song worked
as an intermediate school English
teacher in Yantai, China.
“I was born in the same province
as Confucius. I’ve visited his home-
town.”
Joanne found the transition from the
textbook English she had taught to
everyday Kiwi conversations difficult.
“I was almost afraid to talk on the
phone. I thought ‘My English is so
poor, I cannot even communicate
with people. How can I find a job?”
Today Joanne works in the laundry
and kitchen at the Taradale Masonic
Rest Home and Hospital.
“Joanne had a real warmth about her,”
Quality and Operations manager
Wendy Maynard says, remembering
their first meeting.
“We look for people who are a fit
with our organisation, and for our
culture, and she interviewed very
well.”
Nowadays, Joanne is a valued member
of the facility’s team, but finding work
in New Zealand was not easy for her
initially.
The process she encountered was
quite different from when she got
her teaching job in China, where she
needed to pass some examinations
A foot in
and give a lecture in front of experts.
“I started searching for jobs in Napier
online a little, but not successfully.”
A friend told her about Work Talk,
the door
an English Language Partners’ course
for newcomers wanting to join the
workforce, and asked if she would
like to go for it.
Connecting Cultures
“I said absolutely, yes!”
Writing CVs and cover letters were
new experiences for Joanne. She
When it comes to learning English, says her classmates encouraged
Napier woman Joanne Song has come full circle. each other and she appreciated the
14 Jack Montgomerie | Photos Sarah Horn patience of teacher Valerie Danes.“After that course, I had a new way
of thinking. It was about giving new
hope. That was the most important
thing.”
Joanne prepared for job interviews
by role playing ‘employer’ and ‘job
applicant’ with classmates. Wendy Maynard, Joanne Song
and Saskia van Zijp, Taradale
“It was exciting,” Joanne says, add- Masonic Rest Home and Hospital
ing she was “a little bit nervous, just
like a real interview.”
Joanne also learnt helpful tactics for
making phone calls. Studying the
NATO phonetic alphabet made it
easier to spell out her name on the
phone when applying for jobs.
“A for Alpha, B for Bravo...”
Another job seeking approach Joanne
learnt was cold calling – asking about
job opportunities and leaving her
CV with potential employers. That
method got Joanne her current job. Joanne Song with Valerie Danes,
teacher, English Language Partners
“You have to get a foot in the door,”
Joanne says, recalling the idiom she However, she was encouraged to Now Joanne has appeared at a
learnt about the importance of ask questions, and now feels more recent Work Talk course to answer
making contact with people. confident in her job. questions about her successful job
After first knocking on the doors of search.
Wendy says Joanne’s improving
three rest homes, Joanne turned up English skills have helped her pick up “People are from China, Taiwan,
on the doorstep of Taradale Masonic, many “Kiwi phrases” and become Brazil, Japan, Korea, all different
on a summer day in 2018. more independent in her work. countries. I felt like I am even a little
When invited for a job interview, bit useful for others!’”
“Some of the mandatory training we
Joanne was surprised at how well the do with Fire and Emergency, Joanne She has also recommended Work
practice interviews had prepared her did struggle to understand. Talk to friends, and they have
for the real thing. reported positive results.
“We’re talking about fire systems,
“Nearly every question from the course mini-mimic panels, fire zones versus Joanne’s English journey has taken
showed up in the interview,” she says. evacuation areas, that’s not just her from one end of the classroom to
“After that interview, I appreciated that the other and back, and she doesn’t
English, it’s specific to that particular
one-month intensive course so much. plan to end her journey anytime
process. We did a refresher education
“Without English Language Partners, session and she was able to ask some soon.
I would not have improved a lot. really insightful questions.”
I’m very pleased with myself.”
Joanne has also used her Mandarin
When she started work, Joanne skills to translate correspondence Taradale Masonic Rest Home
had new challenges to face. As for a local business with a potential and Hospital
Issue 30 Spring 2018
well as managing her daily tasks, Chinese supplier. www.ndmt.co.nz/care-facility
Joanne needed to learn the facility’s
She hopes her growing English will
emergency procedures and human
have other advantages, like making Contact your local centre about
resources processes. it easier to take part in parent-teacher Work Talk:
“To begin with it was quite hard. interviews at her son’s high school. www.englishlanguage.org.nz/our-
It was totally new.” centres 15A winning
connection
On a Friday morning, it’s easy to find Saraswoti Rimal and Aung Win.
Story & photos Leigh Dome
S
araswoti Rimal and Aung Win Advisory Group. “It made perfect Bhutanese-born Saraswoti says the
are busy improving their computer sense for us to offer our computer regular computer classes have given
skills, thanks to a collaboration suites, when they are available, to her confidence and plenty of English
between English Language Partners English Language Partners’ students,” reading and writing practise. She
and the Universal College of Learning says Bridget. enjoys being on the campus and was
(UCOL) in Palmerston North. delighted one day to overhear her
Both Saraswoti and Aung Win have
native language, Nepali, being spoken
The idea developed as UCOL’s Educa- been attending the class since its
by another UCOL student.
tion Head of School, Dr Bridget Percy, inception. Fifty-eight-year-old Aung
recognised that “UCOL had the facili- Win from Myanmar says he didn’t Saraswoti has a large extended family
ties to help out a worthy community know anything about computers and says her three children, in par-
group, and we went from there,” when he started two years ago. ticular, are very proud of her studies.
says Bridget. “I learn a lot of little bits every time.
He’s now quite adept on the keyboard
A big thank you to UCOL.”
Located directly across the road from and admits, apart from learning
UCOL’s Palmerston North campus, about basic computer operation, he ESOL Literacy teacher Catherine Taylor
English Language Partners already likes to keep up with the news and says UCOL’s gesture is enhancing the
had an association with UCOL: as weather online. learning of over eighty English Lan-
a member of their Stakeholder guage Partners’ students, who have
limited access to computers.
Network news
‘Big Girls’ shine a light Language through knitting Food, friendship and English
Giant puppets and paper lanterns lit up Auckland West centre’s innovative Shared lunches are big at our North-
Wellington in a parade to mark 125 lesson ‘Knitting and Numeracy’ made land centre. Twice a month, learners
years of women’s voting rights. Learners language learning engaging and fun and volunteers get together to catch
from Palmerston North and Porirua for this ESOL Literacy class in Massey. up, enjoy a variety of food and
centres led the August celebration. practise English in a relaxed way.
Connecting Cultures
16Aung Win and Catherine Aung Win, Saraswoti Rimal
Taylor, teacher, English with Dr Bridget Percy, Education
Language Partners Head of School, UCOL
“Our ESOL Literacy and ESOL Intensive are also entitled to a student bus “UCOL does not have an ulterior
students can improve their digital pass, allowing them to travel for free motive, this is not a recruitment drive
literacy skills through regular use of around the city. “This is a significant – we want to make a positive difference
UCOL’s equipment,” she says. benefit, as it removes barriers they in our community.”
can encounter in getting around,”
Catherine and other English Language Jess says she is very thankful to
says Bridget.
Partners’ staff and volunteers are on supportive UCOL’s administration and
hand to help students during the class. Jess Yap, English Language Partners timetabling staff who have helped
manager in Palmerston North agrees. with scheduling computer lab access.
Sessions are held regularly during
“The students are very appreciative
term time and last about an hour. “We hope to continue this close
to UCOL,” she says. “To be able to
Tasks are linked to class topics and working relationship for many years
travel by bus to school and shopping
can include searching for video tu- to come.”
are steps towards our students’ goals
torials and websites. “They become
of living confidently and indepen-
more familiar with basic keyboard
dently in New Zealand. www.ucol.ac.nz
skills and internet terminology,” says
Catherine. “They also learn simple They also regularly participate in
Microsoft Word functions.” UCOL’s International Festivals. “They Get in touch to discuss partnering
add to the campus diversity and are with ELPNZ
As part of the agreement with UCOL,
a welcome part of our wider family,” www.englishlanguage.org.nz/
English Language Partners’ students
says Bridget. our-centres/
Pink ribbon fundraiser Class wins national award Local marae welcomes learners
A ‘pink-tastic’ lunch honoured a Karen Christchurch’s unique NZ Sign Language Palmerston North learners were
Kiwi breast cancer survivor with close class for deaf former refugees won welcomed onto Te Rangimarie Marae.
ties to our Palmerston North centre. ‘2018 Community-based programme They cut harakeke and made flax
A former ELPNZ volunteer made the of the year, Tangata Tiriti’ at ACE flowers. The trip was organised with help
amazing cake. Aotearoa’s Awards. from Manawatu Multicultural Centre.
Issue 30 Spring 2018
17Putting our hands up
to be counted
Honourable Iain Lees-Galloway, Minister of Immigration
New Zealand has always been a behalf of our people and our com-
GUEST WORD
nation that strives to be part of our munities. One thrilling experience I had
global community, to put things as a local electorate representative
right, and to play our part. We are was advocating for refugee families.
a small nation, of limited resources,
One family from the Congo received
but one of the characters that defines
an enormous effort by my electorate
New Zealand is that we’ll do our best
office over seven years to help
to do the right thing.
reunite their family members, some
Around the world, there’s an extraor- of whom were scattered across the
dinary number of people who face world. Because some family lacked
hardships that most New Zealanders even the most basic of citizenship
couldn’t bear to contemplate. It’s the papers, most people said it couldn’t
right thing we can do to offer our be done. If buying painkillers without
home and hospitality as refuge. a driver’s licence is difficult, imagine
how hard it is to move countries
That’s why, when Labour was in
when you lack any proof of your
opposition, the Party supported calls
identity.
to ‘Double the Quota’, and we were
funding to build and operate two new
pleased when pressure caused the But thanks to tenacious advocacy
accommodation blocks at the Mangere
then-National Government to make from the electorate office, we were
Refugee Resettlement Centre – literally
the first increase in New Zealand’s able to find the right information
laying the foundation to increase
refugee quota in 29 years. However, and advocate successfully to the UN
our offer for refugees, and nearly $4
that increase – from 750 to 1,000 and the Government. The family,
million in additional funding for the
– was not enough, and that’s why, now three generations, are thriv-
Refugee and Protection Unit.
during our first term, the Coalition ing and continue to make a positive
Government has lifted the refugee Beside my role as the Minister of contribution to the Palmerston North
quota to 1,500 each year, from Immigration, I am also the Member community.
2020. of Parliament for the electorate of
Just recently, I announced the
Palmerston North: a refugee settle-
It is essential we plan this correctly and reinstatement of Christchurch as
ment city. I personally know the
ensure we have the right resources in a refugee resettlement city, an im-
benefits refugee communities bring.
the right places to welcome refugee portant milestone in its earthquake
The cultural diversity offers an incred-
families. Community support, health recovery. What really interests me
ible advantage, but so too are the
and mental health services, and, of now is knowing how Christchurch
benefits of new perspectives, interna-
course, housing are critical parts of will once again share in the benefits
tional connections and incredibly
making sure former refugees can get that refugees bring.
hardworking new migrants (citizens)
Connecting Cultures
what they need to settle here.
eager to roll up their sleeves and
As part of our planning, the Coalition contribute to their new communities
Government made significant invest- and the economy.
ments in refugee support in Budget
One of the most outstanding parts of
2018, providing $14 million in new
being an MP is the work I can do on
18We have 23
Did you know centres throughout
New Zealand
English Language Partners supports Whangarei
Auckland
North Shore
400,000 hours of teaching Auckland Central
Auckland West
Auckland South
Tauranga
Hamilton
Rotorua
NORTH ISLAND
Taupo
New Plymouth
7,000 former refugee Hawke’s Bay
and migrant students
Whanganui
Palmerston North
Levin
Wellington
Porirua
Nelson Hutt
Wellington
Blenheim
from over 150 countries
Christchurch
Timaru
2,000 volunteer
tutors SOUTH ISLAND
Dunedin
Invercargill
Volunteer and help new Kiwis settle in.
Your donation today
helps new Kiwis make a fresh start in Aotearoa.
3 EASY ways to donate
Mail the coupon to Freepost 244665 Online at Call free on
ELPNZ, PO Box 10119, The Terrace, englishlanguage.org.nz 0800 367 376
Wellington 6143Work with ƒormer
refugees migrants &
Volunteer | Donate
Settling in is easier if you understand the Kiwi way of life.
Join 2,000 volunteers helping adult former refugees and migrants. www.englishlanguage.org.nzI’d like to help! ✔ Yes, I’ll help a
learner today.
Please send me information on
making a regular donation
Name
payroll giving
Address
volunteering
Please sign me up
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and address overleaf.)
my gift
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my payment
Please
find enclosed my cheque made payable to “ELPNZ”
Please mail to Freepost 244665, ELPNZ, PO Box 10119,
The Terrace, Wellington 6143
Internet banking
ELPNZ account number: 06 0507 0017792 12
Particulars: Your initials and surname
Reference: CC30
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donate by credit card please visit us online:
www.englishlanguage.org.nz/donate
Thank you!
Your contribution is greatly appreciated.
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