English Language Partners New Zealand

English Language Partners New Zealand is a not-for-profit organisation that works with 8,000 migrants and refugees in 23 locations throughout the country. They have 280 staff, 3000 volunteers and train 1000 new volunteers each year. They will celebrate their 20th year as an association this year.

English Language Partners deliver English language tuition and settlement support to adult migrants and refugees through a range of services. The national office is in Wellington.

Vision:

That migrants and refugees have the opportunity to learn English, to pursue aspirations for themselves and their families, and to participate in all aspects of life in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Visit the website of English Language Partners New Zealand.

Projects 2012
English language groups

Social, community-based groups where learners practise English and share experiences. Migrants and refugees with a range of language abilities attend for two-four hours a week. They are led by an experienced paid tutor often supported by trained volunteers.

One-to-one, home-based ESOL home tutoring

The programme involves individually tailored, English-language support with a volunteer home tutor for approximately two hours a week. Learning sessions frequently include learning about New Zealand culture.

ESOL-Literacy classes

Attended mainly by refugees, the programme offers a structured, weekly class (8-10 hours a week) for learners who do not read and write well in their first language. Teachers have a mix of TESOL and teaching qualifications and are supported by bilingual assistants. Both teachers and bilingual assistants undergo a specialised training programme run by the association.

English for Employees programme

English for Employees is tailored to meet the English language needs of employees. It is a part-time, Tertiary Education Commission-funded programme for people wanting to improve their language, literacy and numeracy for the workplace.

The programme is free to adults who have Permanent Residence and are working either part-time, full-time or are self-employed. Email the national office or the relevant local centre for more information.

E 100

English Language Partners will deliver an ongoing intensive block of 100 hours of literacy and numeracy teaching to migrants and refugees living in Dunedin and Christchurch. The project is funded by the Tertiary Education Commission.

International Mother Languages Day and Race Relations Day

International Mother Languages Day will be celebrated on 21 February and Race Relations Day on 21 March. English Language Partners will partner with CLANZ (Community Language Association of New Zealand) to celebrate the days by producing a new poster with the slogan “Aotearoa: we all belong” translated into 30 languages. .

Connecting Cultures magazine

English Language Partners publishes Connecting Cultures magazine twice a year, available in print and online via the association’s website. The magazine celebrates the achievements of members: volunteer tutors and migrant and refugee English-language learners. Each issue features a ‘Guest Word’ message from a key stakeholder. Connecting Cultures also highlights the work of English Language Partners in building New Zealand’s social capital and contributing to settlement outcomes.

Focus on Afghan and Chinese communities

English Language Partners will have a particular focus on Afghan and Chinese communities in New Zealand in 2012. The focus will include analysing which English Language Partners’ services the communities access, strengthening relationships with their community leaders, and developing resources in their languages. A focus on Indian and Somali communities in 2011 enabled English Language Partners to learn much more about these learner groups.

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