Languages
ようこそ, Afio mai, Nau mai, rarau mai!
Welcome to the Languages Department!
To learn a language is to have one more window from which to look at the world.
Chinese proverb
Here at St Bernard’s College, we are proud of the diverse cultural heritage of our community and we do our best to celebrate this. The Languages Department currently delivers courses in Japanese, Samoan, Te Reo Māori and English as a second language.
The Languages’ courses are offered at all year levels from Year 7 to 13. At Year 7&8, all students will spend time learning Japanese, Samoan and Te Reo Māori. From Year 9, the language courses become optional. We also provide targeted ESL courses for students who require this support.
In our languages courses students will have opportunities to participate in a wide variety of learning opportunities ranging from classroom-based activities to EOTC opportunities in the Wellington region. We have also been able to offer our senior students the opportunity to travel overseas to destinations where their target language is spoken.
Our students have told us that they enjoy their language-learning journey here at St Bernard’s College and we look forward to having you join us!
Senior Japanese students and staff at Easter Sunday service at the Takada Catholic Church in Joetsu City, Japan.
A bit about our department
Japanese in taught by Mrs Manuhiri Corcoran
Konnichiwa. Japan is one of New Zealand’s key trading partners and offers great opportunities for those with an understanding of Japan and its language and culture. Japan is a diverse and fascinating country. Students learn the basics from Year 7 and if they continue their study they will have the opportunity at the senior levels to have a homestay experience with our host school in Japan.
Samoan is taught be Mrs Nila Uili
Talofa lava. Speakers of gagana Sāmoa make up the third largest language group in New Zealand. There are also 144,138 Sāmoans living in New Zealand, most of which are New Zealand born. Learning the Sāmoan language will help you to hold a simple conversation, and understand the customs and traditions of the Sāmoan people.
Te Reo Māori is taught by Matua Jonas Malmanche
Tēnā koutou, Nau mai, rarau mai ki tō ao! E Māori ai te reo, te wairua, me ngā whakaaro. Ko te reo Māori te reo e kaha nei mātou te whakatō ki roto i a tātou tauira i roto i te kura, i te mea, ki a mātou, he tāonga motuhake te reo Māori ki Aotearoa nei.
The Māori language and culture are a unique New Zealand taonga, which we want to nurture within our students. We offer our students the opportunity to learn at all levels – from the foundation levels of te reo and tikanga through to NCEA Level 3.
English as a Second Language (ESL) is taught by Mrs Jenny O’Brien & Mrs Anna-Marie Dickinson
Greetings! In ESL, we fine-tune our students’ English skills in listening, reading, writing and speaking. Our classes are small and we adjust the work to suit the needs of each student. Our students are from a mixture of year levels and cultural backgrounds. We support senior students with their work in various NCEA subjects if they need it. We also find that our lessons help and support our ESL students with school routines as well.
Information on the Course Structure can be found here.
Hear from our students and teachers about studying Languages at St Bernard’s College
