Name: Jimmy Zhang Bin
From: China
Studying: Diploma in Language and Culture
Aspiring: working for the Minister of Ethnic Affairs
Jimmy Zhang Bin came to AIS St Helens two years ago to enrol in the Advanced Diploma in Language and Culture. He graduated as one of the top students of his year.
“This qualification has helped me get the job I dreamed about - working for the Minister of Ethnic Affairs. I loved the AIS St Helens school environment, the small classes and friendly staff and lecturers. The diploma is about language and culture and fitted my needs perfectly.”
Jimmy also now works as a volunteer in the Mangere refugee camp helping refugees adjust to living in their new home.
Name: Yukiko Minami
From: Japan
Studying: Bachelor of Language and Culture
Aspiring: To become an Interpreter
For nine years Yukiko Minami dreamed of returning to the country she loved as a teenage visitor. Now at the age of 20, she has her wish.
The multilingual speaker is studying towards a Bachelor of Language and Culture degree at AIS St Helens. She studies Chinese, Spanish and English. She is also doing a Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (CertTEFL) course, which involves classroom teaching.
Outside of class she meets other students from Italy, Korea, China and New Zealand. She says gaining language skills from friends who are native speakers is a great way to learn.
Yukiko particular enjoys her Spanish class, which involves conversation and singing.
“Spanish is similar to English and the pronunciation is similar to Japanese. In class we talk a lot.”
Yukiko says her only challenge in New Zealand has been adjusting to the Kiwi accent and understanding cricket. However, she enjoys learning about Maori culture and expanding her mind.
“Before I only had Japanese thinking, but now I think a different way. I am more relaxed, because I am exposed to lots of cultures.”
When she graduates, Yukiko hopes to use her love of languages and become an interpreter. She says having a degree and understanding several languages will make her more employable.
Name: Masanori Suematsu
From: Japan
Studying: Bachelor of Language and Culture
Aspiring: To work in Europe
Masanori Suematsu has been a hotel waiter, a guardsman and a shopkeeper, but it is his latest role as an AIS St Helen student that he enjoys the most.
Although Masanori already has an economics degree from Japan, he was keen to learn a language. After searching on the Internet, he discovered AIS St Helens and subsequently enrolled into the Bachelor of Language and Culture (BLC) degree.
The BLC programme involves studying Asia-Pacific social and business culture. Students develop writing skills and learn a language. Masanori particular loves his Spanish classes, which focus on listening, talking and writing the language.
“My Spanish classes are small, which makes it easy to study the language. You can talk to the teacher and there is plenty of time for group discussions.”
Masanori says when learning a language, it is important for students to practice their speaking and listening skills.
“All the tutors expect students to interact and to have opinions. This is hard for a Japanese student, because in Japan keeping quiet is a silent virtue. However, unless you say your opinion, no-one will know what you are thinking.”
Eventually Masanori wants to work in Europe. He says understanding Japanese, English and Spanish will be very useful.
Name: Karen Jones
From: Fiji
Studied: Bachelor of Language and Culture (graduated 1996)
Karen Jones was one the first graduates of the BLC programme when it started. Now she works at the Fijian Embassy in Japan, where she is the personal assistant to the Ambassador. Karen, who is of Fijian descent, says although it is a challenging role, it is also immensely rewarding.
Karen says the Bachelor of Language and Culture at AIS St Helens prepared her both academically and personally to overcome the challenges of living in an Asian country. The course primed her for the cultural and social differences between Western and Asian everyday life and working environment.
“The BLC for me is still of vast importance especially when dealing with business ethics, cultural and social understandings in a predominant Asian society.”
When Karen graduated from AIS St Helens in 1996 she joined Vodafone as a prepaid card administrator. Following this was a position as the general manager of TGI Fridays in Christchurch.
In Japan she worked for a company representing overseas airlines in Japan. As the only foreigner, she was responsible for marketing reports, budgets, proposals and all English documentation.
Karen's recent successes include acceptance into a post-graduate diploma in business administration at a New Zealand University. She will study this extramurally and eventually complete her Masters and PhD.
Name: Wakana Ikei
From: Japan
Studied: General English, Advanced Diploma in Language and Culture, and Cert TEFL
Studying: Bachelor of Language and Culture
Aspiring: English teacher in Japan
Wakana was eager to learn about different cultures so she chose AIS St Helens as her study destination.
“There are many students of different nationalities at AIS St Helens. This environment allows me to learn about other cultures first hand.”
Wakana says the advantage of studying abroad is that there are many opportunities and international students are able to communicate with native English speakers. Although Wakana finds the assignments and presentations challenging, she enjoys studying new things. Her advice to other students is to attend every class, so they do not miss any information.
For her Cert TEFL course, Wakana has learnt about the fundamentals of English teaching. She agrees this will be particularly useful in the future.
“My ideal job is to be an English teacher, so I will use the teaching skills which I am currently learning.”
Wakana took her Cert TEFL as part of her Bachelor of Language and Culture programme.
“Although I am learning about language and culture, I am also studying other things such as the media, ethics etc. This is different from learning about only business.”
Compared to Japan, Wakana enjoys the interactive teaching style at AIS St Helens.
“The teachers at AIS St Helens usually ask students to present their interpretations or understanding during class time. This teaching style is different from Japan.”
