As part of the NCEA change, the MoE has employed regional facilitators to support schools with implementing the new Languages NCEA achievement standards. We are lucky to have three highly experienced language teaching colleagues take on these support roles in our learning area. Belinda, Annelies and Jo are happy to visit your school, department, kahui ako, sennior leaders, middle leader groups or region to support you with the new standards. They will also be visiting our clusters and available for NCEA change ToDs. 

For more information about upcoming workshops, please visit our events calendar. 

Read more about Belinda, Annelies and Jo in their bios here:

Annelies Mead

(Wellington region and the South Island)

Tēnā kotou katoa, 

Ko Annelies Mead tōku ingoa. 

I have recently joined the Ministry of Education in the Te Mahao Wellington regional office as an NCEA Implementation Facilitator. I have been teaching Spanish for 15 years - starting out in Auckland, overseas and more recently at Onslow College in Wellington.  The last 2 years I have been working in learning design and development in the tertiary space with a particular focus on assessment design.  I have been involved in the European Languages SEG for the review of Achievement standards and I am excited to be able to work with Kaiako, kura and schools to support the implementation of the changes. 

Other than being passionate about languages, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, being in the outdoors with my daughters and finding a quiet space to read a good book. 

Contact Annelies

Belinda Sydenham

(Northland and Auckland)

Kia ora.

My name is Belinda, and I have recently joined the Ministry of Education as a NCEA Change Implementation Facilitator. My background has been in language teaching, and I have taught in a range of schools and countries over the past 30 years, teaching Japanese, French and ESOL. For the past 6 years I have held various roles within PLD providers, with ever-changing names – Team Solutions, ILEP, Future Learning Solutions – then Tui Tuia | Learning Circle. With these organisations I have had the great privilege of working with language teachers across Aotearoa, developing practice and knowledge around the best pedagogy for language teaching. Having been a part of the RAS and the Asian Language SEG for the review of Achievement Standards, I feel I have been well prepared to now ensure a smooth transition for language teachers and the sector more broadly as we move to new standards and a new curriculum over the next few years. 

When not working in the languages space, I enjoy being part of a choir, meals with family and friends, walks with the dog and my husband, and holidays by the sea.

Contact Belinda

Jo Veen

(central North Island)

Based in Napier, I have taught both Japanese and Drama for over 20 years. I have also been the Head of Languages Faculty, Assistant Head of English Faculty, Within School Teacher and Dean as well as being involved in moderation for Japanese for many years. With an interest in technology in education, I am a passionate advocate for responsible and innovative technology use in the classroom. Prior to teaching, I worked as a translator in both Japan and Australia. When not working, I am an enthusiastic if largely unskilled participator in yoga and jogging with my furry friends. Learning is a passion of mine and I am optimistic about the opportunities for teachers to focus on teaching and learning that the NCEA Change package brings. I am really looking forward to working with passionate and enthusiastic language teachers in this role.

Contact Jo

Please find below the newsletters sent out by our NCEA Implementation Facilitators Annalies Mead, Belinda Sydenham and Jo Veen:

February 2024

Drop in Sessions

Do you need a question answered? Struggling with an aspect of the new NCEA change package and just need a quick chat with someone to bounce ideas off? If you need-a-NIF then please just pop into one of our three weekly online availability sessions. One or more of us will be there to help y**ou – no question too big or too small.

Mondays 3:30 - 4pm
Tuesdays 8:30 - 9am
Thursdays 12:30 - 1pm

Join us at this teams link: Click here to join the meeting

Nelson/West Coast Learning Language teachers meet-up with NIF

This is an opportunity to meet up with other Language teachers and share good teaching and learning ideas as part of the NCEA change package.

The initial meet up is online to get this started: 

When: Wednesday 20th March 3.30-4.30pm

Teams link: Click here to join the meeting

We will use the time to:

• Connect with other Language teachers in the region
• Discuss teaching and learning considerations as part of the NCEA change package
• Answer any questions you have about the NCEA changes for Learning Languages
• Plan a date for your NIF to come in person to facilitate a collaborative workshop in term 2

Pacific Language teachers workshop Wellington - NCEA Implementation