NZALT 2023 Newsletter no 3
Tēnā koutou! 你好! 안녕하세요 Kia orana! Bonjour! Guten Tag! こんにちは。Salvete! Faka’alofa lahi atu! Talofa lava! ¡Buenos días! Mālō e lelei! Malo ni!
Happy Week 7! We hope Term 1 is going well. There is plenty happening in schools to keep us all busy. We wish you the best for the remainder of the Term. Please keep in touch.
Focus for this Newsletter:
- Newsletter and membership updates
- Introducing the new Learning Languages NCEA Implementation Facilitators
- Cluster dates for this term
- LangSem dates
- Further study award closing dates
Newsletter and Membership Updates
We are trialling a new format for our newsletter. Please be sure to click the 'Read More' button to make sure you don't miss out on important information.
Now that our new membership system has been launched, we would like to ask all our existing paid members who automatically received their invoice for 2023 membership to update their information online. When you log in, you will see an alert guiding you to the relevant sections.
If you haven't logged in yet, please follow the instructions for setting up your password. Please also read our membership instructions on our website. Should you need further help, please don't hesitate to contact membership@nzalt.org.nz .
Introducing our new Learning Languages NCEA Implementation Facilitators
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 two highly experienced language teaching colleagues take on these support roles in our learning area. Belinda and Annelies are happy to be contacted if your school or region would like support with the new standards. They will be visiting our clusters and available for NCEA change ToDs.
Read more about Belinda and Annelies in their bios here:
Annelies Mead
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.
Annelies.Mead@education.govt.nz
Belinda Sydenham
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.
Belinda.Sydenham@education.govt.nz
Upcoming Cluster Dates
NZALT clusters are regional networks of support for language teachers where you can meet with other language teachers in your area to share experience, ideas, resources, and moderation. Afternoon tea is provided, and petrol costs are able to be covered if you need to travel further afield to attend the cluster.
If you would like to facilitate a cluster group in your area, please contact Juliet Kennedy to find out more. For further information on existing NZALT clusters, please visit our website.
Upcoming clusters:
Bay of Plenty
- Thursday 23rd March, 4pm,
- Papamoa College
- Facilitator: Karyn Winters
Manawatu-Whanganui
- Thursday 23rd March, 4pm,
- Cullinane College, Whanganui
- Facilitator: Andrea Cerón
Southland-Invercargill
- Wednesday 29th March, 3:45pm
- James Hargest College
- Facilitator: Karen Thomson
LangSem
Preparations for upcoming LangSems are well underway. Here are the details for:
- The Canterbury LangSem: Saturday 29th April, Papanui High School
- The Hawkes Bay LangSem: Friday 2nd June, Napier Boys’ High School
- The Waikato LangSem: Saturday 13th May, Hamilton Girls’ High School
- The Wellington region LangSem: Saturday 24th June, Wellington High School
If your school would like to host a LangSem in your region, please contact Juliet Kennedy.
For further information and contact details, please visit our website.
You can find the registration forms for the following LangSems below, opening this Friday March 17:
If you are a paid member wanting to register for one of the above LangSems, please log into your profile and update your member details first.
Introducing our LangSem 2023 Keynote Speaker Liam Printer
Liam Printer is a teacher and researcher who specialises amongst many areas in motivation in the language classroom. His podcasts 'The Motivated Classroom' have a huge following. You can check this out here: Dr. Liam Printer - 'The Motivated Classroom' Educational Consultant, Author, Researcher
Liam Printer will be joining us via video presentation for a special NZALT keynote address.
NZALT Further Study Awards
Applications for the NZALT Further Study Awards close on 3rd April. Please see our website for further information.
Contact Details
NZALT President: Annabelle Sinclair
Networks of Expertise Co-ordinator: Juliet Kennedy
Online PLD Co-ordinator: Madlen Kunath
If you are aware of language teachers who are not receiving this newsletter, please email Juliet Kennedy.
If you would like to post any notices in our newsletter or on our website please contact Juliet Kennedy.