English Language Partners NZ

Categories

Volunteers

Retired teacher gives back through volunteering

Christine Williams, a retired teacher with a passion for teaching languages, has dedicated her retirement years to volunteering with English Language Partners - tutoring English to migrants and former refugees in their homes.

Job Mentoring Service

Volunteers

Job Mentoring Service

20/6/24

From Job Seeker to Mentor: Nicola's Journey with the Job Mentoring Service

In 2017, Nicola arrived in New Zealand from Germany. Nicola discovered the Job Mentoring Service (JMS) while navigating job hunting challenges, leading to her to give back and become a Job Mentor herself after securing a role.

Volunteers

Learner Stories

Volunteers

25/9/23

Connecting with the community through volunteering

What inspires Nikki about volunteering with English Language Partners (ELP) is seeing new Kiwis gain confidence in their everyday lives.

Volunteers

12/6/23

Big shout out to ELP volunteers - with National Volunteer Week just around the corner

We're so happy to see our volunteers’ dedication and commitment to ELP and their learners acknowledged.

Volunteers

14/9/22

Learning Chinese opens door to volunteering

Now 17, Kevin Cao has been learning Chinese since he was five, and has heaps of personal insight into how to learn and teach a language. He and his family believe it’s important to keep the language alive.

Volunteers

31/8/22

Mariana’s a volunteer with a whole lot of heart

Aotearoa’s Festival of Adult Learning is on! English Language Partners is celebrating stories of Kiwis helping Kiwis while learning along the way.

Volunteers

6/7/22

Lovely Rita: Humble, strong and an inspirational volunteer

If you met volunteer Rita Lakhani, you’d be forgiven for thinking she’s much younger than her 71 years. Age is just a number to Rita and, with her passion to be immersed in her new world, she's made friends with people of different nationalities, religions and ages.

Volunteers

23/6/22

Zoo get-together celebrates volunteering & English learning

Just ahead of National Volunteer Week, 150 of English Language Partners (ELP’s) volunteers joined learners and their families for a fun day at Auckland Zoo.

Volunteers

19/6/22

Kiwis are a bighearted bunch

Over 1,000 generous Kiwis lend a hand to help new New Zealanders navigate the daily struggle of life in their new homeland.

Volunteers

15/6/22

Volunteers get creative helping refugees and migrants

A ‘refreshing’ workshop run by ELP’s Palmerston North shared tips and tricks for volunteers on how everyday ‘free’ bits and pieces in your house or neighborhood can be used for teaching.

Volunteers

15/1/22

From English learner to volunteer extraordinaire

Maryam Ghouzivand’s progression from language learner to volunteer is an inspiring story, reflecting her success as a migrant who's passed through the doors of English Language Partners (ELP).

Volunteers

Learner Stories

4/8/21

My ‘Eureka’ teaching moment

Hue-Quan Trinh shares her learner’s determination to vote in Aotearoa! It's her real-life ‘Election Success’ story…

No items found.

Volunteers

26/7/21

Volunteers connect with Southland’s old-time communicators

Awarua Communication Museum is built on the site of Awarua Radio ZLB – which began operating on…

Our Organisation

Volunteers

News

7/7/21

Multi-connected Farzana wins civic award

“I’m doing what I love and what I am passionate about.” Farzana Nazreen Nisha’s connections with English Language…

Volunteers

News

23/6/21

Sue always goes that extra mile

Sue Blakely, QSM, is one hugely committed English Language Partners’ teacher. For over 20 years, Sue has supported…

Volunteers

17/6/21

On top of volunteering

“I love teaching! It gives me a lot of joy helping people learn.” Spring Xing volunteers for English Language Partne…

Volunteers

17/6/21

Volunteer home tutor Helen – Feels good to know you're helping

Victoria University student Helen Knott has moved around a fair bit in her life. Her parents are both academics working…

Our Organisation

Volunteers

14/6/21

Sounds great volunteers!

Each week, over 1,200 ELPNZ volunteers visit the homes of refugee-background and migrant learners to help with English…

Volunteers

News

3/5/21

Globe-trotting volunteer shares love of language learning

Through 20 years’ teaching two Lebanese Kiwis, David Horne made long-standing friends and added Arabic to the…

No items found.

Volunteers

3/3/21

Cooking up some English

Helen Knott is one of our wonderful volunteers! She trained in October 2020 and has been working with learner Bawi Zi…

Volunteers

Learner Stories

27/1/21

Better English, better career for Zhihui Lu

My name is Zhihui (Bella) Lu. I came to New Zealand from China five years ago. My volunteer ESOL home tutor…

Learner Stories

Volunteers

26/1/21

Lockdown learning

"When the lockdown was announced and we were told the lessons were moving to Zoom, I didn't know what Zoom…

Volunteers

21/12/20

Helping one another

On a good day, you can see all the way to Te Anau and the Hump Ridge Track,” says Trish Marshall of the family’s…

Volunteers

21/12/20

Volunteer extraordinaire

Varun Keri arrived from India in February, just as Covid-19 was beginning to impact around the globe. It’s been an…

Volunteers

English Language Groups

4/11/20

Learner, home tutor and now online volunteer!

Our Wellington centre is fortunate to have Xia Zhen as a bilingual volunteer helping their online Chinese Seniors…

No items found.

Volunteers

1/9/20

Distinguished Volunteer Service Award winner Ann

Congratulations to our cherished long-term volunteer Ann Eustace on her Distinguished Volunteer Service Award…

Our Organisation

Volunteers

English Language Groups

22/7/20

Bev's a super volunteer

Bev Killington’s a volunteer home tutor who also helps an ESOL class for learners with low literacy. Bev trained in 201…

Volunteers

8/7/20

A passion for volunteering

Since retiring as an ESOL professional, Sarah Davey has lent her expertise to English Language Partners. Sarah’s…

Volunteers

18/6/20

Volunteer Nana Jill goes the extra mile

To celebrate National Volunteer Week, we're sharing Jill and Ajidah's story. Jill's one of our inspiring volunteers who…

Volunteers

Our Organisation

18/6/20

Videos keep volunteers and learners connected through lockdown

Travelled overseas? It's really tricky having face-to-face chats with a smattering of the local lingo. Now imagine havi…

Volunteers

News

8/4/20

Keeping in touch in lockdown

Here’s a wonderful account from our volunteer of a learning partnership from better times until now … and still going…

Our Organisation

Volunteers

News

1/4/20

Learning under lockdown

Learning hasn’t stopped at English Language Partners. As get-togethers in person aren't possible, where possible, we've gone online.

Volunteers

19/2/20

Farewell to amazing home tutor Jackie

ESOL home tutor Jackie Sayers is sadly farewelled by ELP's Palmerston North centre.

Our Organisation

Volunteers

News

5/12/19

After 45 years, ELP Welly still knows how to party!

Celebrating a huge year of hard work and achievements It was a beautiful sunny day for our Wellington centre’s…

Our Organisation

Volunteers

5/12/19

What's your superpower?

The saying, “I volunteer. What is your superpower?” seems apt as the world celebrates International Volunteer Day.

Uncategorised

Volunteers

Our Organisation

4/12/19

The right job will come at the right time: trust yourself, work hard, and stay connected

Thuy Tran shares her experiences in searching for employment. She recently started her first job in Wellington.

Volunteers

4/12/19

The richer for it

Volunteer Mary reckons she gets more from the people she works with than they get from her.

Volunteers

16/10/19

Volunteer Canterbury Award

Congratulation to Joy Sharp, recipient of this year’s Volunteer Canterbury’s Volunteer Recognition Award in June.

No items found.

Volunteers

3/10/19

Home Tutoring bringing cultures together

From our Wellington centre, a story written by dedicated ESOL home tutor Tho, who has been working with his…

No items found.

Volunteers

2/10/19

Joanne Song – from ELP learner to volunteer

Joanne Song has become a bit of a local celebrity at our centre, and no wonder, her story of settling into life in…

Volunteers

16/8/19

Volunteer Connect Award

Congratulations to our Volunteer Connect Award winners! Each year Volunteer Wellington in partnership with the…

Volunteers

5/8/19

Porirua benefits from volunteering in many way

Volunteer Internships are an opportunity to further support students or former students as they progress towards employment.

No items found.

Volunteers

19/6/19

National Volunteer Week at Hutt centre

ELPNZ Hutt celebrated National Volunteer Week 2019 at the Dowse Art Museum.

Volunteers

News

17/6/19

Volunteering is connection, inclusion and community participation

“Whiria te tangata – weaving the people together” is National Volunteer Week’s 2019 theme. So we're celebrating…

Volunteers

31/5/19

Volunteer with English Language Partners

A huge thanks to Reem for writing this insightful message about the benefits of becoming a volunteer with ELPNZ.

No items found.

Volunteers

13/5/19

ELPNZ Colombian Volunteer Trainees

"We are Daniel and Laura. We came together from Colombia to study Masters programmes at the University of…

No items found.

Volunteers

3/2/19

English teaching volunteers help launch new life for new Kiwis

Former Colombian refugee Galiano Torres has been working in Nelson full time for four months. Photography…

Volunteers

News

9/1/19

Volunteering – choosing to focus on the positive

Whanganui writer and English Language Partners’ ESOL home tutor Rachel Rose was finding little to be cheerful about as 2018 wound down, with a cascade of bad news on local and international fronts.

No items found.

Volunteers

18/12/18

MANATESOL workshop at ELP Taranaki shares professional knowledge

MANATESOL workshop at English Language Partners Taranaki shares professional knowledge. – By Dana Taylor…

No items found.

Volunteers

18/12/18

Anita volunteers at hospice shop

Jill Chivers has been helping Anita as an ESOL home tutor since February 2017 Jill carries the oldest volunteer number…

Volunteers

Learner Stories

17/12/18

Some things I have achieved this year

Taranaki-based Doris Ryder is originally from Taiwan. She's sharing her considerable 2018 achievements with us on…

Volunteers

Learner Stories

17/12/18

A migrant's experience

Taranaki-based Leta Guranda is originally from Romania. She shares her personal thoughts on migration on International…

Volunteers

News

10/12/18

Wasted talent: migrant volunteers

Forty per cent of Auckland residents were born outside New Zealand. Other regions also have growing numbers of migrants and former refugees, many whose first language is other than English.

News

Volunteers

Learner Stories

4/12/18

Inspired to share on International Volunteer Day

Victoria Ioffik is a Kiwi from Belarus. On this special day, she’s sharing her thoughts about New Zealand as a migrant…

Volunteers

18/11/18

ELP Christchurch volunteer receives VOLCAN Recognition Award 2018

During National Volunteer Week, Volunteering Canterbury (Volcan) with Te Runaka ki Otautahi o Kai Tahu presented awards to recognise outstanding efforts and achievements by volunteers.

Volunteers

Learner Stories

11/11/18

ESOL home tutor & volunteer success story

Wendy Dore has been volunteering with ELP Christchurch since she trained as an ESOL Home Tutor in May 2017…

No items found.

Volunteers

1/9/18

Sad farewell for long-standing ELPNZ staff member

Dianne McClay shares her experience with ELPNZ spanning 17 years – she will be sorely missed!

Volunteers

Learner Stories

13/8/18

Big Girls shine a light on women’s rights

Giant puppets and paper lanterns lit up Wellington in a special illuminated parade marking 125 years of women’s rights…

Volunteers

24/7/18

Volunteering sets course for a new career

An unexpected discovery changed the direction of Ana-Leigh Rowe’s career. Six months into an Anthropology and…

No items found.

Volunteers

24/7/18

‘Fabulous Five’ learn English together

Everything Louisa Gaimster does for her learners is ‘for them to be the best they can’. Louisa and her small group of…

No items found.

Volunteers

13/6/18

Home tutoring – such an honour

Being a home tutor is such an honour I have the pleasure of being the home tutor for a new Syrian family in Porirua.

Volunteers

13/6/18

Home tutoring – I've learnt so much

I’ve learnt so much from my learner during our interactions. I began volunteering as a home tutor with English…

Volunteers

13/6/18

Home tutoring – the best personal pick-me-up

Home tutoring is the best personal pick-me-up I can think of.

No items found.

Volunteers

13/6/18

I love being able to help people – Mary

I love being able to help people settle in a new country…learning our language and customs.

Volunteers

13/6/18

Volunteer English Tutoring in Porirua

I have been a volunteer Home Tutor for English Language Partners for a little over a year now.

Volunteers

26/4/18

‘Can do' teacher a winner

Nancy Rounthwaite’s learners want to learn how to live and work successfully in New Zealand.

Volunteers

26/4/18

Volunteering – from India to Aotearoa

Training as an English Language Partners’ certificated ESOL home tutor proved the ideal way to balance Ashok Bhat’s volunteering and work life.

No items found.

Volunteers

17/4/18

Valuing the Kiwi Connection

A major survey of English Language Partners’ ESOL home tutors, past and current, has found this programme adds significant value to both learners’ and volunteers’ lives.

Volunteers

Our Organisation

4/12/17

40th Anniversary Partnership with Literacy BOP

This year we celebrated 40 years of both literacy and language assistance to the community in Tauranga/Western BOP.

No items found.

Volunteers

28/11/17

Welcome to our new tutors!

Welcome to our latest graduates from our Tutor Training courses around Aotearoa New Zealand.

News

Volunteers

Learner Stories

5/9/17

Adult Learners Week 2017

Adult Learners’ Week - celebrating all adult learning whether it’s upskilling for a better job, preparing for further study, improving life skills or having fun.

Volunteers

21/8/17

Communicating across cultures

Each week, in a modest suburban home, English Language Partners brings three cultures together.

Volunteers

8/6/17

Here to help

For refugees and migrants arriving with little English, daily life can be scary. Luckily, our volunteers are here to help.

No items found.

Volunteers

14/3/17

Volunteers are helping to change lives of refugees and migrants in NZ

Although Sandy Fraser migrated to New Zealand from South Africa almost 23 years ago, she still remembers the challenges in settling into a new home.

Learner Stories

Volunteers

Learner Stories

12/5/16

Grow the language, grow the business

When Xing Mao arrived in New Zealand twelve years ago, she was not a confident English speaker.

Volunteers

12/5/16

The art of learning as you teach

Sri Lankan-born Priyesha is a volunteer ESOL tutor with English Language Partners.

Volunteers

4/11/15

Volunteering fills the gap

Like many school leavers, Abby Fisher wanted to do something with her gap year.

Volunteers

27/6/15

Kiwi Xmas for Colombians

Beatriz is looking forward to her first safe Xmas in years. Beatriz is among many people forced to flee from Colombia…

Volunteers

3/12/13

Teaching people to soar

It doesn’t take much digging to uncover Ruth Hamilton’s dedication to her job.

Volunteers

1/5/13

Skype me for English

Dianne Wilson taught Gilda, for three months before they met in person – thanks to Skype

Volunteers

8/1/13

Quakes strengthen ties

Joy Sharp and Lucila Orjuela de Gil have a love of painting and a sense of humour in common.

Volunteers

8/1/13

Knowing your strengths

When Hardy Hko arrived from Burma, he quickly realised he needed to learn English to successfully start a new life.

Learner Stories

Volunteers

3/1/13

Farming on the far side of the world

When Matias Cassineri and Maria Beatriz (Beti) Spaccarotelli arrived in New Zealand from Argentina, they began a journey.

Volunteers

1/5/12

Happy to see others happy

“I like being one of those who can help. Even if you can’t put the money in yourself, you are one of the people in the…

Volunteers

7/2/12

Volunteering in an earthquake zone

Rachel Sonius likes to feel useful. And going that extra mile certainly isn’t out of the ordinary for her. As she says…