Held in early September, the Festival of Adult Learning Ahurei Ākonga celebrates the diverse ways in which adults learn throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.
Ako Aotearoa Southern and ACE Aotearoa hosted a celebratory event in Ōtautahi Christchurch on Tuesday 3rd September 2024. At this event, teachers and learners from various education providers were recognised for their contributions and achievements.
A huge congratulations to Jan, an English Language Partners Christchurch teacher for receiving an Exceptional Educator award, and to Viktoriya, an English Language Partners Christchurch learner, for receiving an Outstanding Learner award.
Jan has worked with English Language Partners since 2016 when she started volunteering both as a one-to-one Home Tutor and in a Chinese bilingual class, then she came on board as a teacher in 2019, teaching in a variety of programmes since then.
Jan is an avid learner herself: she has studied Chinese, is currently studying towards a Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics and the NCALNE, she attends CANTESOL workshops, regularly reads and researches articles and blogs on teaching methodologies and will always try out new approaches if she thinks it's appropriate for a particular class or learner.
Jan has taught in a range of capacities with English Language Partners: one-to-one lessons, face-to-face and online classes from Beginner to Higher levels, she’s taught General English, English for Employees, Business Contracts for local businesses, English for Apprentices with BCITO as well as her new programme this year, English for the Road Code Preparation.
Jan exemplifies the values of the ACE Teaching Standards with great heart and consistency. She creates safe and inclusive learning spaces for her learners, she is thorough with preparation and commits always to delivering the very best for her learners. Jan consistently receives positive feedback from learners and will adapt and change focus as learners’ needs change. Jan’s ability to build strong rapport with her students fosters a supportive and encouraging learning environment.
One of her learners had this to say:
“I enjoy Jan's classes because she creates a comfortable and engaging environment, which has boosted my confidence in speaking English.
"She is a great teacher because she explains things clearly and is always patient, and using good methods to help us learn, and always answer my questions. These classes have improved my listening and speaking skills, making me more confident using English in different situations.”
Viktoriya has been a learner in multiple classes at English Language Partners since she arrived in New Zealand from Ukraine in 2022. She has enrolled continuously in a number of classes, both online and face-to-face, including our Kiwispeak, Current Events, Confident Communication, Talk and Walk and General Advanced English classes. She has always been incredibly motivated and enthusiastic about her learning and has maintained a great attendance rate across every class she’s taken, which is a reflection of her commitment and dedication to learning English.
“I have always loved learning, so I happily joined the courses offered. And their variety amazed me,” says Viktoriya.
In class, Viktoriya is always keen to share her ideas and contributes to all the discussions. As a professor back in her home country, she demonstrates the ease with which she is able to both be a learner and to help teach others at the same time. In addition to requesting extra homework, she suggests topics to study which help her better assimilate into everyday life here in Aotearoa NZ, thus embodying the concept of Rangatiratanga, being learner directed, learner determined and someone who is in charge of their learning.
“I studied because it was interesting for me and necessary for further integration in Christchurch and in the country. I just had got and keep getting pleasure from attending all the different classes,” says Viktoriya.
Viktoriya enjoys visiting places in and around the city as part of her journey to settling here in Christchurch, and as a way of putting her English skills into practice and helping others, she has also become a volunteer at 'Riding for the Disabled' as a way of giving back.
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Congratulations Jan and Viktoriya!
