Language
New Zealand has three official languages, English, te reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. While traditionally we have been a mono-lingual nation, we are slowly moving towards a more bi- and multi-lingual educational model. In particular, resources are gradually being developed to support Pasifika and Asian languages. In this section you'll find links to information regarding learning in another language besides English, and online resources in other languages.
New Zealand sites
Education Counts - Centres of Innovation
O le Tama Ma Lana A'oga, O le Tama Ma Lona Fa'asinomaga - Nurturing Positive Identity in Children - Final Research Report
A final report of a three-year study that was conducted in a full immersion Samoan early childhood centre and was concerned with two things:
- What helps learning and language continuity as children make transitions within and from the early childhood centre?
- How can the key approaches that help learning and language continuity be implemented in practice?
Education Counts - Centres of Innovation
The Flight of Our Kite - the Wycliffe Nga Tamariki Kindergarten Story
A Centre of Innovation research project carried out at Wycliffe Nga Tamariki Kindergarten between April 2003 and June 2006. The Kindergarten's defining characteristic was the way in which it worked to embrace families from the local Samoan Upu Amata within its community of learners. The use of information and communication technology to enhance communication between the Samoan families and the Kindergarten was another significant feature.
International Children's Digital Library
This international library project, which is supported by the National Library, aims to provide access to online picture books from all around the world. The site is easy to search by language and country and many classic stories are available in multiple languages.