Teachers of English to
Speakers of Other Languages
Aotearoa New Zealand
Te Rōpū Kaiwhakaako Reo Ingarihi ki Iwi Reo Kē
POLICY ISSUES
This page contains information about the areas which TESOLANZ lobbies for, such as qualifications and immigration.
- Members' policy concerns
- New Zealand Refugee Resettlement Strategy
- TESOLANZ POLICY STATEMENTS
- Training Opportunities (FFTO) Correspondence
- Tupu Pasifika Language Series
- NZQA Developments in ESOL
- University Entrance for ESOL Students
- Proposed National Certificate in ESOL
- New Immigration Rules - 5-Year Stand-Down
- Wrongly Awarded Unit Standards
Members' policy concerns
Stand up for the ESOL rights of teachers and learners!
With the election on the horizon, it’s an ideal time for us to raise awareness of those issues that really matter to us and our learners. TESOLANZ wants to compile a list of key (or perhaps ‘Key’) questions that can be put to candidates in the run-up to the election. These questions will be posted on our website, mailed out to the parties and also, we hope, used by our members whenever they get the chance to talk to our great leaders face-to-face.
To help us put together a set of the most urgent, trickiest, unavoidable questions, could you take a look at the examples below, add one or two of your own and reply. The final list will be presented at our AGM, which (as I’m sure you know) is due to take place in sunny Hamilton.
1. Why are so many migrants left on the benefit and unable to access ESOL tuition?
2. Why are migrants with good qualifications doing low-level work?
3. Why is ESOL funding so limited that many courses have to be short-term and part-time?
4. Why is there no ESOL curriculum at secondary school?
5. Why does the government not support international education more, given its $2 billion industry?
6. What is the effect of reporting ELLS against the national literacy and numeracy standards that involve assessments normed for native speakers of English?
7. How is export education investing in the future of encouraging/generating quality education for the industry?
8. English is the key to success for migrants and international students, so why is English language for academic purposes not an approved subject for university entrance?
9. What is the government doing to promote ESOL?
10. What specific initiatives are you proposing to enhance the teaching and learning of English in New Zealand?
11. What needs to be done in order to ensure that migrants have the language skills necessary to make a contribution to the New Zealand society and economy?
12. How will your party ensure that revenue from the international student levy is appropriately used to enhance learning and teaching of international students?
Please emails any suggestions you have to the Secretary, tesolnz@tesol.org
Thank you!
New Zealand Refugee Resettlement Strategy
A meeting was held on 6 April 2011 attended by various agencies including MoE, DoL & TEC, some providers, the New Zealand Association of Private Education Providers and TESOLANZ. The purpose was to move towards the Outcomes Framework goals and specifically Outcome 4:
Refugees' English Language Skills enable them to participate in education and achieve qualifications, and support them to participate in daily life.
As we are well aware, current policies fall far short of achieving any of this for a huge number of refugees. The following is a direct account of the meeting taken by Marty Pilott, and not official minutes.
Refugee Resettlement Strategy Meeting Notes
To see the chart, go to ChangeMakers information on resettlement.
TESOLANZ POLICY STATEMENTS
All PDF 
Training Opportunities (FFTO) Correspondence
The minimal opportunities for refugees and migrants to learn English are threatened even further by proposed changes to Training Opportunities.
Reply from Stephen Joyce 23 November 2011
Letter to Stephen Joyce 30 August 2011
Reply from Stephen Joyce (JPG) 9 April 2011 Page 1 / Page 2 (JPG)
Letter to to Stephen Joyce and Paula Bennett 29 November 2010
"The MoE is currently working on providing me with advice on how to better support ESOL learners (particularly refugees) to learn English in New Zealand. I have noted your suggestion to establish a specific ESOL policy for adults that is separate from other funding. The points you have raised have been forwarded to the MoE for consideration as part of this work."
Reply from Paula Bennett (JPG) 15 Feb 2011 Page 1 / Page 2 (JPG)
Media articles about ESOL funding
TESOLANZ press release.
Newswire Articles
- http://www.newswire.co.nz/2010/11/funding-rules-hit-english-language-schools/
- http://www.newswire.co.nz/2011/02/refugee-language/
- http://www.newswire.co.nz/2011/02/refugee-esol/
The Human Rights Commission adds its voice:
Funding changes threaten ESOL provision
Funding cuts are being felt by those who provide programmes of English as a second or other language to newcomers to New Zealand, and their would-be students.
Continue reading online (Te Waka Reo) ...
See also the following from TEC:
Training Opportunities External Reference Group Meeting Notes Friday 10 September
Training Opportunities External Reference Group Meeting Notes Friday 24 September
Tupu Pasifika Language Series
The following remits were passed at the 2010 TESOLANZ AGM:
- That TESOLANZ support continuation of the TUPU Pasifika languages series.
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That TESOLANZ write to the Minister of Education, expressing opposition to the decision to ‘pause’ the publication of the Tupu Series of readers, and request representation on Ministry discussions on the future of the series.
Following from this, the Executive has issued a press release and written the Minister of Education, Anne Tolley.
letter to Anne Tolley re Tupu Pasifika
(JPG) Response from Ministry of Education
Press release: Scoop http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED1010/S00065/tupu-and-folauga-pause-will-undermine-learning.htm
NZQA Developments in ESOL
Read important announcements here about
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New English for Academic Purposes standards (ESOL)
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Proposal for English for Academic Purposes standards to meet University Entrance (UE) requirements
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Assessment Support Material
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New Zealand qualifications in ESOL
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Merit and Excellence grades for ESOL unit standards
There will be a link on the NZQA website for people to register register their approval or disapproval of the proposal to use the two EAP unit standards as a way to fulfil the UE literacy requirements. TESOLANZ has long lobbied for this development so it is very important that members respond and make sure that there are positive responses recorded!
Letters and documents
TESOLANZ submission on draft Level One literacy standards 150210
Letter to NZQA from TESOLANZ et al re refugee study grants_100110
Letter to NZQA re National Certificate in ESOL_ 020210
Letter to Herald - Languages Policy
The Families Commission research identifying language as one of the main barriers for non-Western families coming to New Zealand is no surprise to the members of our organisation.
We encourage new migrants to explore the many options available to them for English language courses provided by qualified teachers. Good courses address cultural issues, while supporting students in maintaining their own language and traditions. Participating in a language course also helps lessen the feelings of alienation by providing a peer group which can share the settling in process.
However, the lack of a consistent language policy may mean that migrants find it difficult to access suitable courses. The credits or qualifications institutions are required to provide may make it unworkable for polytechnics or private schools to offer English language courses, particularly at lower levels. Also, these qualifications may have no relevance for learners. For instance, the pre-payment scheme “English for Migrants”, which is compulsory for some new settlers, requires a qualification at the end of the course even though the qualification may not be of direct value to the learner.
We support the report's finding that there is a role for local government to help facilitate the settlement process. There are also many ways that other New Zealanders can help. A starting point is to look beyond the English language ability of new migrants, and engage with them as neighbours, colleagues, or staff.
Yours faithfully
Hilary Smith
President
University Entrance for ESOL Students
Proposed National Certificate in ESOL
Course Approvals for International Students
New Immigration Rules - 5-Year Stand-Down
TESOLANZ sent a submission on the Immigration Bill and wrote to the Ministers of Ethnic Affairs and Immigration. We have received a reply from Chris Carter (Ethnic Affairs) and now from Clayton Cosgrove, stating that benefit entitlements will not be affected. This means that elderly immigrants will still be able to access training Opportunities programmes.
TESOLANZ Query on Immigration Bill(192 Kb)
Wrongly Awarded Unit Standards
TESOLANZ wrote to NZQA expressing concern about ESOL unit standards which had been awarded to students who were clearly not competent. Our letter was written in March and it has taken some following up, but NZQA has now replied.
If you wish to discuss these issues further, you can
- Set out your viewpoints in the Members' Forum
- Ask the Executive for more action - email the Secretary
- Contact your local Branch or Sector Group
- Write to the Newsletter .
Join us
Become a member of TESOLANZ to be informed, keep in touch, join in and show your support of our work.