Networks of Expertise
The Networks of Expertise (NEX) support the development and collective capability of subject associations and other peer to peer teaching networks to deliver Professional Learning and Development (PLD) supports to teachers and kaiako. They provide right-on-time teaching, learning and assessment support through mechanisms such as online forums, resource development and sharing, inquiry clusters and face to face collaboration opportunities. In association with TESOLANZ, they bring this professional learning development resource page for teachers of English as an Additional Language.
All resources on this page are free to use, but we do hope you will join TESOLANZ to take advantage of the organisation, and other resources behind the paywall.
For more information, or to suggest possible topics for future resources, contact Angela Bland care of
Upcoming events
As part of our What’s Available series, we welcome Dylan Parker, creator of English Planet.
From Science to Classroom Success:
A Structured Oral Language Pathway for Emergent English Learners.
How English Planet supports ESOL/EAL, ORS-funded, and junior primary learners through explicit oral language teaching, repetition, fluency development, and practical school implementation.
With a background in science, Dylan spent 18 years teaching English across K-6 settings in South Korea, alongside more than 14 years an instructional design. He returned to New Zealand with English Planet; a structured oral language resource developed through scientific research and classroom inquiry and continually refined for the New Zealand primary School context.
Wednesday, June 24.
7 pm start.
This event will be recorded and uploaded on this page.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83707151259?pwd=arBbxUSfuyyatbLX2rSmudH46JdFqS.1
Meeting chat link
https://us06web.zoom.us/launch/jc/83707151259
Meeting ID: 837 0715 1259
Passcode: 4mcDaW
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Rosemary Gillies (Senior ESOL Verifier) and Hanna Svensson (Senior Advisor Migrant & Refugee Support) from the Ministry of Education will present on:
Supporting Senior English Language Learners with EAP Pathways
This webinar will explore how Level 3 and 4 EAP standards support senior English language learners toward academic literacy and UE pathways.
With ESOL learners forming a significant and growing group in our schools—and many still developing the academic English needed to access the curriculum—understanding appropriate pathways and assessment options is increasingly important.
What the webinar will cover:
Rosemary (Introduction)
- EAP as a pathway to UE literacy
How Level 3 and 4 EAP unit standards will continue to be available until at least 2030 as a viable academic literacy pathway for senior English language learners.
- Connecting the EAL curriculum to EAP
Where the new EAL curriculum progression leads and how it transitions into the EAP pathway at the secondary level.
- Participation and achievement insights & the new EL EAP Supporting Document for teachers
A brief look at current participation and achievement patterns to support informed decision-making in schools.
Hanna (Main session)
- Understanding the standards (Levels 3 and 4)
A practical overview of key EAP reading and writing standards, including expectations, assessment conditions, and differences between levels.
- Common challenges and effective practice
Key issues students face (e.g. academic language, structure, using sources) and how to address these in teaching and assessment.
- Supporting success in the classroom
Practical approaches to help learners develop academic literacy and succeed in NCEA.
Day and Date: Wednesday, 29th July, 2026
Time: 4pm - 5pm
Registration closes on Tuesday 28th July at 6pm.
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New to Teaching and/or leading English as an Additional
Language/ESOL in a primary or secondary school?
Become a mentee for a pilot EAL/ESOL mentorship programme
TESOLANZ in association with Networks of Expertise (NEX) is launching a fully funded EAL/ESOL
Teacher/TIC Mentoring Pilot Programme for Term 3. Applications are now open for mentees.
This is a great opportunity to be paired with an experienced EAL/ESOL leader in Aotearoa | New Zealand.
What will the mentorship programme include?
- One-on-one sessions and / or up to three mentees with one mentor from the sector
- Fortnightly or weekly sessions held online (or face-to-face if geography suits) outside of school hours.
- You will be matched with a fully registered NZ teacher who has between 5 –10 years of EAL
leadership in a primary or secondary school depending on which sector you are working in.
Who Can Apply?
We are looking for teachers across primary and secondary schools in Aotearoa who:
- are new or very new to EAL/ESOL teaching, planning and/or leadership in Aotearoa.
- can meet regularly for the whole of Term 3 starting in Week 1, (weekly or fortnighly) and share their challenges,
successes, and can receive and act on feedback and feed forward.
Note on Privacy: Your mentor will keep records of your sessions to track common needs, actions, achievements and challenges. High-level, anonymous trends will be shared with the Ministry of Education, but your individual data and school name will remain strictly confidential.
How to Apply:
Spaces for this pilot are limited to match our nationwide mentor cohort.
Applications close on June 24.
To register your interest, please fill out the following Google Form:
Regards,
Angela Bland - NEX Coordination
Gwenna Finikin - TESOLANZ President
Past events
April 30, 2026 – Learning Village
In conjunction with TESOLANZ and NEX, Caroline Scott (Author & Director) and Breda Matthews (Demonstrator/Trainer/Content Developer) from Across Cultures presented on the Learning Village digital platform to teach EAL for bilingual and multilingual learners. If you are interested in a free trial please go to this link https://www.learningvillage.net/nz A short meeting will be required for set up to access a 7 day free trial.
Watch the recorded event here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4toekGMkc40
Podcasts
Podcast 6
May 24, 2026
This podcast is with Mark Dawson-Smith from Wintec in Kirikiriroa | Hamilton. The podcast explores Marks insights on themes such as the international student recovery, AI, and changing student demographics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ofi7-I7sIs4
Podcast 5
May 20, 2026
NEX TESOLANZ Coordinator (Dr. Angela Bland) chats with TESOLANZ Primary SIG leader, Karen Cebalo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkFj9U_dADc
Podcast 4
May 12, 2026
Notes on funding applications
https://youtu.be/NSULskAwBIU?si=I-P5uIojP1nkd1Ly
Podcast 3
April 30, 2026
NEX TESOLANZ Coordinator (Dr. Angela Bland) chats with TESOLANZ Branch Liaison, Julie Luxton, about what is forefront for particularly the secondary school sector. Julie is also a PLD facilitator and a NZQA National Moderator.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHu8bgW6REE
Podcast 2
April 24, 2026
An interview with former RTLit, Liz Hansen, about life beyond the public sector, and what is available out there to support our akonga.
https://youtu.be/q5IA-LkN1HE
Podcast 1
April 17, 2026
An introduction and talking about what to expect from our work.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OopGF_9rBkY