Case studies
On this page you will find examples from a diverse range of educators from schools across New Zealand who discuss their efforts to foster Asia awareness in their classrooms.
Auckland Normal Intermediate School
(Decile 9 school with a roll of 670 students)
“We need to do more than dip our toes in the water”
Main themes:
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Asia awareness is integral to staff thinking about teaching and learning
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It is important to develop a strong, professional learning community to integrate Asia awareness
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Asia awareness is in the school strategic plan
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There is wide participation of staff, students and parents commitment to Asia awareness in the school.
Owairaka District School, Auckland
(Decile 2, contributing primary school with a roll of 342 students)
“We see Asia as part of our future lives”
Main themes in the case study
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A focus on building relationships with and between the many cultures represented in the school
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The importance of professional learning in Asia for staff and the impact on students’ learning about Asia.
Te Aro School, Wellington
(Decile 6, full primary school with a roll of 204 students)
“It’s a daily challenge to meet the needs of our diverse students and their families”
Main themes:
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The diversity of students in the school impacts on the teachers
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Professional learning is key to understanding the changes and to making provision for the diversity of the students
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There is a need to make more formal curriculum links with Asia
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At Te Aro there is a truly international approach, with great relationships both within and beyond the classroom.
Riccarton High School, Christchurch
(Decile 7, co-educational, state secondary school with a roll of 950)
“Half of my friends are Asian”
Main themes:
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Riccarton is a school that is Asia Aware because the Asian community is on the doorstep -
The creation of an International Committee has been significant in leading change in the school
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The importance of understanding the differences between New Zealand and Asian education systems and values
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The benefits to the students of being in an Asia Aware school.
Rotorua schools embrace Chinese language and culture
“We have seen a change in the students since we introduced Chinese – there is a much greater sharing among the cultures about their ideas and values and cultural traditions.”
In this case study, instead of taking a particular school, we assess the very effective Chinese language programme running in Rotorua's primary, intermediate and secondary schools.
The teaching of Chinese is so widely spread throughout the Rotorua district that students have a continuous programme, even when they move between schools.
Behind the growth of Chinese language and culture in the city is a Chinese-speaking teacher, Mrs Laytee George. She believes strongly that since New Zealand and its people are part of the Asia Pacific rim, their futures are inextricably linked together.
Te Puke High School, Bay of Plenty
(Decile 5, co-educational, state secondary school with a roll of 1050 students)
“Building these bridges and these connections with Asia is absolutely vital”
Main themes:
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The benefits of Te Puke and North Vista’s “twinning” programme
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The importance of partnerships to achieve success
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Leadership, teacher and student perspectives
College St School, Dunedin
(Decile 3, year 1 to 6 school in the south of Dunedin with a roll of 200)
“That’s what the people in Japan do, and we do it like this”
Main themes:
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Growing awareness of the importance of Asia
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Teachers as facilitators of learning
- Finding resources and overcoming obstacles.
Auckland Girls' Grammar School
(The school has 1350 students from more than 50 different countries)
“We have started things well, and have a lot really embedded in our systems and our approach, but now we need to continue and deepen the Asia awareness.”
Main themes:
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Asia awareness successes
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Year 9 programme for 2010: Walk in My Shoes
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Events and relationships
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Intra-school communication and cross-faculty conversations
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Introducing Mandarin language