Whirinaki ka eke ki runga,

Let us join together to reach new heights!

Paul O'Farrell

Director

Campus Comes Alive:

A Busy Start to the ELA Year

January and February are always a lively time at ELA, with new cohorts arriving almost every week and bringing fresh energy to campus. It’s one of our favourite parts of the year, as we welcome students into the University of Auckland and showcase some of the City Campus’s most modern and stylish lecture theatres.

So far, we’ve held ELA orientations in the Science, Business, and Architecture buildings, welcoming several great groups, mainly from China and Korea. Next week, we return to the Business School for a large intake of Japanese university students visiting during their Spring Break. We also love capturing group photos that celebrate students’ pride in their home universities.

Kicking Off 2026 with

Inha University

We were delighted to welcome our very first group from Inha University in Incheon, South Korea. The students joined us for a two‑week Cultural Understanding course, giving them a great introduction to New Zealand culture and life.

Highlights of their programme included a visit to the All Blacks Experience at SkyCity, sailing on the Waitematā Harbour (arranged by the New Zealand Maritime Museum), and finishing with a gourmet farewell lunch at the Cordis Hotel.

We thoroughly enjoyed hosting the group, along with their chaperone Minyoung Lee, who was visiting New Zealand for the very first time. It was a pleasure to have them start the year with us at ELA.

English All Around:

A Fresh Twist for 2026

ELA students are already very familiar with our popular “English All Around” campaign, which encourages them to practise English beyond the classroom. Students earn bird stickers by using English in everyday situations, and the more stickers they collect, the closer they get to winning a fluffy ELA kiwi prize.

This year, the campaign has a fun new twist. Students can earn even more stickers by submitting photos or videos of themselves enjoying life in and around Auckland — from trying new activities to learning new things and interacting with their homestay families.

We’re looking forward to receiving plenty of great content from students as they make the most of their time in New Zealand and put their English into practice.

Learning More

About Future Study Options

More than 80 ELA group students recently joined a City Campus tour, which included an engaging presentation from Jennifer Roshan from the University’s International Office.

Students showed strong interest in learning about future study options — and proved they were paying attention by scoring highly in the quiz that followed. One top‑scoring student won a University of Auckland T‑shirt. Well done!

We’ll be running another session in February, with thanks to the International Office team for their continued support of ELA.

A Behind‑the‑Scenes Visit to FHMS

Last week, we took students from Dongshin University in South Korea to the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (FHMS) for a behind‑the‑scenes look at some of its teaching facilities.

The group visited the Advanced Clinical Skills Centre, where health students practise medical skills in a safe environment before working with real patients. They also spent time in the Human Anatomy Library, which is not usually open to the public. There, students explored a wide range of anatomy displays, including donated human tissues that show diseases at different stages and the effects of injury on the human body.

These visits provide valuable insight for our students and also reflect ELA’s strong connection with FHMS — a faculty where many ELA students go on to study after completing their English programmes with us.

Online EPPS – A Flexible Pathway to Postgraduate Study

Our online EPPS (English Pathway for Postgraduate Studies) programme continues to grow. Introduced last year, it has already supported three successful student cohorts and offers a flexible option for students preparing for postgraduate study from offshore.

This year Online EPPS has April, June, and October intakes, giving students more choice and planning flexibility. The June intake is designed to lead directly into Quarter 4 postgraduate programmes at the University of Auckland's Business School. Students develop key academic English and study skills while learning online in a supportive environment.

This programme provides a clear and flexible pathway for students progressing to postgraduate study.

More information is available on the UoA Online page.

ELA’s Online EPPS has three intakes in April, June and October.

Block 2 Pathway Programme Deadline – 15 February

A reminder that applications for ELA’s Block 2 pathway programmes, starting 6 April, close on 15 February.

ELA pathway programmes offer students a supported transition into University of Auckland study, building academic English, study skills, and confidence for success in a university environment. Designed to align closely with University expectations, these pathways help students prepare academically while adjusting to life and study in New Zealand.

With the deadline approaching, we encourage partners to finalise applications as soon as possible to allow time for processing and visa arrangements.

Full programme details and pathway information are available here.

ELA’s next pathway intake is coming up on April 6th, and applications close on February 15th.

Supporting the International Student Journey: Eileen Yang

Eileen Yang has recently returned to ELA after a year away, bringing with her valuable experience and a strong understanding of the international student journey. Eileen first came to New Zealand as an international student, drawn by the country’s focus on quality education, wellbeing, and its balanced lifestyle.

Previously at ELA, Eileen was a valued member of the Business Development team. In her current role, she supports students with accommodation and arrival arrangements, liaises with homestay families, coordinates airport pickups, and manages related administration. She also works closely with students, partners, and families to ensure a smooth and welcoming experience.

Eileen particularly enjoys using her own homestay experience to help students settle into life in New Zealand. Outside work, she enjoys spending time with family, travelling, doing handicrafts, and relaxing outdoors.

Upcoming Course Dates

• Academic and University Pathway English: 6 April (applications close 15 February), 22 June. Please get in touch for more details.

• General English: 9 March (4 weeks), 6 April (3 weeks), 27 April (4 weeks).

• For more information on any of these courses, please get in touch or check out our website for dates and fees.