Whirinaki ka eke ki runga,

Let us join together to reach new heights!

Paul O'Farrell

Director

ELA Students Join the Buzz of Orientation Week

Although ELA students have already been in Auckland for several weeks or longer, many enjoyed getting involved in the wider University of Auckland Orientation Week festivities. With the City Campus full of activity, our students took the chance to explore further, join student clubs, enjoy live performances, and pick up plenty of free giveaways.

As the university semester begins, we are excited to see our ELA students continue building friendships, exploring campus life, and making the most of everything the University community offers.

Lots for ELA students to explore students at Orientation Week

How Students Are Experiencing Life in Aotearoa

As the “Share Your Story with #uoaela” campaign grows, we’ve been receiving more and more student submissions. They give us a real look into what life in New Zealand is like for them.

Qijun Jiang and Yiting Xu from China shared beautifully‑edited videos documenting their time in Aotearoa. Chenlu Wang, along with Miyu and Misato from Japan, offered heartwarming snapshots of their homestay experiences.

These stories help us understand how students are settling in and what parts of life in New Zealand they find most meaningful. We can't wait to receive more submissions!

We’ve been amazed by the wonderful content that our students have shared with us

Supporting Student Life at ELA: Meet Candice and Rhea

Our ELA students love exploring Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland through activities such as Mission Bay, One Tree Hill, Devonport, and the Domain Wintergardens. Helping lead these outings are our activity assistants, Candice and Rhea, who play an important role in supporting students outside the classroom.

Candice

Candice is studying a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Academic English Studies and Linguistics & TESOL, and aims to become an English language teacher. She loves discovering new food places and going on short road trips. A highlight for her was a personalised campus visit she led for Academic English students, tailored to their future study plans. She appreciates ELA’s supportive, culturally diverse staff and the approachable environment students experience.

Rhea

Rhea is completing a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Statistics and hopes to continue into research in Statistics Education. She enjoys singing, music, and spending time with friends. Her favourite moments with ELA students include meaningful conversations during activities, learning about different cultures, and seeing students enjoy Auckland — especially on sunny days with ice cream to finish. She values how ELA helps students build connections, practise English in real situations, and feel part of the wider University community.

Candice and Rhea help students discover a vibrant community beyond the classroom — and we’re grateful for the enthusiasm they bring to every outing.

Left photo: Candice (left) and Rhea (right). They have been fantastic additions to the ELA family!

ELA Celebrates The Year of the Horse

ELA’s Student Support Team recently organised a Lunar New Year celebration to welcome the Year of the Horse.

Students enjoyed a range of traditional cultural activities, including Calligraphy, Paper Cutting, a Lucky Draw, and a Ring Toss Game. These interactive stations gave everyone the opportunity to experience festive customs while learning more about the cultural significance behind them.

We also prepared a wide selection of snacks, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for students to gather, connect, and celebrate together.

It was a wonderful occasion that brought our community together to mark the new year with joy and shared cultural appreciation.

Future study opportunities at UoA

We had a fantastic day exploring the university campus last week. Over 100 short‑term students from Japanese universities toured the University of Auckland and enjoyed a great presentation from Senior Regional Manager Dr Simon Underwood.

We were also thrilled to hear from current Japanese students from the University of Auckland, who shared their experiences of studying and living in Auckland—offering valuable insights and sparking thoughtful questions.

A great session for students considering future study in Auckland. We hope to welcome them back soon!

We were excited to have so many Japanese students learn about future postgraduate study at the University!

Preparing Future English Teachers: CELTA at ELA

We are looking forward to welcoming our next group of CELTA trainees, with our upcoming part‑time course now fully subscribed. CELTA remains one of the world’s most respected qualifications for new English language teachers, and ELA’s programme is known for its strong practical focus, supportive trainers, and real classroom teaching experience.

For those eager to begin their training soon, places are still available in our full‑time CELTA starting on 16 November. This intensive option offers a fast‑paced, immersive pathway into the profession and provides the same high‑quality training that our graduates consistently praise for building their confidence and teaching skills.

We are also pleased to share new video testimonials from several ELA teachers who launched their careers through our CELTA programme. Their stories offer valuable insight into the opportunities and professional growth that CELTA can provide.

Please feel free to share these updates with anyone considering a teaching pathway.

A Month of Learning and Connection: Thank You and Safe Travels

A few weeks ago, we were excited to welcome more than 250 students from around 20 partner universities across Japan who joined ELA students from countries as diverse as Thailand, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Spain and Mexico.

With the start of Japanese university spring break, it was the perfect time for these students to join us for four weeks of English language study here in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.

Over the past month, we’ve enjoyed seeing them participate in class, grow in confidence, and make the most of every opportunity to immerse themselves in local culture.

This is their final week at ELA, and we wish them all the very best as they travel back to Japan this weekend.

We’ve loved hosting the current batch of Japanese group students on their Spring Break.

Online EPPS: April Deadline Approaching + A Graduate’s Success Story

Applications for the April intake of our Online English Pathway for Postgraduate Studies (EPPS) close this Sunday, 8 March, and we encourage partners to submit any final applications soon. Online EPPS continues to grow as a flexible option for students preparing for postgraduate study from offshore, helping them build essential academic English, critical thinking, and communication skills in a supportive online environment.

One of our recent graduates, Mandy Chu, has just arrived in New Zealand to begin Semester One. She visited ELA to meet her EPPS teacher, Sado Choi, in person for the first time—an inspiring moment that highlighted the strong connections formed through online learning. Mandy has now started her Master of Engineering Project Management at the University of Auckland, and we look forward to catching up with her in a few months to hear how EPPS has supported her transition into postgraduate study.

Sado Choi (left), ELA teacher and Mandy Chu (right) meeting in person for the first time.

Upcoming Course Dates

• Academic and University Pathway English: 22 June, 7 September. Please get in touch for more details.

• General English: 6 April (3 weeks), 27 April (4 weeks), 25 May (4 weeks).

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