Room 209, Modern Languages Building, Ilam Campus
Tel: +64 3 364 3027, Fax: +64 3 364 3784, Email: Confucius-Institute@canterbury.ac.nz
Mandarin Language Assistants
Background
In the wake of the Canterbury earthquakes, the Office of the Chinese Language Council
International (Hanban) in partnership with the Confucius Institute at the University of
Canterbury is fully funding 35 Mandarin Language Assistants (MLAs) for the 2016
academic year. This initiative is a recognition of the impact of the earthquakes on South
Island schools. It provides an opportunity for schools to promote the learning of Mandarin
without the cost usually associated with an MLA.
The role and contribution of Mandarin Language Assistants
The role of a MLA is to improve the effectiveness of Mandarin teaching by providing
information and insight into Chinese culture and language, modelling accurate
pronunciation and intonation and assisting the classroom teacher.
Mandarin Language Assistants:
 bring Chinese language, culture and country into the classroom by their presence
 provide opportunities for students to interact with a native speaker, stimulating
genuine classroom communications in Mandarin
 assist teachers in the classroom
 make small group work possible and/or more effective
 enable a greater number of students to take part in one-to-one conversations in
Mandarin
 assist with the preparation of up-to-date resources using authentic Mandarin
Funding
In response to the earthquakes, Hanban is fully funding language assistants for 2016.
MLAs may still require some assistance adjusting to life in New Zealand, for example,
MLAs outside Christchurch may require assistance finding accommodation and providing
transportation.
University of Canterbury Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand. www.ci.canterbury.ac.nz
Room 209, Modern Languages Building, Ilam Campus
Tel: +64 3 364 3027, Fax: +64 3 364 3784, Email: Confucius-Institute@canterbury.ac.nz
Selection criteria
Preference will be given to schools that can demonstrate:
 a commitment to, and demand for, the teaching and learning of Mandarin
 how the MLA programme will complement or build upon current and previous
initiatives the school has accessed for Mandarin programmes
 how, and the extent to which the placement of a MLA will support the development
of their language programme, including student progression and achievement, and
staff capability
 a partnership with neighbouring schools so that the MLA can support language
programmes at a number of schools
 how the MLA will be supported in the school
 how their language programme will be developed following the conclusion of the
MLA’s placement
How to apply
Complete the expression of interest form and return to Rosa-Jane Whitcombe at, rosajane.whitcombe@canterbury.ac.nz.
Selection of participating schools will occur in early December 2015 and middle of 2016;
successful schools will be notified shortly after. The MLAs are expected to arrive in New
Zealand at the beginning of February and the middle of July 2016, and should be
available for the beginning of the school year or Term 3 of the year.
Contact
For further information on this initiative, please contact Prof Hong Hu at,
hong.hu@canterbury.ac.nz or phone 03 364 2987 ext 45643.
University of Canterbury Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand. www.ci.canterbury.ac.nz
Room 209, Modern Languages Building, Ilam Campus
Tel: +64 3 364 3027, Fax: +64 3 364 3784, Email: Confucius-Institute@canterbury.ac.nz
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FORM FOR THE PLACEMENT OF
A MANDARIN LANGUAGE ASSISTANT 2016
1. General question
1.1 Please indicate whether your school is applying for a Mandarin Language Assistant
(MLA) individually of in partnership with other school(s) (mark relevant box with an X)
Individually
In partnership with other schools (list all schools below, including the lead school)


2. Lead school details
Please complete this section if you are applying individually or for the lead school in the
partnership/cluster.
2.1 School name
2.2 Contact person
2.3 Job title
2.4 Phone
2.5 Email
2.6 Postal address
2.7 School website
2.8 School roll
2.9 Decile
2.10 Years taught
2.11 Any other
information /
characteristics (optional)
University of Canterbury Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand. www.ci.canterbury.ac.nz
Room 209, Modern Languages Building, Ilam Campus
Tel: +64 3 364 3027, Fax: +64 3 364 3784, Email: Confucius-Institute@canterbury.ac.nz
3. Participating school details (if applicable)
3.1 School name
3.2 School website
3.3 School roll
3.4 Decile
3.5 Years taught
3.6 Any other information
/ characteristics (optional)
4. Information on your Chinese language programme(s)
Please include this information for each school which is involved in the partnership (if applicable).
(To do so you may wish to add column(s) or use subheadings to distinguish each school partner).
4.1 Please provide an overview of your Chinese language programme(s). Provide information on
areas including, but not limited to:
 The number of years a programme has been offered (this may include a plan to offer Chinese in
the future)
 The structure of the programme
 The number of students studying, at which year levels and for how long each week
 The resources currently available for the programme
 The extent to which there is demand from within your school/school community to learn Chinese
University of Canterbury Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand. www.ci.canterbury.ac.nz
Room 209, Modern Languages Building, Ilam Campus
Tel: +64 3 364 3027, Fax: +64 3 364 3784, Email: Confucius-Institute@canterbury.ac.nz
4.2 Please provide specific examples of how an MLA would benefit (a) the development of your
overall language programme and (b) the cultural and language knowledge of your students and (c)
the cultural and language knowledge, and the teaching capability of your teachers?
4.3 What qualities are your looking for in a MLA?
4.4 How will you use the MLA to improve staff capability so that you can continue to sustain your
language programme beyond the term of the MLA?
University of Canterbury Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand. www.ci.canterbury.ac.nz
Room 209, Modern Languages Building, Ilam Campus
Tel: +64 3 364 3027, Fax: +64 3 364 3784, Email: Confucius-Institute@canterbury.ac.nz
5. Schools and Teaching Hours
Please list the schools that you would like the MLA to teach at with the planned teaching hours for
each school
6. Any other details (optional)
You may use this space to provide any further information not already outlined above
Signature of the Principal: ______________________ Date: ________________
Please return your completed form to:
Rosa-Jane Whitcombe at rosa-jane.whitcombe@canterbury.ac.nz
University of Canterbury Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand. www.ci.canterbury.ac.nz