At Marist College we offer three languages: Chinese (Mandarin), French and Te Reo Maori. You learn the basics of each of these languages for one term in Years 7-9. From Year 10 you choose them as your options and learn them more thoroughly during the year. Learning a language in Year 10 is a pre-requisite for the Level 1 Chinese, French and Te Reo Maori courses.

Language learning helps you enhance your knowledge and appreciation of traditions, customs, and issues while building your proficiency in the four core skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

Outside the classroom, there are numerous activities to promote language practice, such as competitions, lunchtime language clubs, visits from native speakers, penfriend correspondence, trips to restaurants, international film festivals, marae visits and overseas trips to China and New Caledonia (every second year). Senior language students are able to take part in exchange programs to China and to French speaking countries.

Ni hao!  Namaste!  Bonjour!  Buongiorno!  Talofa lava!  Konnichiwa!  Kia ora!

Looking around our school community, it is obvious that we live in a multicultural society where we are fortunate to be able to celebrate our different cultures and languages. The saying “languages open doors” rings true every time. With another language, you will be able to increase your job opportunities later in life, enjoy travelling while talking to the locals in their mother tongue and you become more tolerant and understanding towards others. Learning a second or third language is also one of the best exercises for the brain and it helps you understand your native language better. One of the biggest advantages is that you will be able to talk to and make friends with people that would remain strangers otherwise.

Learning another language enriches your life in ways that you have never imagined and allows you to make the most of opportunities that present themselves to you.

Career paths for learning languages: