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Thread: Moving to NZ with kids whose native language is not english

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2014
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    Austria
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    Question Moving to NZ with kids whose native language is not english

    Hi, nothing is set in stone yet, but we might get the opportunity to move from Austria to New Zealand with our two kids (2 and 6). They speak a little bit of english, but are not fluent.
    So our main concern is of course how we could make this as easy for them as possible.

    Is there anyone on here who has done this? If I'm informed correctly we're required to put them into an english course once there, which we will happily do, but what other ways are there to help them learn and integrate in Kindergarten, School and overall?

    Thank you very much for your advice!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
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    37,822

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    There isn't any requirement for knowledge of English on non-principal applicants under 16 years of age. http://onlineservices.immigration.go...nual/30541.htm

    In the past, I have worked with children, and have had several come into an English-speaking environment with NO English at all. Each of those children picked up the language naturally, just by being among English-speaking adults, and the children their own age, so that within months they were not distinguishable from the born English-speakers. By all means get them formal teaching out of school if you want to, but most of the work will be done, without its feeling like work, in the course of ordinary living - attending school, meeting up with other children to play, going to sports or other clubs, etc.. Being in shops where products are labelled with their names, and hearing you asking for them, helps, as does TV (with the adverts having the concept repeated and reinforced with pictures).

    Any school where you want to place them will talk through strategies with you - they'll be keen to help you help them.

    In advance, of course, you can find all sorts of material in English on the internet for them to watch, e.g. children's programmes, NZ advertisements, and comedy. How about getting the English-language version of any favourite film, too? - they'll know what is happening already. But there's no need for a huge amount of formal work, because nature will take care of it.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
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    Scotland to Wellington
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    I wouldn't worry too much. They will soon pick the language up from other children once they are in New Zealand.
    As for keeping up their German, there are (depending on where you're going) organised groups and classes. The Goethe-Institut in Wellington or the Austrian consulate or the German embassy may be able to help with that.

  4. #4
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    May 2014
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    Austria
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    That sounds good! So there's no special requirements and we can just drop them into kindergarten + elementary school and let them learn from their peers and teachers.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
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    Singapore --> Wellington, NZ
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    Quote Originally Posted by mhofer View Post
    That sounds good! So there's no special requirements and we can just drop them into kindergarten + elementary school and let them learn from their peers and teachers.
    Yes, we are pretty much in the same situation where our 3 yr old doesn't speak fluent english. We did not enforce her to learn it in the first place and she picked up some from watching kids shows and cartoons. am a strong believer that kids should learn their mother tongue first before other languages so it doesn't hamper their creative thinking. so don't worry about english as they will manage on their own and come out with flying colours.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Location
    New Zealand
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    There are A LOT of children in the same circumstance here with English as a second language. At most schools there are specific classes that are for children who may need to focus more on learning English or explaining things slower so they can understand.

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