Room 209, Modern Languages Building, Ilam Campus
Tel: +64 3 364 3027, Fax: +64 3 364 3784, Email: [email protected]
2018 Mandarin Language Assistants Programme
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 to teach Chinese.
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 Chinese 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
 assist with cultural days/activities to promote Chinese language and culture at the
school
Funding
In response to the Canterbury earthquakes, Hanban is providing most of the funding for
language assistants for 2018. Schools are required to pay an administration fee (see
details below). Schools may also be required to top up accommodation payments and
transport costs. For more information, please email Rosa-Jane Whitcombe [email protected].
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, [email protected].
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: [email protected]
Selection of participating schools will occur in July 2017; schools will be notified of
whether they have been successful in their application by 7 August 2017. The MLAs are
expected to arrive in New Zealand a week before term one and term three.
Contact
For further information on this initiative, please contact Assoc Prof Jing Jiang,
[email protected] or phone 03 369 5481.
Key Commitments for schools hosting an MLA
Schools that host an MLA must undertake the following Key Commitments to The
Confucius Institute.
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Support MLAs in their Teaching and Stay in New Zealand
Schools are required to treat MLAs with courtesy and care, according them a warm
Kiwi welcome. Failure to treat MLAs with respect will result in the removal of MLAs
from schools.
Schools are required to accept the responsibility to arrange suitable accommodation
(see below) and provide wider pastoral care while the MLA is based at the school.
Principals to assign Lead Teachers to assist MLAs in their day-to-day life and work at
schools, in understanding the culture of the school, and in being aware of professional
boundaries as described in the New Zealand Teachers Council’s Code of Conduct and
Code of Ethics.
Organise introductions and welcomes for MLAs to school staff and students.
Give ongoing support, necessary information and appropriate access to school
resources.
Offer opportunities for MLAs to gain knowledge of teaching in New Zealand schools
and a positive experience of being a member of staff.
Fill out evaluation forms when requested by the Confucius Institute.
Where necessary, organise transport arrangements on days when MLAs are in school.
MLAs can pay a maximum of $25 per week for transport. If the costs to attend work are
higher than this, the school should pay the difference to the MLA. Transport may need
to be arranged for them to outlying schools as MLAs do not usually own cars or drive.
Please note that MLAs are not responsible for disciplining students in the class or
school.
Please note: While working in New Zealand schools, MLAs are supported financially by
Hanban with one return air-ticket and a reasonable monthly stipend which allows them
to travel around the country during school holidays, engage in social and sports and
recreation activities and generally enjoy the Kiwi way of life.
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: [email protected]
Organise Appropriate Homestay Accommodation
 Schools are required to organise suitable accommodation with approved homestay
families for MLAs. Homestays provide the MLAs with an opportunity to meet and
mingle with a range of New Zealanders and the benefit of a broad introduction to
New Zealand life and culture.
 Unless there are exceptional circumstances regarding accommodation, The
Confucius Institute does not allow other types of accommodation.
 Homestays must provide 3 meals (breakfast, packed lunch and dinner) and a
bedroom with a bed, desk, chair and adequate lighting and heating.
 The MLA pays the homestay fee directly to the provider.
 There is a maximum amount that MLAs can pay for accommodation, which varies
depending on the area. If the cost of accommodation is higher than this, the school
must supplement the payment. For more details for the maximum fee, please email
[email protected].
 In choosing an appropriate homestay family, schools are asked to consider
homestays that:
- are genuinely interested in hosting an MLA from China, who will regard the
MLA’s presence positively, communicate with the MLA and treat the MLA as a
member of the family;
- are prepared to be involved in the MLA’s daily life, helping the MLA cope with
living and working in New Zealand;
- are located within a reasonable distance from the school(s) that the MLA
teaches at;
- there should be no more than two MLAs at one homestay.
Police Clearance
 The Confucius Institute requires each MLA to provide a Chinese police clearance to
the Confucius Institute before they arrive in New Zealand. A copy will be sent to
schools on request.
Administration Fee
This year, the Confucius Institute requires schools to pay an administration fee. This
covers the cost of insurance, which is no longer covered by Hanban, the agency who
funds the MLA programme. For schools with an MLA based at their school or cluster of
schools full time, the administration fee is $500 per year per MLA. This can be divided
among the cluster of schools. If a school does not have an MLA based at it full time, the
administration fee for the whole year is $200 (the MLA teaches at the school for one day a
week) or $400 (the MLA teaches at the school two days a week). The number of hours an
MLA teaches a day does not affect the administration fee. If the MLA teaches at a school
for three or more days a week, the administration fee is $500. All fees are exclusive of
GST.
Note: This administration fee will increase in 2020 for schools who have had MLAs for
three or more years.
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: [email protected]
APPLICATION FOR A MANDARIN LANGUAGE ASSISTANT 2018
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)
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1.2 How many MLAs are your school or school cluster applying for?
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
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: [email protected]
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)
Schools that have not previously hosted an MLA need to fill out Section 3.
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).
3.1 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: [email protected]
3.2 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?
3.3 What qualities are you looking for in a MLA?
3.4 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: [email protected]
4. Schools and Teaching Hours
Please fill out the table below for each MLA. If your school is applying for more than one MLA,
please print out extra copies of the table and fill them out. The first line is an example.
Note: We are aware that timetables for 2018 will not be finalised, the table below is understood to
be liable to change.
Name of School
Level
Duration of
each class
(minutes)
Total number Remarks
of contact
hours for
2018
Example School
Y3, Y5, Y8
45 min
90
Basic language
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: [email protected]
6. Any other details (optional)
You may use this space to provide any further information not already outlined above
We confirm that the above information provided by our School is correct.
We have read and understood the Key Commitments for our School in hosting a Mandarin
Language Assistant.
We undertake to abide by the Terms and Conditions for hosting a Mandarin Language
Assistant:
Yes, our School will arrange appropriate homestay accommodation for the Mandarin
Language Assistant.
Yes, our School will pay the administration fee of $500 (excluding GST) for each MLA,
either singly or with other schools in the same cluster. We understand that our school (s)
will be invoiced on approval to host an MLA. OR
Yes, our School will pay the administration fee of $200 per day (excluding GST) for each
MLA, either singly or with other schools in the same cluster. We understand that our
school (s) will be invoiced on approval to host an MLA.
Number of days___________________
Signature of the Principal: __________________________________ Date: ________________
Please return your completed form to by 26 June 2017:
Rosa-Jane Whitcombe at [email protected]
University of Canterbury Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand. www.ci.canterbury.ac.nz