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New Zealand Feedback
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Asia was well represented in this year’s Feedback survey on New Zealand. Meanwhile, a majority of respondents were learning the language for current or future work purposes.
New Zealand feedback at a glance
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Total number of students: (female 68, male 53, unknown 3) 124
Average age in years: 24
Average length of programme in weeks: 13
Average number of students in class: 10.5
Average number of hours of language tuition per week: 24
% of students who found out about their course through an agent: 54
% of students who booked through an agent or adviser: 69
% of students who had been on another language programme: 20
% of students who would recommend their school: 91
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| Respondents by world region of origin |
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Top nationalities |
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1. Asia 65%
2. Western Europe 22%
3. Latin America 7%
4. C & E Europe 4%
Unknown 2% |
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1. South Korean 25%
2. Chinese 15%
3. Japanese 12%
3. Swiss 12%
5. Brazilian 6%
6. Taiwanese 4%
7. Filipino 3%
7. French 3%
7. German 3%
7. Thai 3%
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| In my class there are... |
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How easy is it to practise English with native speakers? |
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1. The right amount of students (61%)
2. Too many students (14%)
3. Too many students who speak my language (13%)
4. Too many students from one other country (12%)
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1. Quite hard (47%)
2. Quite easy (38%)
3. Very easy (7%)
4. Very hard (7%)
Unknown (1%) |
| How did you find your programme? |
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Did you book your course through an agent or an educational adviser?
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1. It was recommended by an agent (54%)
2. It was recommended by a friend/relative (27%)
3. I found it on the Internet (14%)
4. I saw it advertised (4%)
Unknown 1% |
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Yes (69%)
No (26%)
Unknown (5%)
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Student reasons for school selection included:
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“To discover New Zealand and Auckland and to meet people with different nationalities and learn perfect English”
“New Zealand is surrounded by great views, has kind people and fresh air!”
“I think it is a good price and in this school we can do the FCE exam after nine weeks”
“Because it doesn’t have a lot of students from my country”
“Because lots of people say this country is beautiful”
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| Before looking for your course, did you know where you wanted to study? |
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Country
Yes (82%)
No (15%)
Unknown (3%)
City/town
Yes (68%)
No (28%)
Unknown (4%)
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School
Yes (39%)
No (56%)
Unknown (5%)
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Student nationality
There were 20 different nationalities represented in this year’s Feedback survey on New Zealand, a slight increase on the 17 documented in last year’s poll (see LTM, March 2007, pages 18-19). Asia remains New Zealand’s biggest source region, responsible for 65 per cent of the incoming student market. However, there was a shake up in the overall nationality rankings; Japanese students slipped from first to third place – achieving just 12 per cent compared with 28 per cent previously – Chinese students moved into second place with a 15 per cent share – four percentage points more than previously – and Korean students claimed top spot with a 25 per cent slice of the overall market – up three percentage points on last year’s result. Western Europeans were a little more numerous this year, accounting for 22 per cent of the student base, compared with 16 per cent in 2007. Meanwhile, Taiwanese (four per cent), Filipino (three per cent) and Thai (three per cent) students made their debut in the top ten, marking a new trend and an ever-strengthening Asian student market.
Student motivation
Average length of stay for respondents on language courses this year was down slightly from 15.4 weeks to 12.9 weeks. However, 24 per cent of respondents had opted for shorter courses lasting six weeks or less, compared with 20 per cent last year. Half of all respondents classed themselves as students, with 47 per cent falling into the 20-to-25 year old age bracket. This is a marked decrease on the number of this age group observed last year (56 per cent). Meanwhile, the number of students going on to further education in New Zealand dropped to 14 per cent, down 11 percentage points on the previous year.
Student enrolment
Agent usage was up this year, with 69 per cent of students booking their course through an educational adviser compared with 62 per cent last year. Just under a quarter of respondents had been on a study abroad vacation before (20 per cent) with a majority studying English in another English speaking country such as Canada or Australia. However, other languages respondents had studied previously included Chinese, Korean, Russian and Norwegian.
Standard of the schools
Student satisfaction rates were significantly higher this year with 61 per cent of respondents happy with both their class size and nationality mix – 15 percentage points more than previously. Despite average classes consisting of 10.5 students, 14 per cent commented that there were too many students in their class. A further 13 per cent thought there were too many students of their own nationality present – 41 per cent of whom were Chinese – and another 12 per cent thought there too many students from one other country – a quarter of whom were Korean.
Living in New Zealand
A total of 45 per cent of respondents found it very easy or fairly easy to practise their new communication skills with local people. The average cost of a one-week course, including accommodation, averaged out at NZ$447 (US$355) and 57 per cent of respondents commented that comparatively speaking, the cost of living was higher than in their own country. Korean, Chinese, Brazilian and Taiwanese students were among those that found costs significantly higher.
Thank you to the following schools for participating in our survey: AIS St Helens, Auckland; Campbell Language Institute, Wellington; Cathedral City Academy, Christchurch; Christchurch College of English, Christchurch; Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology, Christchurch; Coromandel Outdoor Language Centre, Whitianga; Dominion School, Auckland; Dynaspeak English, Auckland; Eurocentres, Auckland; Garden City English School, Christchurch; Kaplan Aspect, Christchurch; King’s Education Ltd, Christchurch; Language Schools New Zealand, Christchurch; Language Schools New Zealand, Queenstown; Languages International, Christchurch; Rotorua English Language Academy, Rotorua.
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Contact any advertiser in the this issue now
The following language schools, associations and accommodation providers advertised in the latest edition of Language Travel Magazine. If you would like more information on any of these advertisers, tick the relevant boxes, fill out your details and send.
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