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NZ Feedback
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Asia remains New Zealand’s biggest source region, however Western Europeans are making good ground. Meanwhile, this year’s Feedback survey on New Zealand also reveals that agent usage has remained consistent.
New Zealand feedback at a glance
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Total number of students: (female 62, male 43, unknown 7) 112
Average age in years: 24
Average length of programme in weeks: 17
Average number of students in class:10
Average number of hours of language tuition per week: 24
% of students who found out about their course through an agent: 44
% of students who booked through an agent or adviser: 68
% of students who had been on another language programme: 28
% of students who would recommend their school: 94
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| Respondents by world region of origin |
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Top nationalities |
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1. Asia 52%
2. W Europe 28%
3. Latin America 12%
4. C & E Europe 3%
5. Middle East 3%
No reply 2%
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1. Korean 24%
2. Japanese 14%
2. Swiss 14%
4. Brazilian 11%
5. German 10%
6. Chinese 5%
7. Taiwanese 3.5%
7. Thai 3.5%
9. Italian 3%
9. Saudi Arabian 3%
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| In my class there are... |
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How easy is it to practise your language skills with native speakers? |
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1. The right number of students (55%)
2. Too many students who speak my language (17%)
3. Too many students from one other country (16%)
4. Too many students (9%)
No reply 3% |
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1. Quite hard (47%)
2. Quite easy (37%)
3. Very easy (10%)
4. Very hard (4%)
No reply (2%) |
| 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. Recommended by an agent (44%)
2. Recommended by a friend/relative (27%)
3. I found it on the internet (21%)
4. I saw it advertised (3%)
No reply 5% |
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Yes (68%)
No (26%)
Unknown (6%)
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Student reasons for school selection included:
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“Has a super link programme so I can experience another city in NZ”
“It has a very good environment and activities and I like small classes”
“I like the homey atmosphere of the school”
“Location and it has a Toeic centre”
“Because I like how a staff member explained everything about the school”
“Not too expensive, exam prep, nice facilities”
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| Before looking for your course, did you know where you wanted to study? |
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Country
Yes (80%)
No (18%)
Unknown (2%)
City/town
Yes (57%)
No (41%)
Unknown (2%)
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School
Yes (38%)
No (59%)
Unknown (3%)
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Student nationality
Asia continued to supply New Zealand with a hearty amount of students in 2008. Koreans held on to the top spot with a 24 per cent share of the total market, followed by the Japanese with 14 per cent. Meanwhile, Taiwanese (with 3.5 per cent) and Thai students (with 3.5 per cent) also remained in the top 10. However, the Chinese student market, which showed signs of recovery in last year’s survey (see LTM, April 2008, pages 16-17), has declined again. They represented just five per cent of the student body, compared with 15 per cent in last year’s survey and 11 per cent in 2007. Western Europeans, up eight percentage points to 28 per cent this year, gained a little on the market leaders. Swiss students broke up the Asian contingent by stealing into second place with 14 per cent, with German students representing 10 per cent of the student body, seven percentage points up. Italians also made their first assault on the top 10 with a three per cent slice. And the Middle East was represented by Saudi Arabia (three per cent) and Bahrain (one per cent).
Student motivation
This year, students were more inclined to stay for longer in New Zealand. Average length of stay came in at 17 weeks, compared with 13 weeks in 2008 and 14.2 weeks in 2007. Twenty-six per cent of respondents opted for shorter courses lasting six weeks or less, while 37 per cent wanted programmes lasting 20 weeks or more. When we asked students how they currently used English, 28 per cent said that they used it in their current workplace while 51 per cent said they used it at school or university. (Five per cent said both). When it came to future intentions, 50 per cent ruled that they intended to use English for current or future work purposes. Meanwhile, the percentage of students looking to enter tertiary education has dropped even further, to 10 per cent compared with 14 per cent previously.
Student enrolment
The number of students booking through an agency was similar to last year’s findings, a high 68 per cent compared with 69 per cent. Agents were also students’ first port of call when researching study abroad opportunities. Forty-four per cent said that they had found a school because of an agent’s recommendation, while 27 per cent had been prompted to choose a school by a friend or a relative. Twenty-eight per cent said they had been on a study vacation before; English-speaking destinations topped the list with the USA, the UK and the Philippines featuring highly.
Standard of the schools
On average, there were 10 students per class but nine per cent argued this was too many. Sixteen per cent commented that there were too many students from another country and 17 per cent reported that there were too many from their own. However, 94 per cent said they would recommend their school to others. Meanwhile, students were more than impressed with the teaching staff; 94 per cent rated the teachers either excellent or good.
Living in New Zealand
When it came to practising their English skills, almost half of all respondents (47 per cent) found it quite difficult. However, 37 per cent found it relatively easy, down slightly on the 45 per cent who said this in 2008. The average cost of a one-week course, including accommodation, averaged NZ$518 (US$268).
Thank you to the following schools for participating in our survey: Seafield School of English, Christchurch; Geos Auckland, Auckland; Language Schools New Zealand, Christchurch; Rotorua English Language Academy, Rotorua; Mount Maunganui Language Center, Mount Maunganui; Maverick School of Languages, Dunedin; The Campbell Institute, Wellington; Coromandel Outdoor Language Centre, Whitianga; Geos Christchurch, Christchurch; Christchurch College of English, Christchurch; Dominion English School, Christchurch; Eurocentres, Auckland; Wellington High School, Wellington.
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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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