For example, the New Zealand Police Force recently saw people from Zimbabwe, Malaysia, Philippines, Turkey and Japan graduate from Police College and this acknowledgment of multiculturalism is also reflected in the desire to recruit people who are bilingual.

An acknowledgment of different languages and cultures is also an advantage if working in the $7 billion New Zealand tourism industry, which sees many non-English speaking tourists through the country each year.

I would like to learn another language… what are the first steps?

Your age and how much time and money you want to invest in the experience will determine which method of learning a new language you may like to use.

Do-it-yourself
The easiest method would be to invest a phrase book and use that as grounding for your studies. It would be preferable to buy one which comes with an audio component so you can listen to how words should be pronounced rather than relying on your interpretation.

Often words can be misconstrued if you pronounce them wrong and so it is important to ensure your pronunciation is correct. This method is probably best only for those who are intending to travel and use the language overseas short-term, as it lacks the necessary oral component provided by other language courses.

Tutoring
The cheapest method of learning a language would be to get in contact with the local foreign language / ESOL School. There are always students who are interested in meeting and conversing with locals as a way of practicing what they learn in class.

It often works on the basis that they will teach you about their language and culture if you teach them about yours.

This is a very flexible option as you can decide week to week when, where, and for how long you want to meet. It is a great way to form a strong grounding in the oral component of a language.

Night / Correspondence School
These are short term courses with the aim of teaching you the basics of the language. Night courses are often offered at community centres or schools. They usually run for a period of 6-8 weeks, meeting once a week for 1-2 hours. It is a good way to meet people and practice the oral component of a language.

Correspondence courses allow you to learn at your own pace and use a mixture of aural and oral assignments as a foundation for learning. These options are best suited to those who are pursuing the language as an interest.

University/ Polytechnic
There are a wide variety of language courses offered at universities and polytechnics, ranging from beginners classes to more advance courses. These are intense courses, and are relatively time consuming, but you are taught all components of the language.

Regular assessments allow you to apply and improve your understanding. You can choose to do the course for personal interest or you can complete a language diploma or degree which usually takes 3 years. At the end of it you will have gained the skills and knowledge to be considered fluent in the language.

What can I expect in learning a second language?

All languages are made up of 4 parts: Reading, Writing; Aural and Oral.

Reading and Writing
At first you can expect to learn basic vocabulary and grammar which can be used in everyday situations. A useful method of learning to read and write a language is rote learning. It can be time consuming but it allows the vocabulary to become engrained in your memory. Most language courses will provide you with a vocabulary list from which to learn set phrases or important words. Learning these provides a firm foundation for the other parts of the course. As the course progresses, you will gain the confidence to translate simple passages from English to the foreign language and vice versa.

Aural and Oral
Aural and Oral components are probably the most important aspects of learning a language. The understanding and ability to converse in a foreign language is essential if you intend on using the language in your job. Building upon your reading and writing skills, aural and oral skills allow you to actively apply the language. The assessment methods used may vary from speeches, role plays, and reading out the material or answering questions. Again, memorising sentence structures and vocabulary is the best way to succeed.

This article was kindly supplied by NZS, New Zealand Search. To learn more, click here.