French Department
Bienvenue au département de français de Rosehill College!
We are delighted that you have decided to study French with us.
Credits
Our course has standards that contribute credits towards fields with skill shortages: Service Industries, Social & Community Services and Creative Industries.
Job Market
Get to know the job market in New Zealand:
Did you know that there are occupations where there is a sustained and on-going shortage of highly skilled workers? Check the Immediate Skill Shortage List (ISSL) of occupations where skilled workers are immediately required in New Zealand.
Did you know that there are occupations in New Zealand where there are no New Zealand citizens or residents available to take up the position? Check the Long Term Skill Shortage List (LTSSL)
Careers
French as a discipline extends beyond the learning of the language itself and can enhance a wide range of careers.
Keep French and increase job opportunities:
French can be particularly useful for careers in international organisations and multinational companies but your knowledge of French language and culture could lead to a career in diplomatic and government service, trade and business, teaching, research, tourism, libraries or translation and interpreting, here in New Zealand.
This is why students combine the study of French with another degree in law, science, commerce or engineering. A conjoint degree is a great way to show employers that you are versatile and help you standing out from all the other applicants.
See how your learning and achievement in the French subject is valued in the real world by checking what jobs and activities you can do with this subject.
Business
Literacy in a foreign language is a tool that will enable you to research markets, sell products and develop relationships and NZTE (New Zealand Trade & Enterprise) values a deeper understanding of an overseas culture.
Food products are New Zealand main exports to France and there are growing opportunities in other sectors. Check opportunities for New Zealand businesses here.
New Zealand also enjoys a favourable balance of trade with Belgium. Check opportunities for New Zealand businesses here.
French Polynesia is New Zealand’s third highest value export market in the Pacific.
New Caledonia is New Zealand's third largest bilateral trading partner in the Pacific.
NZTEScience and Technology
France continues to be a leader and innovator in science and technology and French speaking countries are on the cutting edge of scientific discoveries and technological innovations. These include: microchips, commercial satellites, nanotechnology, nuclear energy, aerospace technology, fiber optics.
Knowing French can open the doors to graduate school and important research. Not all research is translated into English.
The French partner CNRS recruits foreign scientists and researchers (click here).
The FRIENZ project (click here) aims to facilitate research, science and innovation partnerships between Europe and New Zealand. The project is looking to promote awareness of EU/NZ research, innovation and mobility programmes.
Medical and Health Professions
MSF is actively recruiting all profiles for field work with special attention to physicians, nurses, mental health officers, anesthesiologists and technical logisticians.
For all profiles, language skills, mainly French and Arabic, are highly valued.
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is the largest humanitarian network in the world. Its mission is to alleviate human suffering and protect life and health. ICRC is actively recruiting all profiles for field work with special attention to doctors/nurses, experts in forensic science, veterinary, surgeons, and nutritionists.
For all profiles, ICRC staff need to be fluent in French and English.
Defence Forces
Customs
New Zealand increased customs cooperation with France with a focus on joint information-sharing to track and combat transnational crime in the Pacific (NZFAT).
The Maritime Trade Operations (MTO) Team provides a key interface between the New Zealand Defence Force and the Maritime Industry.
MTO Specialists and Officers have varied backgrounds and diverse industry based skills that range from merchant ship and port operations, IT, maritime law and languages. The MTO Branch is developing, and can provide some opportunities for overseas experience.
Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN)
French is one of the languages that have been identified as a valued human resource asset within the military.
Sports
As a rugby playing nation, France is a great destination for New-Zealand rugby players, and could become your temporary home through a placement at a rugby academy (click here).
In their spare time, All Blacks Dan Carter and Ma'a Nonu had to brush up on French to prepare their move to France. For Ma'a Nonu, this meant taking French lessons at the Alliance Française in Wellington.
Engineering
Airbus Group (Airbus, Airbus Helicopters, Airbus Defense & Space): a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services.
At Airbus Group, you must speak another language to be able to communicate with your colleagues.
Working with Airbus Group means that you will have the option of working in disciplines such as engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, human resources (HR), finance, Information Technology (IT) and communications.
Tourism Industry
Tourism for New Zealand is big business as the country’s second largest export sector.
It is a major contributor to the New Zealand economy that will always be here.
The Tourism Industry Association (TIA) is the lead association that represents the interests of about 1,500 tourism businesses in New Zealand.
The Tourism Export Council of New Zealand (TECNZ) is a trade association. Its focus is to build long term business
relationships with distribution networks in New Zealand and off.
Both TIA and TECNZ highlight the shortage of multiple language speakers across tourism and hospitality employers and stress it makes New-Zealand anti-competitive in the global visitor market place.
There is a crucial need to employ more multi language staff that have multi-lingual abilities, in particular Mandarin and European languages: Hospitality supervisors; Adventure/outdoor tour operators; Sales & marketing staff.
Full report for your parents to read.
Air NZ seeks to recruit Flight Attendants who master a second language and priority will be given to applicants who are fluent in Japanese, German, French and the languages of the South Pacific. Flight Attendants with language skills are tested, and placed on the appropriate routes.
When recruiting, Air New Zealand gives special attention to the cultural and language needs relating to the Airline's key markets.
There is a partnership between Air New Zealand and the two French companies Air Tahiti Nui and AirCalin.
Teaching
If you have any enquiries about the programme, click Embassy of France in Wellington.
If English language assistants choose to study at UNC, they will have access to the university’s facilities: university restaurant, library, computers. In certain cases, they are also eligible to receive assistance when looking for accommodation.
English Language Assistants teach 12 hours a week and earn about 2400 dollars a month.
Alongside their teaching work, English language assistants can enrol at the University of New Caledonia (UNC - Noumea), study papers and obtain credits (with the authorisation of the university they attend in New Zealand). Enrolment is free for students from UNC’s sister universities (the universities of Auckland and Waikato).
Media and Communications
If you want to embark on a career in media and communication, keep in mind that French has a role to play in global communication, thanks to international media channels TV5Monde (55 million weekly viewers), France 24 (45.4 million weekly viewers) and RFI (40.1 million listeners).
Film and Television
France is one of the most prolific producers of international films and the French Canadian film industry booms.
Knowing French will open the door to hundreds, sometimes thousands, of jobs associated with film-making. Once again, being bilingual and knowing French will be hugely beneficial and help you get more work.
Film friendly cities around the world.
Fashion
Kat Shallcross thinks her degree in French and Spanish helped her land the position of marketing administrator for New Look, checking stock levels in their European stores. "It would definitely have been difficult to have done the job without my language skills. To be able to speak in French rather than just English made everything more efficient." Her languages proved essential when she had to give a nerve-wracking but successful French presentation at a European team conference, and on visits to Paris and Belgium where "the store managers couldn't have explained everything in English that they explained to me in French".
Being multilingual can help you make the best of opportunities in the competitive fashion world. Although English remains the industry’s current lingua franca, the flexibility gained by learning another language can take your career to the top. As Jana puts it: “you can get by with English, but it’s more about the quality of communication. Fashion people are very irrational, emotional, neurotic people, and the safer they feel in your company, the further you’re going to get with them.”
In its latest report, they want to improve the British fashion industry’s world standing by focusing more on languages.
“Languages Are In Vogue In The Fashion Industry” The Guardian, 17 January 2014
Language study may not be à la mode, yet the British Fashion Council has highlighted the power of languages to extend the worldwide reach of UK-based designers and brands.
In this industry, the best place to start is with an internship, as it will provide you with practical experience. Paris is the French hub of fashion and home to a wealth of designers. It is also home to the world's leading fashion school - the Ecole de la chambre syndicale de la couture parisienne - and is a great place for classic fashion design internships. Speaking French could help you finding a paid internship, which is like finding a needle in a haystack.
Famous New Zealand fashion designers worked in Paris, before returning to New Zealand to launch their own line.
Information Technology related fields
Computer Graphics
Tertiary Education
The University of New Caledonia has a cooperation agreement with the University of Auckland, which includes provision for student exchanges, and also has research links with Massey University.
New Zealanders In France
Click here
Transferable skills
As you develop greater skills in French, you also sharpen your skills in English. Knowing French will improve your vocabulary in English. Some 40% to 50% of English vocabulary comes from French. The study of French will also enhance your grammar skills.
Learning a new language, like French, develops your critical and creative thinking skills. It will also increase your problem-solving skills and improve your memory, self-discipline, and self-esteem. Because progress is very easy to measure, you can quickly take pride in your new abilities.
Proficiency in French will significantly improve your chances of being accepted to universities and graduate schools.