Staff to contact: J Evans

Language learning helps learners develop intercultural communication skills and prepares students to participate fully in our increasingly globalized society.

Mercury Bay Area School runs a study trip to Japan every two years. Students learning Japanese at Years 11-13 are invited to apply to go on the Japan Study Trip.

Year 11 Japanese NCEA Level 1

In the NCEA Level 1 course, students will extend their Japanese reading, writing, listening and speaking skills and explore new language to communicate about themselves and their community. With a focus on both written and spoken communication in Japanese, learners will cover aspects of daily life such as family relationships, hobbies and sports, and travelling in Japan.

At Year 11, we focus on the internally assessed achievement standards, giving us more time for the learning. The course will cover up to 3 achievement standards (a total of 14 credits) towards Level 1 NCEA.

Prerequisite: Students should have previous Japanese language learning experience up to Year10 Japanese or equivalent. The ability to read and write hiragana and katakana are essential.

Recoveries: Approximately $35 to cover the cost of workbooks.

Year 12 Japanese NCEA Level 2

The NCEA Level 2 Japanese course aims to develop and extend communication skills and to further foster students’ intercultural understanding and awareness. Students will communicate information and justify ideas and opinions in a range of genuine contexts. The course will cover up to 5 achievement standards (3 internal for a total of 14 credits, and 2 external for a total of 10 credits). Students can gain up to 24 credits towards Level 2 NCEA.

Prerequisite: Students should have studied Japanese at Level 1 and be ready to work at Level 7 of the New Zealand Curriculum.

Recoveries: Approximately $35 to cover the cost of workbooks and Education Perfect.

Year 13 Japanese NCEA Level 3

In the NCEA Level 3 course, students will develop their ability to use the Japanese language as a communication tool to explore a range of perspectives and to justify varied ideas. The course will cover up to 5 achievement standards (3 internal for a total of 14 credits, and 2 external for a total of 10 credits). Students can gain up to 24 credits towards Level 3 NCEA.

Prerequisite: Students should have studied Japanese at Level 2 and be ready to work at Level 8 of the New Zealand Curriculum.

Recoveries: Approximately $40 to cover the cost of workbooks and Education Perfect.

Staff to contact: M Bennett

In 2019 we are planning to offer NCEA courses in Te Reo Mãori at Levels 1, 2,& 3. How the classes are organized will be subject to the numbers of students choosing this option.

Year 11 Te Reo Mãori NCEA Level 1

This course aims to build student skill in whakarongo, kõrero, pãnui, tuhitihi and waihanga tuhinga. There will be a strong focus on encouraging and supporting students to consistently achieve at merit and excellence levels. Students will learn about the value of not only learning a second language but the potential career opportunities and deeper multi-cultural understanding that come from learning Te Reo Mãori. Students will learn language skills to communicate feelings and opinions, habits and routines, comparing and contrasting, describing activities and events, giving and following instructions, problems and solutions, plans and intentions as well as communicating in formal situations

Prerequisite: Students will need previous learning experience in the first four curriculum levels to have the base language required to achieve NCEA Level 1. Students with no previous experience in the language are welcome and will need to work through the first four levels of the curriculum before entering for NCEA.

Recoveries: Students are expected to have $15 in the printing accounts to cover printing costs and to print assessment work. Also approximately $30 to cover travel to offsite locations. This may vary according to location and admission prices and/ or fees.

NCEA Literacy: Credits gained in Te Reo can be credited towards the Literacy requirements for Level 1 NCEA.

Year 12 Te Reo Mãori NCEA Level 2

In this course students will continue to build their skills in whakarongo, kõrero, pãnui, tuhitihi and waihanga tuhinga. There will be a strong focus on encouraging and supporting students to consistently achieve at merit and excellence levels. Students will learn about the value of not only learning a second language but the potential career opportunities and deeper multi-cultural understanding that come from learning Te Reo Mãori. Students will learn language skills to communicate about future plans, recounting and reading about actual or imagined events, giving and responding to warnings, suggestions, agreement, disagreement, information and opinions.

Prerequisite: NCEA Te Reo Mãori Level 1

Recoveries: Students are expected to have $15 in the printing accounts to cover printing costs and to print assessment work. Also approximately $30 to cover travel to offsite locations. This may vary according to location and admission prices and/or fees.

Year 13 Te Reo Mãori NCEA Level 3

In this course students will build skills in Te Reo that will enable them to go on to Waikato University Te Pihinga 1 &11, NCEA Te Reo Mãori Level 4 or NCEA Te Reo Rangatira Level 1. There will be a strong focus on encouraging and supporting students to consistently achieve at merit and excellence levels. Students will learn about the value of not only learning a second language but the potential career opportunities and deeper multi-cultural understanding that come from learning Te Reo Mãori. Students will learn language skillls to communicate about certainty and uncertainty, possibility and probability, presenting an argument with reasons, recounting a series of events to inform, persuade or entertain, responding to selected and adapted Mãori texts and to communicate the same information in different ways, in different contexts that relate to issues concerning Mãori language and culture.

Prerequisite: NCEA Te Reo Mãori Level 2

Recoveries: Students are expected to have $15 in the printing accounts to cover printing costs and to print assessment work. Also approximately $30 to cover travel to offsite locations. This may vary according to location and admission prices and/or fees.

Staff to contact: M Bennett

In 2019 we are planning to offer an NCEA course in Te Ao Mãori for Years 11, 12 & 13. Course content and assessment opportunities will be confirmed in consultation with students at the beginning of the year to meet the needs and interests of the individuals. This is a multi-level course all taught in the one class and students will advance through the different levels depending on competence and ability.

Te Ao Mãori NCEA Level 1

This course aims to build student knowledge in Tikanga Mãori (customs & protocols), karakia, history, traditional technology, recreation, arts, craft and cultural performance. While it is expected students will learn some Mãori language pertinent to each learning topic, Mãori language is not the focus. Delivery of lessons will be in English as will research for assignments. This course also has practical based skills and projects. This Level 1 NCEA course is designed for students who have no prior knowledge of the Mãori World while also catering for students wishing to further their knowledge of Te Ao Mãori. This program will be supported by internally assessed unit standard based assessments for those wishing to gain credits at NCEA level.

Possible Learning Topics: Everyday customs & protocol; Marae protocols; Mãori & Aotearoa focused history; Traditional pastimes & games; Basic Flax weaving; Cultural Songs & dance; Canoe paddling.

Prerequisite: Prior knowledge is helpful but not essential to be successful at NCEA Level 1.

Recoveries: There may be charges to cover travel to offsite locations the cost may vary according to location and admission prices and/or fees but this is not a compulsory fee. There may also be costs for materials depending on projects and availability of resources. Mãori Cultural Knowledge gained in this course is a requirement for most Government Institutions (police, teaching, nursing, etc.) and an advantage in any field of employment, from tourism to corporate business.

Te Ao Mãori NCEA Level 2

This course aims to continue building student knowledge learnt from Te Ao Mãori Level 1 in Tikanga Mãori (customs & protocols), karakia, history, traditional technology, recreation, arts, craft and cultural performance. While it is expected students will learn some Mãori language pertinent to each learning topic, Mãori language is not the focus. Delivery of lessons will be in English as will research for assignments. This course also has practical based skills and projects. This Level 2 NCEA course is designed for students wishing to further their knowledge of Te Ao Mãori. This program will be supported by internally assessed unit standard based assessments for those wishing to gain credits at NCEA level 2.

Possible Learning Topics: Everyday customs & protocol; Marae põwhiri; Mãori & Aotearoa focused history; Traditional pastimes & games; Intermediate Flax weaving; kapa haka; Canoe paddling.

Prerequisite: Completion of the NCEA Level 1 Te Ao Mãori course. Students may enter at this level depending on competence and ability.

Recoveries: There may be charges to cover travel to offsite locations the cost may vary according to location and admission prices and/or fees but this is not compulsory fee. There may also be costs for materials depending on projects and availability of resources.

Mãori Cultural Knowledge gained in this course is a requirement for most Government Institutions (police, teaching, nursing, etc.) and an advantage in any field of employment, from tourism to corporate business.

Te Ao Mãori NCEA Level 3

This course aims to continue building student knowledge learnt from Te Ao Mãori Level 2 in Tikanga Mãori (customs & protocols), karakia, history, traditional technology, recreation, arts, craft and cultural performance. While it is expected students will learn some Mãori language pertinent to each learning topic, Mãori language is not the focus. Delivery of lessons will be in English as will research for assignments. This course also has practical based skills and projects. This Level 3 NCEA course is designed for students wishing to advance their knowledge of Te Ao Mãori. This program will be supported by internally assessed Unit Standard based assessments for those wishing to gain credits at NCEA level 3.

Possible Learning Topics: Tikanga Mãori; Marae põwhiri; Mãori & Aotearoa focused history; Traditional pastimes & games; Advanced Flax weaving; Advanced kapa haka; Advanced Canoe paddling & steering.

Prerequisite: Completion of the NCEA Level 2 Te Ao Mãori course. Students may enter at this level depending on competence and ability.

Recoveries: There may be charges to cover travel to offsite locations the cost may vary according to location and admission prices and/or fees but this is not compulsory fee. There may also be costs for materials depending on projects and availability of resources.

Mãori Cultural Knowledge gained in this course is a requirement for most Government Institutions (police, teaching, nursing, etc.) and an advantage in any field of employment, from tourism to corporate business. Further study in Mãori Arts, Craft, Mãori Performing Arts, Waka Ama and Mãori Tourism to name a few are all possible at higher levels.

Staff to contact: M Smith

For students with prior knowledge of other languages who wish to continue their studies, distance learning options can be considered. Students should consult their dean and/or Mr Smith (DP - Senior Years) in Term 4 if they are interested in completing a distance course.

Staff to contact: J Evans

Year 11, 12 & 13 English Language NCEA Level 2 & 3

The English Language course is a language learning programme that caters for students from Years 11-13 whose first language is NOT English and who are building language skills to support their achievement in a mainstream English-based NCEA curriculum.

This course covers a range of basic skills including reading, viewing, speaking, presenting and writing. Learning prepares students for NCEA EL unit standards in spoken and written English language. Between 10 and 20 EL unit standard credits are available for students at Levels 1, 2 and 3 depending on students’ prior learning and skill levels.

Recoveries: Students are expected to have $10 in their printing accounts to cover printing costs. Also approximately $40 to cover the cost of their workbooks