Language Immersion Awards - FAQ

Up to 15 fully funded semester (5-6 months) Language Immersion Awards are available for travel in 2013.

You must be studying one or more of the following languages currently taught from years 7-13.


You must be in Year 11 or 12 this year to apply.

Here are some frequently asked questions on the Ministry of Education Language Immersion Awards for students.




What are these awards all about?

The LIAs are funded through the New Zealand Government’s Growth and Innovation Framework. This framework supports the development of language skills considered necessary for New Zealand to move toward a globally-connected knowledge economy. They also support the Government’s economic, social and cultural goals.


What will I be doing during the semester?

You will develop written and oral fluency in your studied language and learn more about your host country and its culture(s). You will also become competent in intercultural communication as you will be interacting daily with people from other cultures. This will help you to develop a greater international awareness and put yourself into the shoes of someone from another culture.


Who is eligible for these awards?

To be eligible for an LIA you must:

What criteria do I have to meet to apply?

You will be selected for a LIA on the following:



When does the programme take place?

The semester is in either of two cycles: beginning of year (generally February-March) or mid year (generally July-August). The actual timing of the exchange will depend on the host country destination and the nature of its school year.




What will happen once I am there?

While on the LIA programme you will attend school and become a part of your “new” culture by living with a local family and developing an insight into their way of life. This will help you develop a deeper knowledge and respect for cultural differences. You will also participate in and/or experience social and cultural events and share something about NZ culture with your host family, school/s and community.


Are the LIAs free?

Costs of the programme, including travel, insurance and visas are met by AFS although selected participants will be responsible for their personal spending money.


What will I be expected to do while in my host country?

You will live with a host family and abide by the AFS behavioural rules. You are also expected to participate in all orientation processes offered by AFS and be part of the local chapter of AFS.  You must provide written reports to AFS New Zealand and the Ministry of Education during the experience and upon return as required. After the programme is over you will complete a series of evaluation reports and continue the experience by sharing your knowledge and skills within your school in New Zealand.


How do I apply for an LIA?

For further information and/or questions email prue.elwood@afs.org

Or if you are ready to begin go direct to Apply Now and select Language Immersion Award Student and begin the on-line application process, follow the instructions given carefully and submit your full application by Monday 21 May 2012.

Instructions on Application (full instructions available in the application)

Submitting your application is not acceptance onto the programme, once submitted, you will receive a letter within 4 weeks of closing advising if shortlisted.  If shortlisted you will attend an AFS Intercultural Programmes Selection Day locally.  The selection panel will meet again around 6 weeks after that and you will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible. 
 
Remember to put the language you are applying for the Award under.
 
Language Immersion Awards are based on language NOT country placement, do not complete country choice in "Placement Details”. If selected note country placements are made by AFS based on the language you applied under.
 
Your application must include a PERSONAL STATEMENT answering the following, as you do not need to complete a letter to a host family at this time you can load your Personal Statement into that section of the application.
 
Personal Statement must include the following:

Documents needed for your application are:
 
If also applying for an AFS programme, submitting an application for the AFS programme is NOT an application for the LIA Awards, they are two separate applications. 
 
Prue Elwood, Project Coordinator on 04 903 2275
Email prue.elwood@afs.org

Testimonials

Kate Gerken 2008
I'm currently in my fourth and final year of a degree in physiotherapy. This year is all placement-based - so I am out gaining experience in hospitals and clinics in all the different areas of physiotherapy. I even have my own patients! In regards to the intercultural aspect, I had a German patient in my first placement of the year which meant that we were able to converse a bit in German. This really helped me to gain rapport with this particular patient. I feel my experience overseas has also broadened my mind to other cultures and I often find myself asking foreigners questions about their background etc. This also helps to build up trust between myself and patients who are not originally from NZ because they appreciate my interest in their culture.  I plan to return to Austria as soon as I can.
Emma Thomson 2009
I went to Austria for a semester in 2009, and when I returned I started my BA/LLB conjoint degree at the University of Auckland. I am now in my third year, and my Arts major is German. This is a direct result of my LIA experience, and because of my time in Austria, I have since been back to visit my host family. I also was lucky to get a place on a three week course studying the EU in Germany last year, so my knowledge of European politics and cultural interaction is continuing to grow. I am also now connected with many foreign students in Auckland, and have become the unofficial “Europe expert” among my friends (whenever anyone is planning a trip, they consult me first and I often plan parts of it for them!). I plan on going back to Germany next January for a summer semester intensive language course, and maybe later on in my degree doing a university exchange. German culture and language is now a very important part of me, and something I will remain connected to for the rest of my life.
Lydia Mills 2008
Voila!
I was lucky enough to live in the Loire Valley, France with my LIA for the first half of 2008. As of January this year, I am finally back in France to complete my honours year as part of my BA in French. Living in Paris as a student is an amazing experience. I have the opportunity to travel, live with thousands of international students (literally, the accommodation campus has over 10,000 people!), explore Paris without feeling like a tourist, and use the language and culture skills that I gained during my first exchange and then honed in my degree. Having regular visits to see my host family is also a special part of my time here. As I experience the same transition from winter into spring four years down the track, I am reminded of how far I have come! 
Roseanne Edwards 2008
At the moment I am in my fourth and final year of a double degree in Law and Social Sciences majoring in Psychology at the University of Waikato. I feel the LIA experience has really enhanced my life and my Spanish skills acquired from living in Chile for 6 months have guided a lot of my life decisions, for example next year I am planning on moving the United States to work with Hispanic refugees, so the Spanish will really come in handy. My sister recently married a Peruvian too so my extended family is now Spanish speaking and it's great being the family translator! 
Zoe Reason 2008
I'm studying at UC towards my BA in French with a minor in European Union Studies. I aspire to become an interpreter/translator after study (I may need to do honours or masters before that could be possible but I'll finish my BA before I make any decisions about that!) I'm keeping up my French with French-speaking Kiwi friends and French people I know ... I realise when I go back to France it will still be a big readjustment to using it every day, I know I still have a lot to learn. I'm currently completing an application to study at the University of Lyon 2 where I hope to do an exchange in Semester 2 to complete my degree and study interpreting & translation.
I think in terms of cultural understanding, since I got back from my LIA exchange at the beginning of 2009 I have just been a lot more open and interested in foreigners I've met in NZ and am more understanding, for example with AFSers on exchange in NZ I can relate to what they're going through and can explain things they find strange/difficult about NZ. I've become more interested in other cultures in general, and am also taking German at uni because after learning French I thought why not learn a few more languages!? I'll take it one at a time though and as I said I feel I still need to brush up on my French first anyway.