Due to the ongoing effects of the cyclone, the university, including ELA, will remain in online delivery mode until Monday 20th. Our students will continue their learning online from the safety of their homes. 

Students: Please join your lessons online via Zoom and Canvas.

Due to the incoming cyclone, the university, including ELA, has moved to online delivery for Monday 13th and Tuesday 14th. 

Communications have been sent to all affected students. 

We plan on reopening for face-to-face teaching, learning and testing on Wednesday 15th.

Kia ora, this afternoon the Ministry of Education has told all educational institutes in Auckland, including ELA, that we must close for face-to-face lessons until Tuesday 7th. This is to allow for repairs of essential services after Friday's floods.

This means that ELA classes will be online from Tuesday 31st to Friday 3rd (Monday 6th is a public holiday).

Our students should stay home and join their lessons online during this time. 

Instructions and information regarding online lessons will be emailed to our students before the start of their lessons. 

Dear IELTS and PTE candidates:

Due to the current State of Emergency, both Pearson and IELTS tests scheduled for Saturday (28th) and Sunday (29th) have been cancelled. 

For assistance with PTE bookings, please contact 050 830 6723 on about rescheduling.

ELA is currently closed for the Christmas and New Year holidays from 24th Dec 2022. We will reopen on Monday, January 9th. Please check our website for the information you need.

入学条件：

• 已持有奥克兰大学有效的本科课程有条件录取通知书

• 英语满足以下课程录取要求：

1. English Pathway for Undergraduate Studies (EPUS)

入学条件：

• 已持有奥克兰大学有效的硕士博士课程有条件

Students come to ELA from many backgrounds, with each and every one of them on their own unique journey.

Recently we have been asking our students to share their stories and we are delighted to be able to capture these in video format.

From a Mexican horticultural industrialist through to a Chinese accounting manager, you are sure to be inspired by their stories.

Update: 17 March 2022

Daylight saving time ends on Sunday, the 3rd of April in New Zealand. This means that New Zealand will turn its clocks back by one hour.

At the ELA, classes will still start at 1pm NZ Time, however, this means that for our overseas students, class times may start and finish an hour later.

For more details on Daylight Saving, click HERE.

Update: 01 February 2022

Congratulations to all graduates of our English for Engineering course!

Update: 25 January 2022

Auckland is currently at Red in the COVID Protection Framework.

Our reception team is working remotely. To speak with a team member call 09 919 7695 or email ela@auckland.ac.nz. Please note reception hours are 8.30 am - 4.30 pm (Monday to Friday).

Our Exam Centre (IELTS and Pearson) is offering exams under the current Protection Framework.

Information on IELTS testing at the ELA can be found here.

Update: 24 January 2022

Congratulations to all graduates of EAP Block 5 2021!

On Friday the 21st of January 2022 we celebrated Block 5 Academic English and Pathways graduation. The ceremony was held virtually over Zoom, as Auckland was under the Orange traffic light due to the COVID-19. However, we still had about 60 overseas and onshore students joining the event.

Update: 10 January 2022

We are happy to share good news from our Exam Centre. Under the Orange setting of the Protection Framework, we can restart offering exams onsite at the ELA.

From Saturday 15th January 2022 we will again be running PTE and IELTS tests. In line with the University of Auckland's policies, all candidates must be vaccinated or exempt, use the COVID Tracer App when on campus, and follow infection control and health measures in place to keep everybody safe.

The ELA will be closed from 24th December 2021 and reopen on 10th January 2022.

Enrolments received during this time will be processed in the week of 10th January.

Our pastoral care and emergency services will continue to be available for our students during the holiday period.

Wishing you a peaceful end to 2021 and prosperity in 2022.

Yesterday the NZ government has announced a staged reopening of our borders next year. This is very welcome news. Fully vaccinated individuals will be able to travel to NZ from 30 April 2022, possibly staged by visa category and with certain requirements.

Congratulations to all graduates of EAP Block 4 2021! On Friday the 19th of November we celebrated Block 4 Academic English and Pathways graduation. As Auckland was still at Level 3 lockdown due to the COVID-19, this graduation ceremony was held virtually over Zoom. However, we still had almost 100 overseas and onshore students joining the event.

The Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA) is the most widely recognised qualification for those entering the field of teaching English as a foreign language. Focusing on developing practical teaching techniques, it provides you with the skills needed to begin a career teaching English as a foreign language and makes finding work in a language school easier.

Our 100% online CELTA course begins in January, allowing you to study from anywhere under the guidance of our experienced tutors and gain your internationally-recognised CELTA qualification over 5 weeks.

Update: 21 September 2021

As of 11:59 pm, Tuesday 21st September 2021, Auckland will move to Alert Level 3. 

The ELA, including the Examination Centre, is still closed.

For more information on Alert Level 3 and the latest announcement, including places of interest, please check the COVID-19 website.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at ela@auckland.ac.nz

Daylight saving starts on this Sunday, the 26th of September in New Zealand. This means that New Zealand will turn its clocks forward by one hour. At the ELA, classes will still start at 1pm NZ Time, however, this means that for our overseas students, class times may start and finish an hour earlier.

Congratulations to all graduates of EAP Block 3 2021!

On Friday the 18th of June we celebrated Block 2 Academic English and Pathways graduation!

It was a hybrid graduation with almost 100 overseas students joining virtually over Zoom, and the remaining onshore students attending in person.

We were even joined by a guest of honour - Vivien Li. Vivien completed her FCertEAP at the ELA in 2019 and has just graduated from the University of Auckland with a Master of Management. She gave an inspiring and motivating talk about her time at the ELA and how it helped her to progress into the University of Auckland and prepare her for her studies there. 

What: A week of webinars, expos, panel discussions, and more.

When: 17th - 21st of May

Where: Online 

Are you looking to further your studies?

Explore your postgraduate options and meet the Unversity of Auckland's talented academics and staff with a week of webinars, expos, panel discussions, and info evenings.

A big thank you to the International Managers, the Study Abroad Manager, and the Admissions Team who joined us from the University of Auckland at the ELA last week for an afternoon tea. This was a time to reflect on the past 12 months and discuss share projects and future opportunities. It was great to catch up with everyone, see how they have been, and touch base. With some new staff both at the ELA and the University of Auckland, it was also a chance for introductions and putting faces to names.

April is the middle month of autumn in New Zealand. The days become shorter: the sun rises later in the morning and sets earlier in the evening.

To make the best use of daylight, New Zealand (and some other countries) has a system called "daylight savings".

This means that everybody in New Zealand changes their clocks twice a year - forward by one hour in spring, and back by one hour in autumn.

At 3.00 am on Sunday, April the 4th New Zealand will change its clocks back by one hour.

ELA classes will continue to starts at 1.00 pm and finish at 5.15 pm NZT.

Update: 12 March 2021

As of midday, Friday the 12th of March, Auckland is at Alert Level 1.

This is great news and means that from Monday the 15th of March, all students, test-takers, and staff can return to the school as normal.

Update: 5 March 2021 

From Sunday the 7th of March Auckland will join the rest of New Zealand in Alert Level 2. This is great news, however, under level 2 there is still a risk of community transmission. For this reason, all lessons will continue to be taught online.

From Monday the 8th of March our exams centre will reopen to registered candidates ONLY. 

This will be for the duration of next week (8th - 12th March) at least. We will continue to provide updates as we receive them.

Update: 28 February 2021

As of 6am, Sunday 28th February, Auckland is at Alert Level 3 for a period of 7 days. 

The ELA, including the Examination Centre, is closed.

For more information on Alert Level 3 and the latest announcement, including places of interest, please check the COVID-19 website.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at ela@auckland.ac.nz

Update: 22 February 2021

From 11:59 pm Monday the 22nd February Auckland will move to Alert Level 1. 

This is great news and means all students and staff can return to the school as normal from Tuesday the 23rd of February. 

Please continue to use the NZ Covid Tracer app, and follow the Government's guidelines for Alert Level 1. 

Update: 18 February 2021

From 11:59 pm on Wednesday 17 February, Auckland will move to Alert Level 2 and the rest of New Zealand will move to Alert Level 1.

This is good news, and it means those in Auckland can return to work and to school.

Information for students:

While Auckland remains in level 2, the ELA will continue to deliver all of our lessons online only. This is to minimise disruption to our students and teachers. Please do not come into the building unless you have prior permission from the school to do so.

Information for exam candidates (IELTS and PTE):

Update:  13 November 2020

The Ministry of Health has provided a further update in regard to the Auckland CBD community case which was confirmed on the 12th November. The source of this case has now been identified and can be genomically linked to the Defence worker who was infected at a quarantine hotel.

This means that Auckland remains at Alert Level 1 and as of Saturday 14th November, the Auckland CBD can reopen. 

Update:  12 November 2020

The Ministry of Health has provided an update on COVID-19 after a community case was confirmed in Auckland. 
As a precaution those who work in the Auckland CBD have been advised to work from home today, Friday the 13th November, where possible. If you must go into this area wear a face covering and practice social distancing. This advice will remain while health authorities continue to work to trace the source of this infection.

Update:  13 October 2020

New Zealand is now back at Alert Level 1 which means the ELA is fully operational and staff and students can return to the building.
Border restrictions remain in place, and we will continue to provide online lessons and support our students overseas as we have done throughout the year.

Please note the following guidelines from the University of Auckland, which we need to follow:

After working in the travel industry for several years, Will decided on a career change in which he "could really be passionate for – English language teaching”. He took our 4 week CELTA course in order to get qualified and embark on his next professional chapter. Next intake for CELTA starts 16 Nov - apply now for your early bird discount. 

It was a delight to have Xio come back to our IELTS test centre after graduating many years ago as a General English student. Many congratulations again on achieving a 6.5 towards your New Zealand residency application!

“[Speaking] English is an essential skill and I think New Zealand is an optimal place to knuckle down and study hard. I felt [learning] English has broadened my world.” Noa was part of our Kansai group programme and undertook 10 weeks of Academic English at the ELA before progressing to a semester of Theology and New Zealand History studies at the University of Auckland. 

Always heartwarming to see past ELA alumni students back at the ELA -  as part of Yi’s professional development as a Data Analyst at Mainfreight, she came back to our Test Centre and undertook the “Certified Supply Chain Professional” exam under Pearson Vue. Well done again on your successful results! 

Osama studied General English in preparation for his teaching curriculum with the University of Auckland. Follow him and his classmates as he enjoys Auckland life outside of the classroom.

This video is part of our "Day in the life of an ELA student" vlog series. 

Felicia studied our University English Pathway Programme and gained direct entry into the Bachelor of Arts programme at the University of Auckland. While studying at the ELA, she stayed with a kiwi host family. Follow her as she introduces you to her home and time there. 

This video is part of our "Day in the life of an ELA student" vlog series. 

With a background in Human Resources, Maria Fernanda traveled from Colombia to study General English and TESOL (TKT) at the ELA. Follow her around the ELA campus as she takes you through a day of classes and study.

This video is part of our "Day in the life of an ELA student" vlog series. 

The classroom has changed drastically for many institutions in the past few months, including the way test takers have prepared for their IELTS exam. We're glad to have provided an innovative study alternative during the period in which test centres are closed through SmartLearn Live.

Update: 14 August 2020 

The Prime Minister confirmed on Friday 14 August that Auckland will remain at Alert Level 3 for an additional 12 days, until 11.59pm on Wednesday 26 August. This will be reviewed next Friday, 21 August. The rest of the country stays at Alert Level 2 for the same period. This means the ELA will remain in remote teaching mode until at least Thursday 27 August, unless the review next Friday justifies a change. Exam candidates will be rescheduled to an alternative date/time.

Academic English & Pathway programmes are continuing online at every New Zealand Government COVID-19 alert level. In this video, Luke, ELA Tutor, gives 3 valuable tips to make sure you make the most of your online English experience. We are all in this together. 

Update: 12 August 2020 

New Zealand's Alert levels will change today at 12 noon on Wednesday 12 August. Auckland region will move to Alert Level 3 at 12 noon on Wednesday 12 August 2020. It will remain at Alert Level 3 for at least 3 days.

The ELA will be closed during Alert Level 3 and all teaching will be online. Exam candidates will be rescheduled to an alternative date/time.

The ELA will now be accepting PTE Academic and TOEFL iBT results for entry to our English Pathway for Undergraduate Studies (EPUS) and English Pathway for Postgraduate Studies (EPPS). 

Please see below for respective minimum entry criteria for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

The ELA will be offering a demonstration lesson in online Academic English and University Pathway programmes on 19th and 26th August 2020. Students who are interested in improving their language skills for academic purposes will benefit from experiencing an authentic and interactive lesson with a real ELA tutor and fellow peers.

Most of our students love visiting the Study Centre, where you can borrow books and listen to audio books. With that not being a possibility for our online students and many students still wanting to improve their reading, writing and listening skills, we’d put together a list of resources for you to continue your English language education in remote learning. 

1. Read eBooks.

Kanta studied our EPUS programme online which focused on preparing his Academic English language skills for a semester at the University of Auckland. He says despite Covid-19 his experiences living and studying online in New Zealand through lockdown was meaningful, and looks forward to working towards his careers goals of being a Japanese to English interpreter in the future here. 

The ELA and Ivyway, a school in Thailand, have been collaborating on preparing IELTS test-takers through the new SmartLearn Practice platform. Here Pluck (Ivyway Managing Director) shares his thoughts on its benefits: 

Checking in with one of our General English students, Mizuki (Japan) and how they got on with our online course:

Jenny completed our CELTA course at the beginning of the year, from which she traveled from Guangzhou in China to attend. As a private English language tutor back home, she says the CELTA course helped her move past traditional methodologies, and gain more modern and communicative language teaching skills. Congratulations on your qualification once again Jenny! Next intake starts 4 July 2020 - 10 September 2020 (Part time). To apply, see HERE.

New intake dates have been added to our FCertEAP and EPPS programme calendar for students who wish to progress into a Business Masters programme at the University of Auckland in Quarter 2 (29 March) 2021. The new dates are as below:

FCertEAP
2 October 2020 – 12 March 2021 (20 weeks). Please note there is a 2 week break over the Christmas and New Year period from 19 December 2021 to 4 January 2021.

EPPS
5 January – 12 March 2021 (10 weeks)

"With all the events related to COVID-19, I am still not very clear about what to do in the future, but without a doubt, I can say that the new skills I learned at the ELA will help me to continue growing academically and professionally."

In a time of uncertainty, it's positive to hear we can continue supporting your study goals. Thank you Santiago for sharing how you got on with your online General English course since New Zealand's lockdown situation. Take care and stay safe! #ELABubble 

To continue supporting our future students with their academic plans, the ELA will now accept IELTS Indicator results in alignment with the University of Auckland. Offshore students can provide this upon enrolment as proof of meeting entry requirements into our courses during 2020-2021 until further notice, subject to availability in their home country. 

Meet our student ambassadors! They're here to help you settle into your new study life at the ELA, especially now in fast changing times, and will be sharing about some exciting student activities and experiences in the next few weeks! #ELAStudentAmbassadors

​

Hello everyone! I’m Eden from China and I’m an ELA Student Ambassador. Currently, I’m studying in the Foundation Certificate in EAP (FCertEAP) course for 20 weeks as an English pathway to university studies. I’m also currently living with a Kiwi family in homestay here in New Zealand. 

Learning English online comes with many great benefits. Listen to Peter as he shares how you can still gain the English skills you need to progress into a New Zealand university with one of our online University English Pathway programmes.

The ELA is delighted to announce our Testing Centre will re-open for IELTS and PTE Academic testing from Friday 15th May 2020. 

An update from the Director on how the ELA is progressing and our plans looking ahead. Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions or concerns.

We appreciate the ongoing support everyone has shown the ELA and each other during the past few weeks. Here's a special message from everyone at the ELA to our students, candidates, agents, partner universities and homestay host families who have been impacted & can't be with us right now in New Zealand. Kia Kaha World.

The ELA is still operating during this period and will be delivering our classes online until the end of 2020, as well as re-opening for face-to-face teaching once permitted by government protocol. Our passionate and experienced teaching and student services teams have been set up to work from home to support students and partner universities with online study using a range of platforms and tools.

The English Language Academy (ELA) is pleased to announce the expansion of our top quality and affordable online test preparation options for students in a new partnership with E2 Language. 

E2 Language is a Melbourne based software development company that specialises in English language technology and is partnered with global English testing centres and top-ranking universities. 

We checked in to see what lockdown life has been like for the Breetvelt family who is currently hosting FCertEAP student, Eden. 

Update: 20 April 2020 

As a teacher I’ve never had to work like this, all online. Growing up I’d always heard about kids that had to study online when they lived far away from towns and cities, but that was never my life. Changing to an all online teaching system has been very interesting. I think that there are many positives such as no commute, but there have also been some negatives such as less time with friends and co-workers. One of the best things about moving to an English-speaking country is that you have to speak English when you buy a coffee or go shopping.

Update: 14 April 2020

From the Director of the University of Auckland’s English Language Academy:

With the long weekend coming up, enjoy these ideas on how to learn about New Zealand culture all from the comfort of your home. 

1.    Watch a movie produced by Kiwi directors
New Zealand might not have the same box office blockbusters that the US has but there are still some great films for you to check out (and continue to improve your English)! 

We recommend “Hunt for the Wilderpeople”, “Boy”, “Whale Rider” and “Sione’s Wedding”. 

Maria Fernanda, (Mafe), is currently studying our English for Teaching (TESOL) course and shares with us how her first week of online learning has been during lockdown. She gives 4 tips that have helped her to stay connected and keep a positive well-being during isolation. 

Update: 19 March 2020

From the Director of the University of Auckland’s English Language Academy:

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation develops in New Zealand, I wanted to personally to update you on what we are doing to protect the well-being of our students, partners, staff and colleagues.

Congratulations to our Business English graduates who completed their course today. Well done on your hard work and enthusiasm in improving your professional communication skills over the past 4 weeks. We wish you all the best for what is ahead. 

​

Today, I want to share my memories from Wellington. Wellington is the capital of New Zealand. I went there to compete in the National Cross Country Championships. Before going there, I heard that Wellington is compact and tidy but windy. Indeed, Wellington is known as a Windy City which reflects the rugby union team name based in Wellington - Hurricanes. However, there was no wind! Once you walk by the sea, you can feel relaxed and filled because its atmosphere is quite different from Auckland. Of course, there are a lot of government offices and ancient buildings.

Applications for the University of Auckland's International Student Excellence Scholarship open today and closes on the 20th April. Congratulations to former pathway student, Kang, who was awarded $10,000 towards his postgraduate studies in Media, Film and Television. To apply, go to https://bit.ly/39o5lK1 Read about Kang's experience and tips below:

Alongside studying English at the ELA, Pattadon was able to partake in different activities to experience New Zealand life and culture, including skydiving. Hear about his time with us in the video.

The ELA is pleased to announce a new partnership with Flywire to enhance the security and efficiency of international tuition fee payments for our English language courses. 

After returning home from Spain as an English language teaching assistant, Rey decided he wanted to obtain a CELTA qualification to become professionally certified and open up more career opportunities in Europe. From input sessions to migrant learning awareness, he shares how his experience with the 4 week teacher training course went. 

We wish you all the best on your teaching endeavours as you return back in Europe and further your career and experiences. 

View here for our next CELTA intake date starting 2 June 2020 - 26 June 2020 (Full time). 

Update: Thursday 30 January 2020

Confirmed cases of the virus have now been identified in China, Australia, USA, Canada, France, Germany and ten other countries.

No cases of the virus have yet been identified in New Zealand, however the Ministry of Health advises that the likelihood of that happening is “high” due to the rapid spread of the virus to other countries. It added that the likelihood of a sustained community outbreak of the disease in New Zealand “remains low”, due to this country’s readiness to deal with it.

A delight to hear about Yi's study journey as she touches on her English pathway (EPPS) and homestay family experiences. After progressing to postgraduate studies at The University of Auckland, she went on to secure a role with Mainfreight as a Data Analyst in the global logistics supply chain industry. 

Thank you for letting us visit for the day and for inviting us to hear about your career development success post ELA. 

Congratulations to Manju Bhaskar for receiving the ELA “Outstanding Language Educator” (OLE) award. 

The award acknowledges the excellent contributions to teaching a tutor makes at the ELA. The recipient is selected from nominations by the academic team, making it an award for tutors by tutors. 

Manju received the OLE award for the Summer School period for her teaching excellence, and for her support and guidance to students. This was evident in student outcomes as a result of her direct involvement. 

Excellent to be working closely with education partners on English language testing in the Pacific Islands. Pictured below Hannah, ELA Examinations Manager and Seilosehina, Deputy CEO of Education and Training (Tonga) from the Ministry of Education.

Alejandra comes from a background in marketing and sales from Bolivia and took the Business English elective to further develop her career. Thank you for sharing how you found your course, and we wish you all the best as you return to your home country. 

Intakes for the Business English course starts 17 February – 13 March 2020 & 20 July – 14 August 2020. More information here. 

"I’m so fortunate to be part of the ELA family. Our graduation marks the end of one journey and the start of another."

Congratulations to all our University Pathway and Academic English students who successfully completed Summer School today. An impressive achievement to learn 10 weeks worth of English language studies in 7 weeks - well done and best wishes for the future!

More information on our pathway programmes here. 

Paula recently compelted General English with the ELA followed by the 4 week English For Teaching (TESOL) course. We caught up with her to find out how she found putting her English into practice by giving teaching a go. 

Many congratulations to our tutor Ahmed for successfully receiving a PhD qualification in Applied Linguistics from the School of Language and Culture at AUT last month.

Such great news to hear former ELA student, Xio, not only achieve a successful IELTS score for her New Zealand residency but to have also secured a position with Stellar Projects.

Xio started with General English, and later studied Business English where she gained the professional communication skills needed for her current role as a project administrator.

If you're interested in the same Business English course, next intake starts 17 February – 13 March 2020. More information here https://bit.ly/36ChbPa

Well done to our CELTA graduates who have successfully finished today - the biggest intake we've ever had on the course! Pictured below celebrating with their students. All the best on the next chapter ahead.

Thank you Faisal and Meshari for visiting us as you graduate your marketing and engineering programmes this week from AUT and Massey University! What a successful journey since your start in 2014 at the ELA, having completed General English and then Academic English. 

Congratulations on both securing impressive positions overseas and all the best as you now embark on your new careers.

"Our world now is much more connected than it has ever been before. We now have more opportunities to work and do business almost everywhere, and so really effective communication has never been more important". Richelle speaks on what practical and transferable skills you can gain from our brand new Business English course offered in 2020.

First intake starts 17 February – 13 March 2020. More info here https://bit.ly/2rv6Zsd

Congratulations to all graduates of EAP Block 4 2019 - you should all be very proud of your success as we celebrated your achievements last Friday. Incase you missed it, catch our ceremony highlights below! 

2020 university pathways here: https://bit.ly/2OEF3tU

Thank you to Auckland Art Gallery for collaborating with the ELA in our student volunteering programme. What a valuable opportunity for our students to utilise their English skills in a real world and local hot-spot. Hear more about the experiences captured on-site. 

To work towards an English teaching career in Auckland, Yi Fan chose to study our practical TESOL (TKT) course. She says "You will find the course really worth-while. How to organise a class, the activities you can use, what teachers should and shouldn’t do and how to organise student dynamics - This course will teach you everything you want to know."

Same career goals? Find out how you get the same teaching qualification here: https://bit.ly/36Xxuqj

Check out the vlog below by Towa on things to do after your ELA classes. For other ideas on exploring Auckland with your classmates, including weekly social activities arranged by the ELA, click here! 

Shuhei, who studied at the ELA in 2017, was selected to represent New Zealand’s international alumni in Japan at a special pop-up education event hosted by Education New Zealand in September. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, along with former All Blacks Richie McCaw, also attended the event in Tokyo to meet and engage with former alumni of New Zealand education institutions. 

Introducing Sai from Thailand, she completed our FCertEAP university pathway programme and is now studying towards a Masters in TESOL at the University of Auckland.

She says "Even though I graduated from ELA and I came to University of Auckland, we still have a connection and we hang out a lot. So I feel like student life at the university is really enjoyable."

Hear more about her postgraduate life after ELA in the video below! More information about the 20 week FCertEAP programme here: www.ela.auckland.ac.nz/fcerteap

Congratulations to designer Dario, from Peru, who has recently completed our 4 week TESOL and TKT exam preparation course, in which he learnt about different English Language techniques, lesson planning and tailored learning approaches.

He also says, "My favorite part of the course was the teacher, who was very professional, very smart and charismatic. She’s very dedicated to the class and you can clearly that she is very passionate about it."

A globally recognised TKT certification enables you to travel and teach English, and develop your language teaching career.

We caught up with FCertEAP graduate and scholarship recipient, Eric, who is now enjoying his Masters programme in Food Processing Engineering at the University of Auckland.

Eric shared some valuable advice on how to succeed in the pathway programme and what he thinks is the MOST important thing when applying for the University of Auckland International Student Excellence Scholarship. There are 50 to be won each year!

1. Mt Eden 

This is my favourite place. Mt Eden is located about 3 km away from ELA. You can go there either by bus or on foot. It has two distinct views depending on what time of the day you visit. During the day-time, you can enjoy the city landscape and spotting islands in the distance such as Waiheke Island. During the evening, you an enjoy watching the night lights. There is also an ice-cream shop not too far from the summit called “Casa Del Gelato”, which serves very fresh and delicious desserts.

2. Auckland Domain 

How well do you know local Kiwi sayings? Test yourself with the below video hosted by ELA examinations team.

Hear what life was like for Japanese student, Towa, and what he got up to in New Zealand in the 6 months he studied English with us in our Thursday entries. 

Well done everyone on the completion of your CELTA course! Wishing everyone all the best in their English language teaching careers. Thanks Chris also for sharing your awesome feedback - much appreciated:🎉

"The past months were insane yet worth every moment. The experience has changed myself as a teacher - to become the best that I can possibly be. Kudos to all my respected CELTA trainers and fellow trainees at the ELA! Until next time" - Chris (CELTA)

Thank you Chikako for sharing your experience with our IELTS preparation course. Best of luck for your upcoming exam and future career developments in nursing!

Hi, I’m Qingqing and I'm from Hunan province in China. I remember arriving to New Zealand on my first day and as I was travelling to my meet my homestay family for the first time, I could not help but imagine how my homestay house would look like as I kept passing by so many beautiful looking houses. As I arrived at my homestay house, the deck and the fence of the house were all painted white, and there was a large green lawn in front of the deck. The house was clean and tidy, and the floor was covered with carpet. My room had enough space for my luggage, and I had two beds in my room.

From 1 October 2019, students who are planning to come to New Zealand to complete a short course, such as an English language course, will need to request an NZeTA before they travel if they are coming from a visa-waiver country. They will pay the IVL when requesting the NZeTA.

International students who need a visa to study will not need to get an NZeTA, but they will pay the additional NZD$35 for an IVL when they apply for a visa.

Please read this ENZ article for more information: https://bit.ly/2Zc6z5V

Congratulations to our students from the education field in Saudi Arabia who have successfully completed their programme today. Having spent 9 months at the ELA, it was wonderful to have you all apart of our school community and later at the University of Auckland. Your improvement in English skills were a tremendous achievement, and we wish you all a safe and pleasant journey back to Saudi Arabia! 

Thank you to all our partners, students and staff for your ongoing support over the years. An excellent milestone for ELA to be celebrating 10,000 likes on Facebook today.

Congratulations to Hana, who has been selected to play in the Auckland Youth Orchestra and the NZSO National Youth Orchestra around New Zealand this month. This is an excellent achievement given to the most gifted young orchestral performers. We're delighted Hana can continue to pursue her love for music alongside learning English with us! Hear more below in our video. 

Hana will be performing this Saturday 6th July in Auckland Town Hall at 7:30pm. To reserve a ticket, please visit http://ow.ly/40rR50uRdFO

Connect with us on LINE to keep updated with the latest stories and ELA announcements! Feel free to also send us a message for any enquiries you have and our friendly marketing team will be happy to assist. 

Add us on LINE using our QR code here: http://nav.cx/9oULeLA or find us at ELA @242oakbw

Thank you Fernanda and Ignacio for sharing your experience with the TESOL (TKT) course with us! We're so glad you were able to learn about ESL teaching knowledge and gain practical teaching skills for you to take back to Chile. 

To apply for the 19 August - 27 September 2019 intake, please visit www.ela.auckland.ac.nz/english-teaching-tesol-tkt

The ELA is excited to announce developments to our IELTS preparation platform which now offers adaptive practice materials and marked practice tests. 

Users can now access 1,500 adaptive practice questions across all four modules. Using an integrated algorithm, our intelligent platform learns each users' individual weaknesses and strengths, and tailors practice questions accordingly. 

Thank you to everyone who attended our Testing Times networking event last night. A great opportunity to present on our English testing options and how we can work together to help more candidates obtain their visa and university entrance in New Zealand.

Have a watch of our new video which showcases our teaching excellence in a modern university environment, with personalised support to help you achieve your study goals! 

Victoria completed our General English course in 2015, and has since landed a teaching technician role at the The University of Auckland. She shares with us her journey as a General English student and how she gained the confidence to continue living and working in New Zealand.

We're so proud of EPPS graduate Xin Yi Wang on being awarded the University of Auckland International Student Scholarship! She is now studying towards a Masters in Commerce and shares a snippet of her journey below.

From March 2019 onwards, there will be a designated time slot for candidates to book non-PTE Academic exams every Friday at ELA's Pearson test centre. This will be from 12-4pm and will apply to the rest of Pearson VUE tests across industries including IT, accounting, engineering and healthcare. 

Our test centre at the ELA is now offering computer-delivered IELTS tests, which you can book online here. Computer-delivered testing will be available from 21 March 2019, and we will be testing 4 times a week. 

The listening, reading and writing tests will be taken on a computer, with the speaking test still conducted face-to-face with a certified and experienced IELTS examiner. Both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training will be offered in each testing session.

Take a look through our brand new brochure for 2024! You can find information about our courses and facilities at the ELA, as well as working and living in New Zealand. Download your copy here. 

The ELA welcomed a visit from Immigration New Zealand and the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) teams last month. Representatives from Immigration New Zealand were given a tour of the ELA’s official PTE Academic test centre to showcase our secure testing facilities.

Geuchbuoy (Min), from Cambodia studied an EPPS programme with us and is now pursuing a Postgraduate Diploma in Politics and International Relations at the University of Auckland.

Listen to how she found the pathway programme alongside living in New Zealand. To find out more about our university pathway programmes, please visit www.ela.auckland.ac.nz/university-pathways

Watch on YouTube here. 

“Sometimes students with a high level of English still find it difficult to get the band they require because they don’t know what sort of questions they will get or the strategies they require.”

Watch Ayesha, with over 15 years of IELTS exam tutoring experience, explain how an IELTS preparation course at the ELA can help you confidently achieve the band score you need.

We have the following part-time IELTS test preparation options available in 2019:

Saturday course – 9am to 1pm (4 weeks) 
Evening course – 6pm to 8pm (5 weeks) 
Writing workshop – 9am to 1pm (half day)

We are pleased to announce that from 2020 we will be offering a full-time Business English course.

Our Business English course will help you to increase your English language proficiency in order to gain confidence in your professional communication. The course will provide you with business language skills in order to participate with increasing independence and fluency in professional contexts in English.

Emphasis is placed on essential employability and English communication skills from a business perspective, as well as on raising awareness of cultural differences in international business.

The English Language Academy (ELA) is pleased to announce its official Pearson VUE testing centre is now offering candidates the full range of VUE tests. 

In addition to the PTE Academic test, candidates will now be able to sit tests at the ELA for their professional licencing and certification across the finance, IT, medical, engineering, human resources and telecommunications industries. Pearson VUE is the international leader in delivering secure computer based testing for over 450 credential owners across the world. Leading partner organisations include Citrix, CompTIA, EXIN and Microsoft. 

Congratulations to Wei Yang on the outstanding achievement of being recently awarded a prestigious International Student Scholarship worth $10,000 with the University of Auckland. Wei Yang applied for the scholarship while studying in ELA's EPPS pathway programme and is now pursuing a MA in Engineering Management at the University of Auckland. 

Hear more about his study experience and scholarship tips in our short video. 

We are pleased to announce that PTE Academic and TOEFL iBT results are now accepted for entry to the Foundation Certificate in EAP (FCertEAP) programme. 

Please see below for respective minimum entry criteria for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

FCertEAP minimum entry criteria

The Academic IELTS score must have been issued within two years of the FCertEAP commencement date.

Abeer recently gained an internationally recognised English teaching qualification through the CELTA course at the ELA. Hear about her study experience where she gains real hands-on classroom training from well-experienced tutors. For more information about our CELTA course, please see here. 

Watch video on YouTube 

Are you looking to take an English language test for university entrance or immigration? Come along to our free information evening on Wednesday 7 November from 5.30-7pm to find out more about:

•    IELTS tests and preparation
•    PTE Academic tests and preparation

Our highly experienced staff will provide an overview of both tests and the preparation options available at the University of Auckland. You will be able to ask questions about the tests and find out how to prepare more effectively.

On 28 June we held our first IELTS & PTE Academic Networking Evening, where local immigration agents were invited to learn more about the tests and preparation courses which we offer.

The event was a success with over 50 people in attendance. A big thanks to all the participants.

See more photos from the event on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/uoaela

Please note that students taking Academic English or a Pathway (FCertEAP, EPUS, EPPS) course from Block 4 (starting 16th September) will need to have their own device, ie a laptop or tablet.

If you have any questions about this, please don’t hesitate to let us know at marketing@ela.auckland.ac.nz

Under the new General English (GE) structure from 2019, students will no longer have the option of taking a holiday in the middle of their course.

Any General English students who would like to take a maximum of 2 weeks holiday in 2018 can still do so, but they won’t be able to make up any missed weeks in 2019.

If you have any questions about this, please don’t hesitate to let us know at marketing@ela.auckland.ac.nz

General English intake dates will be changing in 2019 to further align with the University of Auckland. Students taking General English will benefit from having the same class for periods of at least 3 or 4 weeks, depending on the time of year.

Important points to note:
• Students can only start General English on one of the specified start dates below.
• Students must enrol for the whole of the General English block.
• Students can enrol in General English for multiple blocks.

Katy is a teacher and the Study Centre Coordinator at the ELA. 
Here’s what Katy has to say about her work in the Study Centre where she supports students to achieve their study goals.

Watch video on YouTube

Felicity Pan took a PTE Academic preparation course at the ELA. Here is what Felicity had to say about her study experience

We are now offering free WiFi to all our IELTS test-takers. A code will be given to test-takers on the test day and in an email before.
We will be releasing results via SMS for those who have selected this option on their application. This is an exciting venture for us and will be going live on 23rd June.

Please note that the new minimum age for students at the ELA is 18 years old.

This means that all students must be a minimum of 18 years of age when they arrive at the ELA to start their course of study.

if you have any questions, please contact our marketing team: marketing@ela.auckland.ac.nz