Language Learning Centre

Language Learning Centre

The Language Learning Centre (in Māori: Te Pūtahi Reo) is a hub for all students interested in languages at Victoria University of Wellington. Located on the university's Kelburn campus in Wellington, New Zealand's capital city, it offers facilities and self-study resources for learning over 70 languages including the country's official languages English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. It emphasizes independent learning.

Facilities

Occupying the whole of the von Zedlitz building, the Centre comprises language laboratories, themed group study rooms, a computer suite as well as a self-access library that includes graded readers, films, self-study courses, textbooks and board games for all ten languages taught at Victoria (English, Māori, New Zealand Sign Language, French, Chinese, German, Italian, Japanese, Samoan and Spanish) as well as dozens of others. Digital language learning resources are available through the Centre's website.

Language Buddy Programme

The Centre runs a Tandem Language Learning programme which allows students to work with a native speaker of their target language improving their conversation skills as well as learn about their counterpart's culture. The Language Buddy Programme is particularly popular among students of Chinese, English and Japanese.

History

The first language laboratory was established at 30 Kelburn Parade in 1967 by the then French Department. Since then the Centre has continued to grow its range of facilities and services. In addition to spoken languages, New Zealand Sign Language is also taught in the Centre's language laboratories.