News and Activities
News
EID CELEBRATION
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This year with the arrival of students from Saudi Arabia, studying on the King Abdullah Scholarship Programme, we have had the privilege to get an insight on their culture at the end of Ramadan celebrations. |
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IELTS Full-time in the Coromandel |
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In late September 2007 the AUT International House full-time IELTS class had a 3 day field trip to the Coromandel staying in a traditional Kiwi bach (holiday home) at beautiful Cooks Beach. The class hired a minibus, happily spent a fortune at the supermarket and headed out of the city! For dinners the students took control of the kitchen and cooked feasts of vegetable curry, rice, pasta, salad, sausages, bbq steaks and even managed to serve up some deep-fried bananas and ice-cream - an absolute winner with their teacher! After dinner movies and card games ended the evenings and the students had such good fun together - all, of course, in English! It was a wonderful trip for the students to see some of New Zealand's natural beauty at the end of their 3 month IELTS Preparation Course, and to give them some lasting memories of each other and their time spent together. Tim |
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Lao Visitor |
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| AUT was fortunate to host Dr Khampeng Saysompheng during his stay in New Zealand last year. Dr Khampeng is Vice Governor of Luang Prabang Province in northern Laos, which contains Laos' World Heritage City Luang Prabang. Dr Khampeng (or “Peng“ as he quickly became known to us) studied English from May to June and made many friends among staff and our international student population. As well as attending classes (and working on his golf swing at weekends!) Dr Khampeng attended a welcome lunch at AUT with academic leaders, including staff from New Zealand Tourism Research Institute. He later met with members of the Institute to explore possible benefits of working together in the future. AUT also farewelled Dr Khampeng at the end of his stay with a function at AUT's Four Season's Restaurant, attended by many of the people he had made contact with at AUT, his homestay family and also by members of the local Lao, Thai and Vietnamese communities. Dr Khampeng made a very moving speech and presented a beautiful gift to the University. We really enjoyed Dr Khampeng's stay with us and the warmth and energy he brought to his time here. We look forward to the University's continued connections with Laos, through the work of AUT's International Relations & Development Office. |
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GIE update |
| 2007 saw successful GIE programmes run in semester 1 and 2. Already in 2008 we have an increased number of applications for semester 1. While success on the GIE programme will gain students entry to Business faculty programmes without sitting the IELTS test, GIE is NOT a Business preparation programme. The GIE programme is a university wide preparation programme. It is suitable for any student who has the appropriate entrance level for GIE and is intending to go to university in an English speaking country. |
Resources to Enhance Learning and Teaching (RELT) Grant update |
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We were awarded a RELT Grant last year to develop an online component to the GIE programme. One of our lecturers, Dr Ayesha Heble, is leading this development. She, in conjunction with the GIE lecturers, has developed a range of tasks the students are able to access through AUT Online. The students are able to do targeted revision of the face to face input at home at a time that suits them. Ayesha's work on this will continue through to the end of the year. |
Activities
Living in Auckland is about more than just learning English. It is a wonderful opportunity to experience life as a New Zealander and to visit some of the country's scenic locations.
Things to see and do in Auckland
Auckland is regularly voted one of the best lifestyle cities in the world, offering many great ways to spend your free time. There are many places to see and activities to do in Auckland city and surrounding areas. Places to see include Auckland Museum, Auckland Zoo, Rainbow's End Theme Park. The adventurous can try the Sky Jump from the top of the Sky Tower, or bungy jumping from the Harbour Bridge. You can see sharks and other sea life at Kelly Tarlton’s Underwater World, go sailing, swimming or horse riding. Students can also see the latest movies, go to a comedy event, watch a live game of rugby, netball or soccer, or take a ferry cruise. Whatever your interests you will never be short of things to do.
Free afternoon activities
Every Friday, AUT International House organises student social activities after morning class. These student activities such as soccer – and/or games tournaments are free of charge. Should there be a fee for excursions e.g. a visit to the Museum or Sky City, the fee can be paid at the entrance. Activities will vary from week to week and certain activities are subject to the availability of teachers.
For students wanting to explore the beautiful scenery of New Zealand, weekend excursions are highly recommended. AUT International House works with a number of independent professional companies specialising in providing weekend excursions and activities for language school students in and outside of the Auckland area. The friendly guides are all experienced trampers and mountain bikers, and familiar with the tracks and landscapes.
Weekend Excursions
Weekend excursions are organised to Rotorua, Coromandel and Bay of Islands and include a range of activities such as farmstays, swimming with dolphins, bungy jumping, diving, snorkelling, wine tasting, horse riding and skiing.
Examples of day trips are:
| Auckland Adventure approx. $85 |
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Afternoon sightseeing. The day starts with a visit to Mt. Eden’s Volcano for a 360-degree view of Auckland city. After this you travel west to a local orchard, where visitors can pick fruit right off the trees. You can enjoy free wine tasting at one of Auckland’s finest wineries. Also included is a guided tour of the gannet bird colony at Muriwai, a black sand beach on the West Coast of Auckland. |
| Mountain Bike Adventure approx. $120 |
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Full day. Includes Auckland Adventure plus a morning scenic ride at Muriwai beach (2 hours), and with an optional downhill ride in the afternoon (1 hour). You will join the experienced guide, riding through pine and native forests, across farms, and past natural lakes and streams. |
| Wilderness Adventure approx. $120 |
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Full day bush walking, wilderness and beach discovery. Tours head to the West Coast of Auckland at Muriwai Beach. |
Students can also book overnight trips. Weekend excursions are organised to Rotorua, Coromandel and the Bay of Islands and offer a range of activities including: farm stays, bungy jumping, camping, wine tasting, horse riding, and in summer swimming with dolphins, diving and snorkelling. In winter there are ski trips to Taupo, Mount Taranaki and Mount Ruapehu.
Examples of overnight trips are:
| Rotorua, Taupo & Waitomo approx. $240 - 2 nights. |
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Includes all transport, shared accommodation and excursions. On Day One you travel to Rotorua. On Day Two you pay a visit to the Green & Blue lakes, the Huka Falls and Lake Taupo. Included is an evening swim in the natural hot pools. On Day Three you travel to a geothermal park where you see mud pools, coloured lakes and geysers. On the way back to Auckland you will visit the famous Waitomo glow worm caves. |
| Bay of Islands approx. $275 - 2 nights |
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Includes all transport, shared accommodation and excursions. On Day One you travel to the Bay of Islands via Goat Island Marine Reserve where you can snorkel and see the fish. Day Two is spent in the Bay of Islands. On Day Three you visit 90 Mile Beach. On Day Four you explore the forests of the West Coast and see “Tane Mahuta”, the giant Kauri tree. On the way back to Auckland you will visit the Kai Iwi Lakes for a swim. |