Two students talk of their time in New Zealand.
New Zealand may seem very far away, but there are many reasons to go there. It regularly tops polls of the friendliest, safest and most beautiful countries in the world. And since English is the native language, it’s a fantastic place to study.
Tadsapon Wiwitawan (Peter Pan) and Tita Gasornsombat (Fate) both went to New Zealand to attend summer courses. And both had a wonderful experience. Peter Pan even decided to go back to attend high school there. Now, Fate, 16, is a Matayom 5 student at Triam Udom Suksa School while Peter Pan, 19, studies architecture at Arsomsilp Institute of the Arts.
S Weekly chatted with the two students about their experiences in New Zealand.
Why did you decide to go to New Zealand for a summer course?
Peter Pan: My sister had studied there and said it was great. So I decided to go for a month. I liked the atmosphere, the nature, the people and the sense of freedom. When I went back, I attended James Hargest College in Invercargill.
Fate: My sister did a summer course called the NZ Buddy Programme and she really liked it. So I decided to try it as well. I was in Whangaparaoa School just outside Auckland for two and a half months.
Was it easy to improve your English?
Peter Pan: Yes, I wasn’t afraid of communicating with people. New Zealanders didn’t judge me when I said something wrong. And the teachers gave their full support to students.
Fate: I wasn’t afraid to speak either. I tried to talk to native New Zealanders more than international students. I also watched a lot of TV programmes, especially children’s programmes because they were easier to understand.
What did you like about your classes in New Zealand?
Peter Pan: You could pick subjects that you really like. And the classes were very practical. In media studies, I made my own film. And everybody in the class gave each other feedback.
Fate: In Thailand, teachers come to our classrooms, but in New Zealand, we had to walk to class. It made students learn how to be punctual. In every class, they encouraged us to analyse everything and come up with our own ideas.
How did you make friends?
Peter Pan: A teacher paired me with a buddy who introduced me to his group of friends. As time went by, I was able to make friends with other people as well.
Fate: New Zealanders are very friendly. It was easy to make friends. We exchanged our social network contacts, which allowed us to know more about each other’s interests and lifestyles.
Was it difficult for you to live with a host family?
Fate: Not really. We were given a talk on what to expect before we went. I knew that we had to shower quickly because water’s more expensive than electricity. Where I lived, I had to finish my shower in five minutes. It wasn’t easy!
Peter Pan: I learned that it was important to have dinner together. If I was going to be home late, I had to call and tell them. My hosts weren’t strict. They let me sleep over at friends’ homes, but I had to tell them about it.
Did you go on any special trips?
Peter Pan: I was on Stewart Island with some friends. It’s quite far from everything and it was so silent and natural. The sky was really clear. I could clearly see the Milky Way.
Fate: I went to Pauanui with my host. We were camping and fishing in the sea. I caught one big fish and four small ones.
What were the main benefits of going to New Zealand?
Fate: I learned more than just the language. I made friends with people from different countries and I’m better able to adapt to new things after my experience.
How should a student prepare for their trip to New Zealand?
Peter Pan: The most important thing is to open yourself up to the culture. You’ll learn so much.
