What is the criteria for applying for this award?

You must be a teacher of a language within the New Zealand curriculum at a state school with full teacher registration at the time of application and have the written approval of your principal and board of trustees. You must also be a NZ citizen or resident.

As well as this, you must:

• formulate a proposal that outlines how you intend to use the award in terms of
(i) your professional growth and
(ii) student learning
• return to New Zealand and continues to teach
• have sufficient language knowledge to cope with everyday life
• be currently teaching the language applied for within the NZ curriculum.
• have a willingness to contribute and be involved in an evaluative process
• provide evidence of a strong desire for and commitment to professional learning

If I am selected, what am I expected to do?

• participate in all orientation processes
• stay with a host family
• participate in formal language instruction i.e. conferences and tertiary courses
• spend time in a school observing teaching practice and interacting and building relationships
• participate in a range of formal and informal cultural experiences
• use your target languages in everyday situations
• share New Zealand culture with your “new” family and school
• provide knowledge and understanding when promoting your target language within your school and the wider education community, such as language associations and conferences upon your return

What kinds of things will I be doing while on the Award?

You will:
• observe and assist in a school/s within another culture
• live with a local family and get an insight into family life
• participate in and/or experience some social and cultural events
• sharpen your language skills and knowledge as well as gaining a deeper knowledge and respect for cultural differences
• share something of your NZ culture with your host family, school/s and community

What is the timing around this Award?

The one year experience will need to fit around the circumstances of your host school and country destination, i.e. the nature of their school year. The one month programme will (in most cases) run between February and July 2008.

What are the costs of this Award?

All costs of the programme, i.e. travel, insurance, visa, teacher relief, are met by AFS and a reasonable level of accommodation costs will be negotiated for the one year programme although selected participants will be responsible for their personal spending.

How do I apply?

Applications for the awards have closed for 2008. Please return to the AFS website in 2009. For further information or an application pack please contact 0800 600 300 or email prue.elwood@afs.org.