Modern languages

Gain basic competency in a new contemporary language, or build upon your existing knowledge to an advanced level.

The knowledge and skills you will develop

In an increasingly globalised world, knowledge of a language and culture on top of your own is a considerable advantage, broadening your horizons and deepening your cultural awareness. Language competency helps you engage as a more capable, sensitive and sophisticated global citizen.

Giving you written and spoken competencies that will enable you to communicate in another language, this module is also an invaluable way of increasing your brain power. Research shows that additional language learning has numerous cognitive benefits, including better memory, concentration, stronger communication skills, and overall academic performance. You can also use language study to enrich your study of other subjects.

There are different options available depending on your level of knowledge. You can choose from:

  • Chinese
  • French
  • German
  • Italian
  • Japanese
  • Korean
  • Māori
  • Samoan
  • Spanish
  • Tongan

How you will learn

You’ll learn in small, friendly, fun classes where students are encouraged to use the language in a safe and supportive atmosphere. Your language learning journey will be supported by state-of-the-art multimedia teaching materials and passionate teachers who use a mix of the most up-to-date in-class and digital teaching methods.

Finally, you can take advantage of exciting study abroad and exchange opportunities to complete part of your language module in a country where your language is commonly spoken.

How this module can be useful in your career

In today’s global marketplace, many employers value staff with skills in more than one language. Knowledge of an additional language can help you stand out from other graduates and take your skills worldwide.

You could bring your new language skills, global awareness and cultural literacy to many professional roles. Potential career paths include international and export business, diplomacy, tourism, teaching (in Aotearoa New Zealand and abroad), government and international agencies & socio-entrepreneurship, and non-profit organisations.

Whatever your chosen pathway, your language study will enrich your journey via enhanced intercultural understanding, flexibility, disciplined thinking and communication skills.

The courses you can take

You must complete three of the courses listed for your chosen module (45 points), including at least one course (15 points) at Stage II.

Each course is worth 15 points. Before you can enrol in a Stage II course you need to have passed the prerequisite courses for enrolment in that course.

Māori Language Skills

Stage I courses

MĀORI 101
Introduction to Written Māori

MĀORI 103
Introduction to Spoken Māori

Stage II courses

MĀORI 201
Whakatakoto Reo Tuarua: Intermediate Written Māori

MĀORI 203
Intermediate Spoken Māori

Stage III courses

MĀORI 301
Reo Māori Tuhituhi

MĀORI 302
Reo Māori Korero

You must include 15 points above Stage I

Modern Language: Chinese 1

Stage I courses

CHINESE 100
Beginning Modern Chinese 1

CHINESE 101
Beginning Modern Chinese 2

CHINESE 178
Chinese Study Abroad 1

Stage II courses

CHINESE 200
Intermediate Modern Chinese 1

CHINESE 201
Intermediate Modern Chinese 2

CHINESE 277
Chinese Study Abroad 2A

CHINESE 278
Chinese Study Abroad 2B

Must include 15 points above Stage I

Modern Language: Chinese 2

Stage II courses

CHINESE 200 
Intermediate Modern Chinese 1

CHINESE 201 
Intermediate Modern Chinese 2

Stage III courses

CHINESE 300 
Advanced Modern Chinese 1

CHINESE 301 
Advanced Modern Chinese 2

CHINESE 302
Advanced Chinese Reading and Writing

CHINESE 377 
Chinese Study Abroad 3A

CHINESE 378 
Chinese Study Abroad 3B

You must include 15 points above Stage II

Modern Language: French 1

Stage I courses

FRENCH 101 
Introductory French Language 1

FRENCH 102 
Introductory French Language 2

Stage II courses

FRENCH 203 
Intermediate French Language 1

FRENCH 204 
Intermediate French Language 2

FRENCH 269
French Language and Culture in Film and Literature

FRENCH 277 
French Study Abroad 2A

FRENCH 278 
French Study Abroad 2B

Must include 15 points above Stage I

Modern Language: French 2

Stage II courses

FRENCH 203 
Intermediate French Language 1

FRENCH 204 
Intermediate French Language 2

FRENCH 269 
French Language and Culture in Film and Literature

FRENCH 277 
French Study Abroad 2A

FRENCH 278 
French Study Abroad 2B

Stage III courses

FRENCH 304 
Advanced French Language 1

FRENCH 305 
Advanced French Language 2

FRENCH 377 
French Study Abroad 3A

FRENCH 378 
French Study Abroad 3B

You must include 15 points above Stage II

Modern Language: German 1

Stage I courses

GERMAN 101 
German Language Introductory 1

GERMAN 102 
German Language Introductory 2

GERMAN 178
German Study Abroad 1

Stage II courses

GERMAN 200 
German Language Intermediate 1

GERMAN 201 
German Language Intermediate 2

GERMAN 277 
German Study Abroad 2A

GERMAN 278 
German Study Abroad 2B

Must include 15 points above Stage I

Modern Language: German 2

Stage II courses

GERMAN 200 
German Language Intermediate 1

GERMAN 201 
German Language Intermediate 2

GERMAN 277
German Study Abroad 2A

GERMAN 278 
German Study Abroad 2B

Stage III courses

GERMAN 301 
German Language Advanced 1

GERMAN 302 
German Language Advanced 2

GERMAN 306
Language Acquisition C1

GERMAN 377 
German Study Abroad 3A

GERMAN 378 
German Study Abroad 3B

Must include 15 points above Stage II

Modern Language: Italian 1

Stage I courses

ITALIAN 100
Introductory Italian Language (a combination of online and classroom delivery)

ITALIAN 106 
Italian Language for Beginners 1

ITALIAN 107 
Italian Language for Beginners 2

ITALIAN 177
Study Abroad 1

Stage II courses

ITALIAN 200 
Intermediate Italian Language 1

ITALIAN 201 
Intermediate Italian Language 2

ITALIAN 277
Italian Study Abroad 2A

ITALIAN 278 
Italian Study Abroad 2B

You must include 15 points above Stage I

Modern Language: Italian 2

Stage II courses

ITALIAN 200 
Intermediate Italian Language 1

ITALIAN 201 
Intermediate Italian Language 2

ITALIAN 277 
Italian Study Abroad 2A

ITALIAN 278 
Italian Study Abroad 2B

Stage III courses

ITALIAN 300 
Advanced Italian Language

ITALIAN 301 
Italian Translation Practice

ITALIAN 377 
Italian Study Abroad 3A

ITALIAN 378 
Italian Study Abroad 3B

ITALIAN 379 
Study Abroad – Internship

You must include 15 points above Stage II

Modern Language: Japanese 1

Stage I courses

JAPANESE 130 
Japanese Language 1A

JAPANESE 131 
Japanese Language 1B

JAPANESE 178
Japanese Study Abroad 1

Stage II courses

JAPANESE 231 
Japanese Language 2A

JAPANESE 232 
Japanese Language 2B

JAPANESE 277 
Japanese Study Abroad 2A

JAPANESE 278 
Japanese Study Abroad 2B

You must include 15 points above Stage I

Modern Language: Japanese 2

Stage II courses

JAPANESE 231 
Japanese Language 2A

JAPANESE 232 
Japanese Language 2B

Stage III courses

JAPANESE 331 
Japanese Language 3A

JAPANESE 332 
Japanese Language 3B

JAPANESE 377 
Japanese Study Abroad 3B

JAPANESE 378 
Japanese Study Abroad 3B

You must include 15 points above Stage II

Modern Language: Korean 1

Stage I courses

KOREAN 110 
Korean for Beginners 1

KOREAN 111 
Korean for Beginners 2

Stage II courses 

KOREAN 200 
Intermediate Korean 1

KOREAN 201 
Intermediate Korean 2

KOREAN 277 
Korean Study Abroad 2A

KOREAN 278 
Korean Study Abroad 2B

You must include 15 points above Stage I

Modern Language: Korean 2

Stage II courses

KOREAN 200 
Intermediate Korean 1

KOREAN 201 
Intermediate Korean 2

Stage III courses

KOREAN 300 
Advanced Korean 1

KOREAN 301 
Advanced Korean 2

KOREAN 377
Korean Study Abroad 3A

KOREAN 378 
Korean Study Abroad 3B

You must include 15 points above Stage II

Modern Language: Spanish 1

Stage I courses

SPANISH 104 
Beginners' Spanish 1

SPANISH 105 
Beginners' Spanish 2

SPANISH 178
Spanish Study Abroad 1

Stage II courses

SPANISH 200 
Intermediate Spanish 1

SPANISH 201 
Intermediate Spanish 2

SPANISH 277 
Spanish Study Abroad 2A

SPANISH 278 
Spanish Study Abroad 2B

You must include 15 points above Stage I

Modern Language: Spanish 2

Stage II courses

SPANISH 200 
Intermediate Spanish 1

SPANISH 201 
Intermediate Spanish 2

SPANISH 277 
Spanish Study Abroad 2A

SPANISH 278 
Spanish Study Abroad 2B

Stage III courses

SPANISH 319 
Advanced Spanish 1

SPANISH 321 
Advanced Spanish 2

SPANISH 341 
Spanish Sound Structure

SPANISH 342 
Spanish Word Formation

SPANISH 377 
Spanish Study Abroad 3A

SPANISH 378 
Spanish Study Abroad 3B

You must include 15 points above Stage II

Samoan Language Skills

Stage I course

SAMOAN 101 
Samoan Language 1

Stage II course

SAMOAN 201 
Samoan Language 2

Stage III course

SAMOAN 301 
Samoan Language 3

You must include 15 points above Stage I

Tongan Language Skills

Stage I course

TONGAN 101 
Tongan Language 1

Stage II courses

TONGAN 201 
Tongan Language 2

Stage III courses

TONGAN 301 
Tongan Language 3

You must include 15 points above Stage I