NZALT EXECUTIVE MEETING 29-20 MARCH, 2008

Minutes of meeting held at ILANZ, Cuba St

Present: James Donaldson, Philippa Doig, David Hall, Pam Mabin, Jo Rittey, Jenness
Riethmaier, Adele Scott, Sue Sutherland
Apologies: Jane Lee, Eileen Mueller

President opened the meeting by displaying in wall notes the major goals emanating
from the Strategic Planning Exercise.
Minutes of previous meeting confirmed
Matters arising
• It was decided that a letter to Alastair McLauchlan would not be sent.
• Polyglots NZ Lang Teacher – remainders to be used for publicity purposes –
new members, conference.
• No PD applications have been received.
• David distributed membership data which made comparison between receipt
of subscriptions in 2007 and 2008.
• Certificates of Excellence:Cant 124 ( 6 schools), Dunedin 87 (3 schools),
Waikato 24 , Auckland 250 , Massey 63, Victoria 30, 583 total 600 already
There was discussion about awarding excellence to native speakers. It was
unanimously agreed that “these certificates are intended to recognize
the achievement of learners of second language learners only” be added to the
criteria PD/AJ
• Scholarship issue. Jo and Sarah dealt with the qualitative data from over 1000
responses. $800 for analysis of the quantitative data was produced and paid for
by Massey University through funds in Adele’s department (School of
Curriculum and Pedagogy. A letter of thanks is to be written to the Head of
School, Dr Lone Jorgensen. The results are to be published in a non refereed
conference paper to be presented during the AGM held at conference.It needs
to be signalled to membership that surveys have a financial cost..

Website/Membership – The website is the main method of communication with

members. There is a need to develop this function. A brag page was suggested.
David reported on improvements to the website costing $3108 – glitches were
removed and RO’s given access to the website. He is alarmed by the number of dumb
questions, eg re password. A separate button for membership and starbursts for
conference will be made.
Subscriptions are coming in at a faster rate than last year. It was signalled that the
membership rate for schools which have a large membership needs to be addressed.
David will produce a model/models for discussion with executive via a
whiteboardweb-based editing tool(www.writeboard.com). He suggested that a school
membership rate be set at 4 x the current rate. The school will be registered and one
person nominated as the contact person. Entitlement:4 copies of NZLT mailed to a
nominated person, PD awards, competitions, Certs of Excellence available to
allteachers. 4 discounted registrations for Langsems and conferences.RO’s will
discuss and explore the implications via the whiteboard.

Finances
• Treasurer’s report. Unavailable due to illness of treasurer
The following information was emailed to exec on Sunday: “The balance in
the cheque book is $6,730, less than usual because of the extra expenditure

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 such as improvements to the online payment system $3108 and payment for
the NZLT $8401 after January 31st this year. The large spending under sundry
is payment to Susan Miller-Thevenard. We have managed not to have to use
the term deposit $30,000 thus far. Our greatest source of income is as usual the
subscriptions. Our greatest spending is Polyglot and NZ Language Teacher.
Payment has never been received from the Subject Association”. Note Susan
Miller-Thevenard of Develop Assist Services is facilitating the development
of the Strategic Plan.
• As a result of discussions around financial transparency it was moved that
regional officers table the current annual regional financial report at the March
executive meeting. AJ/PD. Note in the case of 2008 these reports will be
brought to the July executive meeting.
• GST Registration. It is necessary to register for GST, given that the Assoc is
submitting a proposal for MoE contracts, and that the rise in the subscription
fee will push the association very close to, if not over, the $40,000 threshold
The association will engage the services of an accountant to assist the
treasurer. James offered to make enquiries.
• The names of the current Treasurer and Secretary need to be registered with
the IRD. Presently, Jan Robertson and Judy Gibb are listed with them.
• A remit to amend the Constitution was submitted for the 2008 AGM – that in
Finance 8A “STCA pay scale” be substituted for the “basic secondary scale”
and “(exclusive of GST)” be added.

Budget 2008-2009
The executive felt unable to prepare a budget based on the figures for previous
years in the absence of the treasurer. Concern was expressed at the continuing
trend of budget deficits. It was agreed that there was a need for a deputy treasurer
to assist with budget and financial statement preparation prior to each executive
meeting.
The president, treasurer and David will consult before the July AGM to prepare a
2008-2009 budget. David was nominated as deputy treasurer to liaise with the
treasurer prior to exec meeting AS/AJ

Correspondence
Incoming from
• Fagasa – Christchurch branch
• Ministry of Education Reports – Maths and Science Achievement in NZ- Literacy
Professional Development Project – Second Language Acquisition for English-
Medium Secondary Te Reo Maori Teachers – Evaluation of the Literacy Professional
Development Project –PISA 2006 How ready are our 15-year-olds for tomorrow’s
world – Reading Literacy –Resource teachers:Literacy Annual Report 2005 – Annual
report on Maori Education
• FIPLV bulletin November 2007
• Babel Vol 42 No 2 Nov. 2007
• Nicola Daly – Request re Conference peer-reviewed papers. Sue S to respond
• Innumberable emails from Dennis Cunningham. Sec of FIPLV including List of
Member Associations
• ACER Brochures for the 2008 Assessment of Language Competence
Certificates
• FIPLV re the FIPLV award

Outgoing to
• Fagasa

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 • Letters to the principals of Iona College and Rangi Ruru Girls’ School
• Eileen Mueller
• FIPLV re confusion over cut-off date for FIPLV award

In response to the Fagasa request for sponsorship from NZALT for its conference.
Adele has purchased notebooks (approx cost $300) and executive members helped to
put NZALT informational stickers on these. 150 are expected at the Fagasa
conference.

Regional Reports (attached). These were circulated and the issues arising are noted
below.
Southland/Otago (Jenness)
The possibility was discussed of inviting Craig Smith to present his vocabulary
vocabulary tutor at Conference. He would be able to apply for a Sasakawa Conference
Presentation Award from the Sasakawa Foundation up to $1000, if from overseas
$2000.
Canterbury (Jo)
The relationship between the local association and the RO was discussed. It was
decided that the role of the regional officer will be defined in the Strategic Planning
process and communicated to the membership, including Regional language
facilitators.
Victoria (Philippa). Juliet Kennedy is assisting RO Philippa Doig. Social gatherings,
eg. the December quiz night, are more successful than more formal meetings.
Payment for afternoon teas at adviser meetings has been provided by the region.
Waikato (David)
Every year a school takes the role of organizing the NZALT meetings and providing a
president, secretary, etc. Thus the RO does not have local organizational duties. The
duty schools liaises with the RO.
The German and French camps have been very successful.
Question: How does the region make restaurant meal-meetings convivial? – Answer:
all at one table, alcohol, and informality.
Massey (James)
Small membership in geographically disparate areas continues to be a challenge.
Hawkes Bay is active. Advisers are providing PD in Palmerston North. There is no
sub RO in Wanganui – this makes communication with that area difficult.
Auckland (Pam)
The region was investigating ways of using the $3000 in the funds to support new
teachers. Succession was discussed. Pam Mabin is seeking a successor. The Auckland
AGM is in November, but the election of the RO takes place in July; so there is a
problematical mismatch.
General regional issues.
Succession in the region needs to be prepared for.
Nominations for Regional Officers are to be submitted to the Secretary six weeks
before the AGM
Dates need to be set for Langsems 2009 now.
Regional officers in the regions, offering a subsidy on conference registration, will
decide how and to whom the refund for conference will be made.
International Languages Week 18-24 August
As a result of discussions around financial transparency it was moved that regional
officers table the current annual regional financial report at the March executive
meeting. AJ/PD. Note in the case of 2008 these reports will be brought to the July
executive meeting.

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Conference report (Philippa) Attached
• It was moved that the conference registration of National Advisers be
subsidised by NZALT in the amount of $100 per member which will be
refunded upon registration. PM/PD
Note to above – The letter sent to ILANZ re the conference registration to be
paid by national advisers was discussed by the executive. As a gesture of
goodwill the early membership rate will be subsidised by $100 by NZALT for
all national advisers. Exec wishes to encourage all national advisers to
become members of the Association. The working rules have been amended to
clarify the situation. Adele to write a letter.
The working rules were amended accordingly and ratified by unanimous vote.
AS/AJ
• The first conference Exec meeting is scheduled from 10-4 on Sunday 6 July.
Second conference meeting is to be of two hours’ duration, to commence at
2.30 p.m after a 1.30 lunch. The lunch to be attended by exec members
incoming and outgoing.
• AGM with lunch on Tuesday, 8th July, business to include Scholarship survey,
Speak up award presentation.
• Executive will register and pay the fee and claim reimbursement from NZALT
• Starburst for Lillico’ presentation on web to advertise for conference.

AGM 2008
Executive vacancies. Nominations are invited for the following :
Secretary
Vice-president
Regional officers The following regional officers are willing to continue:
David Hall, RO Waikato
Jenness Rietmaier, RO Otago
Jo Rittey, RO Canterbury
Philippa Doig, RO Victoria
James Donaldson, RO Massey
Conference 2010
It was decided to accept Jan Robertson’s offer to organize a conference in
Queenstown in 2010. Adele will convey this acceptance to Jan.
Conference 2012 /FIPLV Conference
In response to a letter from Lia Tedesco to Adele inviting NZALT to put in a bid for
a NZ/AFMLTA / FIPLV conference in 2012 Adele is to respond asking for
clarification – budget, format etc.
PPTA Professional Conference - Adele on behalf of NZALT will make a
presentation on the new learning area.
Subject Association Forum – Report on the Strategic Planning Process will
delivered by Pam Mabin, Gunhild Litwin, Adele Scott

Portfolios
Human Resources (James Donaldson)
This year’s competition: Design a stamp to commemorate International Year of
Languages. Prize to be $20 sheet of stamps. 4 categories :Years 1 to 6, Years 6,7and
8, Years 9 to10, Years 11-13. One entry in each category from each school. James to
talk to UNESCO and then to NZ Post for sponsorship. NZPost also to be asked about
design parameters.

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The entries are to be judged at conference and will close one or two weeks before the
end of term 2.
Suggestion for next year’s competition: design a pen logo/motto.

It was decided to order 1000 bumper stickers with messages such as Languages speak
for themselves, Languages Connect Cultures, Talk to the world. These are available
from Australia (Helen Best) at 80 cents and will be sold at conference, seminars for
$2 or 6 for $10. James will sell these at Conference 2008. Adele will forward Helen
Best’s email to James.

Professional Development (David Hall)

There have been no applications for the PD award, Speak up award, SLA’s award
It was decided to produce a spiral-bound booklet detailing the awards, including
application forms, NZALT membership form, bios of previous recipients, list of links,
Strategic Plan goals, etc for regional facilitators, Ministry (Glenda Koefoed and
Margaret Hardiman), national advisers, national coordinator of facilitators, etc – 30
to be produced.
David agreed to prepare the booklet using the facilities at St Peters School. Philippa
offered Victoria University as an alternative printer. The booklet is also to be
downloadable from the website.
Adele to define the job of an RO working along side the School Support Services
providers and include in the letter to accompany the booklet.

Curriculum
President Adele welcomed Frances Salt from ERO and Margaret Hardiman from
MoE. She gave a power-point presentation overview of the association – its history
since 1975, aims, commitments, strategic goals, membership numbers and
composition, etc
At the request of Margaret and Frances Adele will email them the presentation.
Margaret spoke to her paper, Ministry of Education Key Messages which follows:
The vision in the New Zealand Curriculum is for young people who will be confident,
connected, actively involved and lifelong learners.
Presence, Engagement, Achievement
A. Over-arching government directions:
• Schools Plus
http://www.schoolsplus.govt.nz/discussion-document/index.html
• Ka Hikitia http://kahikitia.minedu.govt.nz/default.htm
• Pasifika Education Plan.
B .Learning Languages
1. All schools with students in years 7-10 should be working towards offering
students opportunities for learning a second or subsequent language. Teaching
programmes should be based on the learning languages statement found on pages 24-
25 and the achievement objectives for this learning area.
NZC page 44
2. New Zealand students are equipped to thrive in an inter-connected world.
Goal 1 The international Education Agenda 2007-2012 page 13

3. Being developed: a draft strategy for languages in education. The draft strategic
action areas are: expanding provision, increasing student participation, building
quality teaching and engaging community.
C Ministry of Education Initiatives

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• Teacher Professional Development (TPDL) years 7-10. 2008. 60 teachers in
the regions: Auckland, Hawkes Bay, Northland, Otago, Waikato/Bay of
Plenty, Wellington. The purpose of the TDPL is to develop teacher language
proficiency and second language teaching capabilities in order to improve
student language learning outcomes. Teachers are on the programme for one
year. The professional development model comprises three interrelated parts:
language proficiency improvement; second language acquisition methodology;
and in-school and online support.
• A similar project for teachers of te reo Māori in English-medium schools
• Ministry of Education Language Immersion Experiences for Teachers and for
Students (http://www.tki.org.nz/e/community/language/)
• School Support Services languages advisers – work generically. Otago has yet
to appoint (Noeline Grant is relieving in the position) and Team Solutions has
yet to appoint a learning languages adviser with special responsibility for
Pasifika languages. for list of advisers (above website)
• National advisers for French, German, Japanese, Chinese and Spanish in
cooperation with various overseas governments.
• Action learning clusters to improve student language learning outcomes years
7-10 - Technology in Learning Languages (TiLL) -participation funding for
teachers working in clusters with School Support Services advisers – 348
teachers over two years.
• Digital Learning Objects, cataloguing meetings for French and Japanese Los
scheduled for May and June. http://www.tki.org.nz/r/digistore
• Pilot Chinese language assistants working in four schools in the Rotorua
region alongside classroom teachers studying Chinese. Two year duration
2008-2009.
• CORE Education working in Auckland and Christchurch Use of Technology
to Improve Student language Learning Outcomes: Evaluative Report and
Case Studies. The purpose and aims are to identify and evaluate student
language learning outcomes in respect of a range of ICT-based activities,
undertaken in a range language curriculum objectives and across a range of
languages; and to identify and describe some of the effective pedagogical
practices employed by teachers in generation those student language learning
outcomes.
• Development of Guides to Teaching and Learning-(TL). Part of a wider
initiative: The purpose: a series of subject-based guidelines that provide a
common framework and help teachers plan relevant and coherent
programmes. They will be bridging documents for the New Zealand
Curriculum (2007) and articulate how the front parts of the revised NZC could
be integrated in each subject through effective teaching practices. They will
also provide possible learning experiences.
• Development of Learning Languages Series for remaining Pasifika Languages
and NZSL.
• Alignment of achievement and unit standards with NZC by 2010
• Ongoing research and evaluation including for Intercultural Teaching and
Learning; an evaluation of the language and culture immersion experiences for
teachers; and an evaluation of TPDL.
• Team Up http://www.teamup.co.nz/WhatChildrenLearn/default.htm
• Education Counts (statistics and research)
http://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/

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Frances Salt ERO outlined her background which includes language teaching. She is
responsible for the reporting of 900 schools and also of Early Childhood Centres.
ERO from July will be asking specific questions about what a school has done to
working toward the provision of languages for years 7-10 and their next step. By
alerting schools that this question will be asked, schools will be aware of their
obligations.
There are 3 strands in a review 1) depth strand which investigates what schools have
decided to make their priority, e.g. literacy, science and technology
2) breadth strand provided by the questions that are asked eg provision for Maori
students. In this strand schools will be asked about their readiness to implement
languages learning Years 7-10.
3) Compliance
NZALT can help publicize the fact that ERO will be asking the question.
ERO can offer best practice suggestions.
ERO areas of interest reports are available on the website.
Question from AJ: Has the govt goal of “More students learning languages for
longer” been attenuated?
FS’s response: Mandating is not the only way of achieving a goal. Present efforts are
concentrated on improving the quality of the teaching and language- learning
opportunities in Years 7-10. Things happen through policy. There has been no policy
movement to reduce the expectation that all students in Years 7 through 10 will learn
an additional language.

Geoff Gibbs, the coordinator of NCEA programmes, MoE, was welcomed to the
meeting. He is charged with the project to align the subject standards with the new
curriculum. The standards which overlap need to be identified and addressed, as does
the issue of credit parity.
Subject associations have been approached to submit proposals for the two stages of
this project: 1. Alignment 2 Consultation. Each requires a separate proposal. The
Association can be involved in Stage 1 or 2
He outlined what work might be involved in each stage and how the process might
look. He suggested a generic alignment process with subcontracting to individual
language specific writers, in general one for each language. subcontract to indiv
langpspecifics, will nominate 8 people reps of Spanish, German, French
Advice from ERO and MoE colleagues needs to be sought.
The consultation will be web-based plus face-to-face over a 4-6week timeframe.
The project outline will be emailed to the Association next week.
It was later decided that Adele and Gunhild will formulate a proposal for Stage 1,
which recognizes the skills of the personnel to be involved and the contribution of
SLA’s. Adele and Jo will formulate a proposal for Stage 2 and email exec for
feedback.Anne J offered support as needed.

Exam feedback (Pam Mabin)

French was negative at all levels
It was suggested that PD for teachers in examination writing was necessary. JR
The curriculum portfolio job description includes maintaining links with SLAs.
Adele is to send NZJALT email to Pam so that she may respond.

Update Strategic Plan (Adele)

Goals will be submitted to the membership for response

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Adele spoke to Goal Five - Strategic Positioning. She had attended and presented to
Language Strategies workshop
The Languages in Aotearoa statement on Language Policy was distributed.
Executive members are asked to fill in and send Goal One (1.1) of the Strategic Plan
ie.to finalize portfolios to reflect the key areas of work to be undertaken by the
National Executive to achieve the NZALT 2008-20012 Strategic Plan and send to
Adele by the end of May.

Research and Marketing (Jo Rittey)

Adele and Jo presented the Scholarship survey results This presentation will be
repeated at conference. The preliminary findings have not been sufficiently analysed
and are inconclusive since the qualitative comments do not align with quantitative
results.
It was moved that it be proposed to the AGM that
1. ongoing data be collected
2. a letter be written to the Minister informing him of the research.
and the initial findings AJ/AS
A vote of thanks was made to Adele, Sarah Perkins, and Jo for their efforts.
Publicity
Polyglot is to be produced on line as a trial. It will be accessed by members using a
password and be downloadable in parts.
Members will be asked for feedback on the new system. David will consult with
Gayleen, the editor.
The remainder of the Polyglot and NZLT copies will be deposited with Jenness.
Jenness will offer them to pre-service teacher education languages. Adele will send
the list of these to Jenness. SS will send 17 copies to Philippa and 10 to Anne. When
the offer letter arrives in their institutions, they will be able say that they already have
copies.

The meeting concluded at 3.50 p.m.

Confirmed as a correct record ……………………………

Adele Scott, President, 5 July, 2008