AYAKA

私はヒルモートンハイスクールでとても充実した日々をすごしました。それはここにいる沢山の優しい先生や生徒のおかげです。私の座右の銘は“全ては自分次第”です。私はこの言葉を覚えていて自分から行動を起こすように心がけていました。でも自分から行動を起こしたからといってそれだけでは楽しんだり、英語を身につけたりはできません。先生や友達はもちろん、普段あまり話さない生徒や喋った事のない人までもが私を助けてくれたり、言葉を理解しようとしてくれていました。これが私がヒルモートン生活を楽しめた一番の大きな理由です。そしてヒルモートンハイスクールにはフレンドリーな人が沢山います。私は学校で時間を過ごすにおいてこれが一番大切だと思います。だから私はこの学校にこれてよかったしそんなヒルモートンハイスクールが大好きです。　　Y11　岡　彩果 I have had an amazing time at Hillmorton High School because a lot of sweet person are here. I have a motto that is every thing is it’s up to me. I always remember this word and try to make actions by my self but I cannot enjoy spending time and studying English just by my self. I really need to help by someone. A lot of teachers and students always help me and try to understand what I say even though we didn’t talk usually to each other and also we have never talk to each other. That’s why I’ve had an amazing time at Hillmorton High School. Hillmorton High School has a lot of friendly persons. I think it is most important things to spent time at school so I’m glad to come here for a year and I really like Hillmorton High School!! Y11 Ayaka Oka

FEELING at HOME

I’m an international student from Bangkok, Thailand. I’m studying in year 12 at Hillmorton High school. I have been here since April, 2007. I started at the second term of year 11.

First, I met some Thai student which is really helpful to have some one that actually speak in your own language to help you at school and also hang out with you. Then I started to talk with kiwi friends in classes and other international student i.e. Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Brazilian, Germany, Samoan etc.

It’s really a big change. Having a good friends are as important as education. It’s really hard starting to talk to strangers that not speak your own language. But when you practise everyday, may be with your host family, friends, teacher, you will get uses to it and you will feel confident to speak English as your own language. Mistake is good when you learn from it, I reckon it true but try not to make the same mistake more than 3 times because that means you not prove nor try hard enough.

In this technology world, electronic dictionary are some thing I always see them with the new international, especially in ESOL which is good because I reckon you should know wh! at the word actually mean in your language so you can use it in the right way.

My favourite subjects are art, photography and graphic, because I want to be an interior designer when I finished my education. In the art block we have almost everything you need. This year I did some painting, print making and art design. In art design and photography the art department just got new 12 Apple emac computers for students with 2 printers and 3 scanners.

For me, being an international in Hillmorton High is not so hard, most of the students are quite friendly even sometimes they do some stupid things but they never look down other students from other countries. I have lots of good kiwi friends. Teachers are happy to help when you got problems, not only for the work but some times also when you want some one to talk to as well. And I reckon most of the students feel the same.

ฉันคือนักเรียนต่างชาติจากกรุงเทหหมานคร ตอนนี้เรียนอยู่ชั้น 12 ที่โรงเรียน ฮิวมอตัน ไฮสคูล ฉันเริ่มเรียนเมื่อชั้น 11 ปี 2550 ในเทอมที่ 2 ในทีแรกฉันพบเพื่อนคนไทยบ้าง และมันช่วยฉันได้มากเลย ทั้งเรื่องที่โรงเรียน และอื่นๆ จากนั้นฉันเริ่มคุยกับคนนิวซีแลนต์ และ ชนชาติอื่นๆ เช่น ญี่ปุ่น, เกาหลี, จีน , บลาซิล, เยอรมัน และ ซามัว และนั่นเป็นจุดเปลี่ยนที่ใหญ่จริง สำหรับฉันการมีเพื่อนที่ดีนั้นสำคัญพอๆกับการศึกษา มันยากนะ ที่จะคุยกับคนชาติอื่น พูดภาษาอื่น แต่ถ้าฝึกพูดบ่อยๆ ทุกๆวัน อาจจะกับโฮส แฟมมิลี่ เพื่อนๆ ครู แล้วคุณจะค่อยๆรู้สึกมั่นใจขึ้นเรื่อยๆ การทำเรื่องผิดเป็นธรรมดาอยู่แล้วแต่อย่าให้ซ้ำเกินครั้งที่3 เพราะนั่นคือเราไม่ได้พัฒนา ในโลกเทคโนโลยีนี้ talking dictionary เป็นอะไรที่ฉันมักเห็นนักเรียนต่างชาตืที่พึ่งมาใหม่ พกไว้เสมอๆ โดยเฉพาะในคาบภาษาอังกฤษที่เป็นของคนที่มีภาษาอังกฤษเป็นภาษาที่สอง แล้วฉันว่ามันเป็นสิ้งที่ดี เมื่อรู้คำศัพท์ใหม่ๆ เราควรรู้และทำความเข้าใจความหมายนั้นๆอย่างแท้จริง แล้วมันง่ายขึ้นเมื่อคุณวามารถเข้าใจในคำนั้นๆตามภาษาของคุณเอง วิชาที่ฉันถนัดนั้นอยู่ในทาง ศิลปะ ถ่ายภาพ และกราฟฟิค เพราะฉันอยากเป็นมัณฑณากร ที่ห้องศิลปะนั้น มีเครื่องมือแทบทุกชนิด! ไม่ว่าจะเป็นด้านลงสี ปรินท์ถาพ หรือ ดีซานย์ ที่มีคอมพิวเตอร์ใหม่ๆ อย่าง apple มาให้หัดใช้กัน เครื่องปรินท์เตอร์ และสแกนเนอร์ อย่างละ 2-3 เครื่อง สำหรับฉันแล้ว

Letter from Germany

 Letter from Johanna who was with us from July 2007 until May 2008 in Years 12 and 13

Dear Hillmorton High School students and teachers,

 I have been back in Germany for about two months now and I have to say that I loved to be a part of the Hillmorton High School community and to learn a lot about the kiwi culture, which was totally new to me. During those ten months, I stayed I fell in love with the kiwi lifestyle and loved to see the pictures that were taken during this special and eventful time. Even though I wasn’t used to wearing a uniform I started to like wearing it and missed it on my first day back at my German school. I realised how important it was for me to wear exactly the same as everybody else. And the uniform is absolutely cosy, too. During classes I met many students and teachers who were supportive and helped me to get through everyday life and classes. It wasn’t always easy to understand instructions or orders but there has always been someone who helped me or who I could have asked for help. After a few weeks I felt like someone who belonged to the school and as someone who was a part of this community even though I had problems with the English language and the different, new culture.

The subjects that I had, helped me to understand how it is to be a student at a school in New Zealand. I always liked going to school and got the impression that the subjects are always close to reality and the life out of school.

The International Department at our school is a place where many different cultures come together and I think that the mixture of internationals is unique for a stay at a high school in New Zealand. I loved to learn things and habits of the other students who came from a country that is different from the one all my other classmates live in. I started to try different foods for instance and love sushi now.

One highlight of my stay was the field trip to Wainui. I have never been on a trip like this before and enjoyed seeing the dolphins and the funny hours we had at our camp. Those days close to Akaroa helped me to get closer to my classmates and deepened existing friendships.

When I think of being a student at Hillmorton High School I only think of positive experiences that I gained. This year will always be special a one to me and I hope that I will never forget what I learned about myself and others at this special High School in Christchurch.

I want to thank the International Department staff, my teachers, my classmates and my great host family to make my stay in New Zealand so unforgettable and great! Thank you so much for supporting and helping me.

Johanna Rickert

BRAZIL IS HOME

 Eu sou um aluno internacional do Brasil. Aqui no colegio Hillmorton eu tive um otimo tempo. Eu tive a oportunidade de conhecer culturas diferentes, todos os tipos de pessoas e aprender com essa experiencia. Os amigos que eu fiz aqui foram muito especiais, alguns eu matenho contato ate hoje. Conheci pessoas do mundo inteiro, fiz grandes amizades com os kiwis. Pessoalmente, a Nova Zelandia e um dos melhores lugares para conhecer novas culturas e pessoas, se voce tiver tempo. P.S: Nao tem acento nos teclados daqui.

I am an international student from Brazil. Here in Hillmorton High School I had a really wonderful time. I’ve been able to live in a different culture met all kinds of people and learn with it. The friends that I did here were very special, some of them I will keep in touch for live. I’ve meet people from all over the world and made some really good kiwi friends. Personally, I think New Zealand is the best place to meet people and cultures, if you have time.

Jose Eduardo Bernardes Taliberti

SOFIA SPEAKS

Hi! My name is Sofia Schon and I’m coming from Sweden. For about one year ago, I decided to go to New Zealand with an organisation called ASSE, to have an exciting year with a new culture and new people. I have now been here in New Zealand and here in Hillmorton Highschool for about four months and I’m really enjoying it! Friendly students, teachers and a very good host family make the everyday life here very joyful. I have already been to some amazing places, e.g. Lake Tekapo, Wanaka and also seen a little bit of New Zealand’s beautiful countryside. There are many new things for me in the school here. School uniforms, subjects such as childcare and tourism and the school sports. Here I play in the touch rugby team and I like it very much. Touch is not the only sport you can play here; volleyball, tennis and netball are some more examples. Anyway, before I finish this I must say: If you have the opportunity, you should definitely go overseas for one year. So far it has been giving me friends from the whole world, experiences for a lifetime and a taste of a new culture. Awesome! So just do it!

It´s Perfect for me!

Hello, I’m Marie Wonneberger and I’m from Germany. I’ve been studying at Hillmorton High School for about four months and I will stay another eight months. Hillmorton High School is a quite small school with “only” about 650 students and a small number of internationals compared to other school in Christchurch. However, for me it’s perfect. With the other exchange students, you still have people who are in the same situation than you are and you have the possibility to get friends from all over the world. But at Hillmorton High it is also easy to get to know the “Kiwis” and you can discover and experience their culture. In New Zealand, every school has a wide variety of subjects and you can always try something new. Why don’t you try drama class and get a role in your own play? What about photography where you can develop your photos in one of the school’s darkrooms? Or why don’t you try a new sport after school like netball, rugby or touch? Anyway, whatever you choose to do, your time in New Zealand will be great fun and living the Kiwi way of life is a wonderful and unforgettable experience: Every day you get to know so many friendly new people and you can enjoy the freedom and independence far away from your home country, your family and your friends. Going to New Zealand was definitely the right decision for me!!!

Hi, ich heiße Marie Wonneberger. Ich bin jetzt seit vier Monaten auf der Hillmorton High School und bleibe noch acht weitere. Hillmorton High ist eine relativ kleine Schule mit “nur” 650 Schülern und wenigen Internationalen verglichen zu anderen Highschools in Christchurch. Für mich ist es perfekt: Mit den anderen Austauschschülern hat man immer noch Menschen, die in der gleichen Situation sind wie man selber und man hat die Möglichkeit, Freunde von überall her zu finden. Aber auf Hillmorton High ist es auch einfach, die Kiwis kennenzulernen und ihre Kultur zu entdecken und zu erleben. In Neuseeland hat fast jede Schule eine große Bandbreite an Fächerangeboten und du kannst immer etwas neues ausprobieren. Also warum wählst du nicht Drama und spielst eine Rolle in eurem eigenen Stück? Warum versuchst du nicht Photography und entwickelst deine eigenen Fotos in einer der schuleigenen Dunkelkammern? Oder warum probierst du nicht eine ganz neue Sportart nach der Schule wie Netball, Rugby oder Touch (-rugby)? Egal, welches Fach du wählst, deine Zeit in Neuseeland wird sehr viel Spaß. Den Kiwi way of life zu leben ist eine wunderschöne und unvergessliche Erfahrung: Jeden Tag triffst du so viele nette neue Leute und du kannst die Freiheit und Unabhängigkeit weit weg von Zuhause, der Familie und den Freunden genießen. Nach Neuseeland zu gehen war auf jeden Fall die richtige Entscheidung!