Ethnic Advisory Group

English Language Partners New Zealand created an advisory group in 2002 to inform the CEO and national board about issues facing migrants and refugees.

People on the Ethnic Advisory Group (EAG) have immigrated to New Zealand from non-English speaking countries. The group meets four times each year with one member as the EAG representative on English Language Partners New Zealand's national board.

Members May 2009- May 2010


Maria (Soo Ae) Park, North Shore, from Korea Chair I have a bachelor's degree in science from Korea. I've also attained many English language based certificates here in New Zealand: a diploma in English; the Certificate in ESOL Home Tutoring; a certificate in teaching English as a foreign language; and a graduate diploma in language teaching. I've been a volunteer ESOL tutor for one of English Language Partners North Shore's social English groups since 2004. I'd like to contribute my perspective, not only as an ESOL teacher, but also as a non-English speaking background learner by being the Chair of the EAG. Thanks.	Alice (Yaguang) Wang, Auckland South , from China Ethnic Advisory Group rep. National Board I am a trained home tutor and have been teaching Chinese for five years as a home tutor to non-Chinese speakers, and working as a bilingual volunteer, tutoring English. I am also one of the team members doing interpreting for the International Baptist Church. I have lived in New Zealand for more than seven years. I find the volunteer system one of the best mechanisms in our society to encourage people to support, help and love. English Language Partners plays an important role in supporting, helping and loving new immigrants who come to this new country. I am happy to be involved in the work of English Language Partners New Zealand as a volunteer member of the EAG	Oham Saaed, Hutt, from Iraq I worked in the Ministry of Information in Baghdad for five years. Then for three, I worked specifically for the dept. that organises national conferences in Iraq. They organise matters between the Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Foreign and Domestic Affairs. Then I was situated at the Iraqi dept. of the United Arab Nations Telecommunications Organisation for three years. When I came to New Zealand my second language was English, I could understand but not speak the language. I was scared to make mistakes so I went to English Language Partners in Taupo to learn more. Now I'm still learning but I have made good progress and I love New Zealand because a lot of people are so friendly and helpful. We don't have home tutoring in our country!


Ruth Chinamo Auckland West, from Zimbabwe	Khadra Mohamed Waikato, from Somalia	Galawezh Noori Christchurch, from Iran (Kurdish)
I was born in Harare, Zimbabwe. Studying communication was a natural choice for me because I enjoy good debate, reading, watching documentaries and keeping abreast with current affairs. Before coming to New Zealand in 2002, I worked in Public Relations and Communication in Zimbabwe and Botswana. I joined English Language Partners Auckland West's committee last year. I'm very excited about being a member of the Ethnic Advisory Group and I hope to make a meaningful contribution.	I have a diploma in computing and I am currently studying at the University of Waikato for my Bachelor of Social Science, (Social Policy). Currently, I work for the Waikato Migrant Resource Centre as a receptionist and for Hamilton Girls High School as a teacher aid. I am also a member of the Waikato Somali Friendship Society (Women's Affairs Coordinator). I joined the English Language Partners Waikato in February 2008 as a bilingual assistant for one of the ESOL-literacy classes. English Language Partners plays an important role in the resettlement of refugees and migrants, and by joining the EAG I am taking part in that vital resettlement process that is greatly needed. I am very pleased to have been given the opportunity to be part of this great organisation. I am looking forward to contributing to the EAG.	I am a trained home tutor and have been teaching as a bilingual assistant on the ESOL Literacy programme since 2002. I also work for Christchurch Resettlement Services as a bilingual community worker for Afghan and Kurdish people. I am a qualified interpreter for Interpreting Canterbury and Crown Public Health. In Iran I was trained to work in the literacy classes with adults. I have lived in New Zealand for eleven years. As a former refugee I understand the challenges of resettlement in a new country and the importance organisations like English Language Partners play. I am happy to be a volunteer on the EAG to help others who are settling in New Zealand and to share some of the challenges and experiences I have encountered.

Nisa Rose Nelson, from China	Maureen Zaya Wellington, from Iraq (text pending)
I am originally from Beijing, and started my career working for the Beijing Film Studio. I specialised in film direction. In 1991 I moved to New Zealand with Kevin (my Kiwi husband). During the mid to late 1990s, we lived in Bolivia, Peru and China on long-term expatriate assignments with our two children. From 2005 - 2007 I worked part-time as the Chinese Liaison Officer for Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology. In 2007 I graduated from NMIT's four-year Diploma in Applied Counselling programme. I am now based at NMIT as the International Student Support Coordinator. My role involves working with 400-500 international students. I am very interested in the cross cultural communication field. I'm looking forward to being able to draw on my own experiences of immigrating here and helping new immigrants bridge the economic and socio-cultural differences they may experience.