Our language courses are designed for:
On language:
At EarthDiverse, we believe that language is culture, and there is no true understanding of other cultures unless we make an effort to learn non-English languages. If we truly wish to engage with others we must begin to learn some of the other spoken languages and written alphabets of our diverse earth. We have the capacity!
Language learning can be fun and engaging, and is a great way to exercise our brains.
Language training can improve brain fitness:
Learning a new language is excellent brain exercise and is an incredibly useful tool for learners of any age to keep our minds working and functioning properly and our cognitive abilities operating at peak performance. If we exercise our bodies, why not add some mental gymnastics to our tool boxes as well?
More information and links to scientific articles coming soon!
Our language teaching methods:
At EarthDiverse, we also know how busy we all are these days, and how much of a commitment learning a new language can be. That’s why we try to make learning a new language as effortless as possible. All we require is for you to commit an hour and a half of your time each week to attend your class sessions, either in-person, live-streaming via Zoom, or watching the recorded video sessions. We do not require you to complete extra study in addition to your hour and a half time commitment, nor do we require you to complete any outside-of-class homework. You can always do this if you like, and your instructor will support you 100%. If you’d like to go that extra mile, we provide sets of flashcards for vocabulary learning that you can freely access via the Quizlet app on your phones, tablets and computers. For learning new scripts, we suggest downloading the free Scripts app, which currently supports Hebrew, Hindi and Japanese. For grammar, conversation and comprehension, we suggest downloading the free Drops or Duolinguo apps.
Using Quizlet for vocabulary, Scripts for learning how to write non-Roman letters, and Drops or Duolinguo for grammar and comprehension allows you to reinforce your language learning while you’re waiting in line for your takeaway felafel, sitting in an office waiting for an appointment, or waiting in your car to pick up the kids. You can use any of these tools whenever and wherever you want, in short 5 minute bursts, and as often as you like, including not at all!
In short, EarthDiverse wants to make language learning as simple and easy as possible. And if you’re committed, think long term and we can make language acquisition as painless and passive as if you were a baby learning your first language. While this method is radically different from “intensive study” or “total immersion” methods of most language schools, we feel that our pedagogy actually works for busy adult learners who may not have more time to devote to language learning than the one and a half hour class commitment each week. While you may not be speaking your chosen language after a year of study (8 sessions per Term over 4 terms per year = 32 class sessions of 1.5 hrs = 48 class hours spread out over a year), if you stick with it, you most likely will by the end of your second year, and will have done so with little interruption to your weekly schedule other than setting aside a short period each week during the Term. And if you’re keen to do more or learn faster, our instructors are always ready to help you tailor your language programme to best suit your needs.
The following Language programmes are currently offered by EarthDiverse. For more detailed information on each language, the different courses for each, class locations, and the respective days and times for each class, please click on the appropriate tiles below to be taken to the pages for each particular language.
ARABIC COURSES: with Yasmin Serhan, MA
• Arabic 101: Introductory Arabic (Term 1 & Term 3)
• Arabic 102: Introductory Arabic (Term 2 & Term 4)
• Arabic 103: Introductory Arabic (Term 1 & Term 3)
• Arabic 104: Introductory Arabic (Term 2 & Term 4)
GERMAN COURSES: with Norman Franke, PhD (coming in Term 3!)
• German 101: Introductory German ( 2021 Term 3 & 2022 Term 1)
• German 102: Introductory German (2021 Term 4 & 2022 Term 2)
• German 103: Introductory German (2022 Term 1 & 2022 Term 3)
• German 104: Introductory German (2022 Term 2 & 2022 Term 4)
HEBREW COURSES: with Benny Tobias, LLB, LLM
• HEB101: Introductory Hebrew (Term 1 & Term 3)
• HEB102: Introductory Hebrew (Term 2 & Term 4)
• HEB103: Introductory Hebrew (Term 1 & Term 3)
• HEB104: Introductory Hebrew (Term 2 & Term 4)
• HEB201: Introductory Hebrew (Term 1 & Term 3)
• HEB202: Introductory Hebrew (Term 2 & Term 4)
• HEB203: Intermediate Hebrew (Term 1 & Term 3)
• HEB204: Introductory Hebrew (Term 2 & Term 4)
HINDI COURSES: with Todd Nachowitz, PhD
• HIN101: Introductory Hindi (Term 1 & Term 3)
• HIN102: Introductory Hindi (Term 2 & Term 4)
• HIN103: Introductory Hindi (Term 1 & Term 3)
• HIN104: Introductory Hindi (Term 2 & Term 4)
• HIN201: Intermediate Hindi (Term 1 & Term 3)
• HIN202: Introductory Hindi (Term 2 & Term 4)
• HIN203: Intermediate Hindi (Term 1 & Term 3)
• HIN204: Introductory Hindi (Term 2 & Term 4)
• HIN300: Conversational Hindi (every term, all year)
JAPANESE COURSES: with Yurika Arai, M Phil & M Prof. Studies
• JPN101: Introductory Japanese (Term 1 & Term 3)
• JPN102: Introductory Japanese (Term 2 & Term 4)
• JPN103: Introductory Japanese (Term 1 & Term 3)
• JPN104: Introductory Japanese (Term 2 & Term 4)
PORTUGUESE COURSES: with Cristina Schumacher, MA
• PRT101: Introductory Portuguese (Term 1 & Term 3)
• PRT102: Introductory Portuguese (Term 2 & Term 4)
• PRT103: Introductory Portuguese (Term 1 & Term 3)
• PRT104: Introductory Portuguese (Term 2 & Term 4)
SPANISH COURSES: with Pepa Torre, MA
• SPA101: Introductory Spanish (Term 3)
• SPA102: Introductory Spanish (Term 4)
SWAHILI COURSES: with Amondi Ouko-Mowbray
• SWA101: Introductory Swahili (Term 3)
• SWA102: Introductory Swahili (Term 4)
TAMIL COURSES: with Ganga Sudhan and Halimah Ilavarasi
• TML101: Introductory Tamil (Term 3)
• TML102: Introductory Tamil (Term 4)
THAI COURSES: with Machima (Mac) Aksonnit
• THAI101: Introductory Thai, Part 1 (Term 3)
• THAI102: Introductory Thai, Part 2 (Term 4)
URDU COURSES: with Todd Nachowitz, PhD
• Urdu 101: Introductory Urdu (Term 1 & Term 3)
• Urdu 102: Introductory Urdu (Term 2 & Term 4)
• Urdu 103: Introductory Urdu (Term 3)
• Urdu 104: Introductory Urdu (Term 4)
For more detailed information on each series or course, when offered, class times and locations, and course fees and registration) click on the appropriate links below.
If the course you are interested in is not currently being taught, rest assured that it will be again in the future as we continuously rotate the courses on offer. We also plan to add additional courses and locations in the future. Please contact us if you are interested in having us teach in your area or through your local group, association or organisation.
Hamilton: Hamilton classes are held in the Conference Rooms at Artmakers/EarthDivesre, Norris Ward Park Arts Centre, 2 Seddon Road, Hamilton. The carpark entrance is off Seddon Road at the back of Norris Ward Park. The classroom is immediately to the left of the Waikato Society of Potters studio. There is plenty of free parking available in the carpark just outside the classroom.
DISTANCE-LEARNING OPTIONS: In addition to our regular in-person classes which are offered in Hamilton, we offer ‘Distance Learning’ options for all of our Language courses. Study from anywhere and at any time! Distance-learning options have been added for those living outside the Waikato or for those unable to attend our in-person classes in Hamilton. If you are a Distance-Learner you have the option of joining our regular live classroom sessions via Zoom at the regularly scheduled class time, or you can watch a video-recording of the Zoom classroom session at your leisure and study at your own pace.
Your instructor will send you instructions once you have registered for your course.
HAMILTON & DISTANCE-LEARNING COURSES (8-week Terms):
Hamilton: Hamilton classes are held at Artmakers/EarthDiverse, Norris Ward Park Arts Centre, 2 Seddon Road, Hamilton. The carpark entrance is off Seddon Road at the back of Norris Ward Park. The classroom is immediately to the left of the Waikato Society of Potters studio. There is plenty of free parking available in the carpark just outside the classroom.
Distance-Learning: You choose your location and Zoom in via free Zoom software.
If you are interested in teaching a language that is not usually taught in New Zealand, we are interested in talking with you! Drop us a line by using our Contact page, accessed from the above Menu bar. We plan to continually offer new language courses in the future.
If you are interested in attending any of these classes or would like additional information, please contact us by using the Contact Form on our Contact page.
