Building Global Connections in New Zealand | Study With New Zealand
Linh Ta has had lots of opportunities to gain international connections since she began studying at Victoria University of Wellington.
An international student from Viet Nam, Linh has joined Victoria’s International Leadership Programme. The free programme offers seminars, speaker events and workshops to help students develop their leadership abilities and increase their awareness of global issues. Linh also volunteered at Wellington’s K-Culture Festival, a celebration of Korean culture. She enjoyed the experience so much that she plans to volunteer for next year’s festival. “The leadership programme and the cultural festival have helped me to learn new things and meet new people, which was fantastic,” she says.
Living in New Zealand has already made me a different person for the future. I am more confident and mature now.
Linh arrived in New Zealand in February 2017 to study for a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Media Studies. Victoria has a twinning relationship with her institution back home in Hanoi, the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam.
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While learning in a second language can be challenging, Linh says she has had great support at Victoria.
“The international team offered me advice on my studies and helped me with my academic writing. I’ve also found the lecturers super helpful and very friendly,” she says.
Linh was attracted to New Zealand by its beautiful natural environment. She says her parents are happy knowing that she is studying in such a safe, welcoming country.
“People are so friendly here. They smile at you on the street even if they don’t know you,” she says.
“Studying in New Zealand has been my greatest decision. I was in love with Wellington from the first sight.”
About the contributors
Linley Boniface is a contract writer for Education New Zealand. She is based in Wellington, her favourite city in New Zealand. A former journalist, Linley spent a year in Montreal, Canada, as a secondary school student.