Satisfied students continue Kiwi education

Two students from The Campbell Institute have opted to continue their New Zealand studies and could now be on track for a university degree.

Great friends, encouraging teachers and a healthy balance between study and life – a few reasons why Ying Zhou (Jane), 26, and Yajie Liu (Amber), 22, loved their Campbell programme so much that they enrolled in the Victoria University of Wellington Foundation Studies Programme, a pathway to Victoria University.

The Campbell Institute is the official partner school for students who need to study English before a foundation course.

Jane and Amber, from China, completed the Campbell Direct programme, which enabled them admission without sitting the IELTS exam.

With a love of painting and design – and the realisation that Accounting was not her thing – Amber now hopes to study media design to fulfil her dream of being a filmmaker.

Learning English has boosted her confidence to take on more study.

“My English was really bad when I started at Campbell and I could not have a conversation with anyone. Now I can easily chat with people and feel happy I can communicate well in English.”

Jane is still unsure what she will study at university, but is keeping her options open with the foundation course. It’s a bonus to stay in a familiar environment – Wellington’s historic railway building – so she can keep in touch with her Campbell teachers.

Campbell students are encouraged to only speak English on campus, and like Amber, Jane is delighted with how her language skills have progressed. She also appreciates the balance that Campbell offers.

“It’s not all about study and we can take part in many after school activities which also helps us to develop our English. All of the students have good relationships with many teachers in Campbell and we are all friends.”

It’s a success story for ACG Education, the parent company of both The Campbell Institute and ACG Pathways, which offers the foundation certificate.

Tim Brown, General Manager of The Campbell Institute, said Campbell was the ideal starting point for a university study pathway as students could enrol with any level of English, at any week of the year.