English courses planned

Press, 24 December 1980, Page 4

English courses planned

If the dreams of two Christchurch men come true, students will soon by flying here from as far afield as Japan and Argentina to learn English. Mr Peter Harris arrived earlier this week after- an extensive “promotion tour” of South-East Asia. He had been talking to airlines, travel agents, schools, and anybody else who would listen, hoping . to attract pupils to the new “South Pacific English Centre, Christchurch, New Zealand.” Nine years ago, Mr Harris was a master at Christ’s College, doing an English degree part-time • at Canterbury University. In ihe years since, he had travelled extensively for the Kings’ group of foreign language schools in England. A friend introduced him to Mr David Garrett, also of Christchurch, who had run similar language courses in several places in Europe. Mr Harris’s work had involved helping set up courses for three British schools catering for more than 5000 students. They decided on Christchurch as the site for a new set of courses, under their own initiative, to begin in February. Christchurch had a lot to offer, said Mr Harris. The courses were aimed predominantly at young people; Christchurch was a safe place for parents to send their children; “and the people are hospitable.” I

The tuition fee the new ! company will charge — $l5O a week — will be about half the fee of the European courses. The first group of students will he 20 young Japanese from travel agencies in Tokyo. They will begin their course on February 28, and stay in Christchurch for a little less than three weeks. The next organised group will be 20 to 40 Thais, who will start their studies on March 20. Future tours have been tentatively arranged from Argentina and another group from Japan. The courses could be as long as the client wished, provided they fell short of the six months allowed on an ordinary tourist's visa. “We are selling holiday oackages,” Mr Harris said. “We are holiday English courses, rather than academic affairs.” Clients will be billeted with New Zealand families and taken on excursions in the North Island and South Island. “There is an interest overseas about coming to this country. With the state of things as they are, we have x to sell New Zealand. So why not bring them here?” Mr

Harris said. Mr Harris is here to “get the ball rolling.” but Mr Garrett will eventually take over the running of the school. Premises are being sought in the Arts Centre; and the school should be; ready to start in February, j