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PRESS RELEASE

English language school Languages International is among the first businesses in the Christchurch CBD to come home again. Repairs to the school's heritage premises in Worcester Boulevard have been completed in the wake of damage sustained on February 22 and classes for international students will be taught there again from Monday, October 3. In the months since the earthquake, Languages International has been running in cooperation with Aspiring Language Institute at their Merivale premises. The return to normal operations marks another important step in the rebuilding of Christchurch's English language teaching industry, a key part of both the international education and tourism industries that has been hit hard by the earthquakes.

‘Straight after the earthquake, I wondered if we would ever return. But we've been lucky and after a bit of engineering work, we're ready to move back in,' said School Director Kate Rouse. She said that staff and students were fantastic in the days immediately after the quake and many teachers continued giving students English lessons in their own homes.

‘Some of the students were amazing,' said Kate. ‘They stayed on because the wanted to show their solidarity to their teachers and the people of Christchurch.'

All staff at Languages International are pleased to be finally going home and to be back in the city centre as it comes alive again.

As quoted in Christchurch’s daily newspaper, The Press, on Sunday, October 2nd:

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker said the city was seeing a small number of businesses filter back in towards the cordon as it was pulled back.

''In this case it is a beautiful heritage building. I have seen the teams in there working over the last few weeks and I had a chat to one of the painters who was putting on some finishing touches.

''It's another small step towards normality and we really need to congratulate this group of business people on their absolute faith in Christchurch and their commitment to restarting their business.''

ENDS
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BackgroundLanguages International, with schools in Auckland and Christchurch, has been at the forefront of English language teaching in New Zealand for over 30 years. Since 1978, the school has welcomed over 30,000 students to its English language classes and has helped over 1,400 trainees to begin or further a career in the profession of English language teaching. In recent years, Languages International has also become involved in the provision of literacy and language training in a range of New Zealand workplaces. Languages International is a founding member of industry grouping English New Zealand. The school's commitment to excellence is consistently recognized worldwide, with representatives of the language teaching industry selecting Languages International as a finalist or winner every year for the past five of the Language Travel Magazine Star Award - English Language School Southern Hemisphere.

ContactFor any enquiries, please contact Brett Shirreffs, Marketing Manager, on (09) 302 7327.

Languages International Christchurch ready to return to normal operations