At Languages International, you can combine the best English language courses with the opportunity to practice English in the real world as well. We offer a range of Work Experience Programs that combine study at Languages International and employment in a number of different New Zealand work environments.

Our partner, INTERNeX, has a lot of experience and expertise in advising international students and placing them in work in their chosen field. Starting from before you leave your home country, INTERNeX and Languages International will find out details about you, your English language ability and your plans, suggest a Work Experience Program, and then support you as you go through your study and work experience.

To participate in our Work Experience Programs, you need to hold a Student Visa with Work Right, a Working Holiday Visa or a Student and Trainee Work Visa.

There are 4 main programs: Professional Internships, Hospitality & Tourism Internships, NZ Farm Experience and Integrated Study and Work Programs. Choosing the right program for you depends on your English level, education, experience, length of time available, start date and personality.

Professional Internships

For students who want professional experience in a New Zealand company in order to reach their personal goals and fulfill their interests.

Work Placement

• Placements are unpaid and often in these sectors: business administration, marketing, operations, human resources, finance, media, not-for-profit organizations and sporting industries. Positions may also be available in specialist disciplines such as engineering, law, and sciences.
• The minimum duration of the internship is 8 weeks. A longer placement is better, and we recommend between 16 and 24 weeks.
• Internships placements can start at any time except between December 1st and January 31st, the traditional New Zealand summer holiday period. The best time to start a placement is in the spring, September and October. Placements are generally made before the student arrives in New Zealand.
• This program is open to students who have a Working Holiday Visa.

Language Needs

• Candidates for the Professional Internship program usually need a level of English equivalent to at least IELTS 6.5. We can assess your level of English with a short test before you book your program.
• Students need to study at Languages International in a General English or English for Business course for at least 4 weeks before starting an internship to reach the required level of English and work on the specific language skills needed for the New Zealand workplace.
  

Hospitality & Tourism Internships

For students who want to improve their English and then practice the language in a paid, entry-level position in New Zealand’s largest, most dynamic and fastest growing industry.

Work Placement

• Hospitality and tourism placements are mostly in hotels and resorts in New Zealand’s main tourism regions: traditional tourist destinations like the Bay of Islands, Rotorua and Queenstown, adventure tourism areas such as the Central North Island and the Southern Lakes, and wine-producing regions such as the Hawke’s Bay and Marlborough. 
• Placements are usually made in front of house, back of house, food and beverage, kitchen, maintenance, guest services and retail positions. Rates of pay are typically around NZ$13.50 per hour for 30 – 35 hours per week.
• The minimum duration of the internship is 20 weeks.
• Students must start the internship placement at the start of the local high season and must be able to work until the end of the season. The summer season start starts in November and runs until late April. Placements are generally made before the student arrives in New Zealand.
• Placements are generally outside of New Zealand’s main cities, so we help candidates to find suitable accommodation for the period of their internship. The cost of accommodation is likely to be about NZ$130 to NZ$180 per week. We also help candidates to plan their travel to the internship’s location, which may cost from NZ$100 to NZ$300.
• This program is open to students who have a Working Holiday Visa or a Student and Trainee Work Visa (where internship is a required part of the program of study in their home country).

Language Needs

• Candidates for the Hospitality and Tourism Internship program generally need a level of English equivalent to at least IELTS 5.0; front of house positions demand a higher level of English. We can assess your level of English with a short test before you book your program.
• Students need to study at Languages International for at least 4 weeks in a General English or English for Business course before starting an internship to reach the required level of English and work on the specific language skills needed for the New Zealand workplace. 

NZ Farm Experience

For students who want to experience life in a New Zealand farming community and learn about farming, the traditional heart of New Zealand’s economy.

Work Placement

• Placements are available on a variety of farms: sheep, cattle or mixed farms, orchards, vineyards and so on. The farms are often in remote rural locations in any part of New Zealand, from the north of the North Island to the south of the South Island.
• The work that candidates are usually expected to do on farms is giving any kind of help that the farmer needs. Essentially, candidates are giving their time and effort and in return are being welcomed and included as part of the family.
• The minimum period for a Farm Experience is 4 weeks, and we advise a 12-week placement. Placements are available all through the year, but it is usually less enjoyable to be on a farm during the mid-winter months, June to August. Placements are generally made before the student arrives in New Zealand.
• We help candidates to plan their travel to the farm’s location, which may cost from NZ$100 to NZ$300.
• This program is open to students who have a Working Holiday Visa.

Language Needs

• Candidates for the NZ Farm Experience program generally need a level of English equivalent to at least IELTS 5.0. We can assess your level of English with a short test before you book your program.
• Students need to study at Languages International for at least 4 weeks in a General English or English for Business course before starting an Farm Experience to reach the required level of English and work on the specific language skills needed for the New Zealand workplace.
  

Integrated Study + Work Programs

For students who want to learn English and practice the language in a paid, entry-level position while they continue to study at Languages International. 

Work Placement

• Positions are usually in the customer service and retail sectors, in, for example, cafés, restaurants, gift stores and department stores. Wages start at NZ$13.50 per hour and under the conditions of their visa, students may not work for more than 20 hours per week. We try to make sure that the student’s work schedule fits around their study schedule, but under the conditions of the visa, study hours must take priority.
• Most employers want employees who will work for at least 6 months, and if a student cannot work for this long, it may be difficult to find a suitable placement. Therefore, we advise students to plan for at least 2 months of study only at the start of the program, followed by at least 6 months of study and work.
• Candidates can arrive to start the program at any point during the year, but the best period to start work experience is around the beginning of New Zealand’s summer (October and November), because there are more positions available at that time. The only period when candidates cannot start their work experience placement is between December 15th and January 15th.
• This program is open to any candidate who is able to obtain a student visa for New Zealand and who is enrolled for at least 6 months of full-time study at Languages International.

Language Needs

• Candidates for the Integrated Study and Work program must get approval to work on their student visa before coming to New Zealand. To do this, candidates have to take the IELTS test and achieve an overall score of at least 5.0, and enrol for at least 6 months of full-time study at Languages International. Candidates can then apply for a student visa with work right.

For at least the first 2 months of a student’s stay in New Zealand, s/he studies full-time at Languages International. Students can choose from Languages International’s full range of courses to improve their English and prepare themselves for the language demands of the New Zealand workplace. During this time, candidates will be interviewed for their work experience placement. The next 6 to 10 months are a combination of full-time study and work experience of up to 20 hours per week.

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