Euroasia

Interesting language learning articles - January 2012

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 16:55:00 -0800

Here we've compiled a series of articles which may be of interest to language learners and linguaphiles, all from January 2012.

1) How to maximise your memory - The Guardian, 14 Jan 2012

Forget rote learning, one of the best ways to commit something to memory is to think of associated images – the more outlandish, the better.

The brain is often likened to a muscle, the suggestion being that if you exercise it, its function will improve. A bodybuilder can strengthen his biceps by repeatedly lifting weights and so, the argument goes, you can improve your memory by repeating over and over to yourself (either out loud or sub-vocally) the information you wish to remember.

For years, researchers considered that "rehearsing" information in this way was necessary to retain it in your short-term memory and transfer it into long-term memory. This view fits with our instinct that if we want to remember something like a phone number, we say it to ourselves again and again in the hope that it "sticks". Generations of students have held fast to the principle that repeatedly reading through lecture notes and textbooks, attempting to rote learn the facts needed for exams, is the path to success.

There is evidence that the more an item is rehearsed, the greater the likelihood of long-term retention. In one study, participants were presented with a list of words and were asked to rehearse the list out loud. When asked to recall the words, memory retrieval improved as a direct function of the amount of rehearsal that was undertaken. However, in almost all circumstances, simple rote rehearsal is much less effective than strategies that involve thinking about the meaning of the information you are trying to remember.

Check out the rest of the article on The Guardian

2) Learning a language may come down to gestures - Washington Post, 10 Jan 2012

Gestures make it easier to learn a language, researchers discover

Language classes of the future might come with a physical workout because people learn a new tongue more easily when words are accompanied by movement.

Manuela Macedonia and Thomas Knoesche at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig, Germany, enrolled 20 volunteers in a six-day course to learn “Vimmi”, a phony language designed to make study results easier to interpret. Half of the material was taught using only spoken and written instructions and exercises, while the other half was taught with body movements to accompany each word, which the students were asked to act out.

Students remembered significantly more of the words taught with movement, and they used them more readily when creating sentences, according to the researchers.

Rest of the story at Washington Post

3) Why language study should be part of your college experience, CNN, 5 Jan 2012

Russell A. Berman, 2011 President of the Modern Language Association and professor of Comparative Literature and German Studies at Stanford University talks about why the decision to learn a foreign language is one of the best you can make. "Learning another language will open the door to another culture and enhance your career opportunities in the increasingly global economy. Having strong skills in another language may give you an edge when applying for a job. That unique ability will set you apart from other applicants and show a potential employer that you have demonstrated long-term discipline in acquiring specialized knowledge."

Check out the rest of the article on the CNN blog.

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How to learn a language fast - maximising return on investment

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 10:58:01 -0800

Today I would like to share a little known fact from the world of languages. In day-to-day interactions, we often use no more than 100 words. To maximise return on investment, you have to focus on acquiring the basic vocabulary ie it's probably not going to matter if you don't know the Chinese word for aardvark (土豚 or "tu tun" for those who must know).

The key to language mastery is knowing how to string different words together (we call these 'rules' grammar). Here are 4 key tips on how to learn a language fast.

The 80/20 rule. In the English language, the most common 25 words make up about one-third of all printed material, and the top 100 most common words make up about one-half of all written material.

At the bottom of this article, I have reproduced a list of the top 100 most commonly used English words (thanks Wikipedia). The key words may vary depending on language, but most likely you will find that it's only the relative ranking of the key words that change, and the top 100 most commonly used words would be pretty similar across languages. Focus on what matters.

Don't get too stressed over mistakes. The point to remember is no native speaker expects you as a non-native speaker to speak their language perfectly so don't get too worked up over whether you have the word order 100% right. Remember: the aim of communication is to get the message across. Unless you're planning to be a United Nations interpreter, the locals will most likely not care if you make a few mistakes here and there. Memorise the key vocabulary first. The rules matter, but without the vocabulary, you have no ammo.

Know what to talk about. This is related to point 1. It takes a lifetime to master a language, so as you can imagine it's not easy to work out the order in which we learn topics. We asked our clients what they needed to know when travelling overseas and came up with a long list. Unsurprisingly, knowing how to order a beer and telling a good-loooking girl she's beautiful ranks pretty highly. At Euroasia, we teach language learners the important stuff that you can use everyday. Here is a sample outline of what we expect to cover at the most basic beginners level.

Unit 1 - Greet people, give your name and ask how people are.

Unit 2 - Ask and answer questions about your job; you will also be able to ask about and give your phone number.

Unit 3 - Say where you come from and give the language you speak.

Unit 4 - Talk about the people in your family and say how old they are.

Unit 5 - Tell the time and give days and months; you will also be able to ask for a ticket on public transport.

Unit 6 - Say what you like or don’t like, and also talk about your freetime activities; you will also be able to say what the weather is like at the moment or at particular times of the year.

Unit 7 - Ask about something in a shop, understand and talk about prices, and also describe clothes.

Unit 8 - Talk about different meals, also food and drink; you will know what to say to buy these things from a shop.

Unit 9 - Order a meal in a restaurant, book accommodation and check in, also know how to talk about simple problems.

Unit 10 - Talk about where places are in a town, ask for directions and understand simple instructions for getting somewhere.

Constant practice. Learning a language is all about persistence. Much like going to the gym. No pain, no gain. Attending a class on a regular basis makes a huge difference (which is why language schools still exist despite language software and internet courses having been around for the past two decades). Ultimately, to improve you would need to practice speaking the language.

p/s: Check out the language courses at Euroasia. We offer summer school programmes starting 5 Jan and 18 Jan, with regular courses starting 31 Jan.

Top 100 Most Commonly Used Words
the of and a to in is you that it he was for on are as with his they I	at be this have from or one had by word but not what all were we when your can said	there use an each which she do how their if will up other about out many then them these so	some her would make like him into time has look two more write go see number no way could people	my than first water been call who oil its now find long down day did get come made may part

Source: The Reading Teachers Book of Lists, Third Edition; by Edward Bernard Fry, Ph.D, Jacqueline E. Kress, Ed.D & Dona Lee Fountoukidis, Ed.D.

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Summer school - Learn a language in January 2012

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 20:18:00 -0800

Language learning is an aspirational goal that ranks highly on many New Year resolution lists. It’s an especially worthy endeavour for avid travellers wanting to maximise their travel experience. You’ve probably heard stories from Kiwis who have returned from their “Overseas Experience” lamenting the fact that they would’ve enjoyed themselves more if they could speak the local lingo.

These days travel is not the only driver of foreign language learning. Increasingly Kiwis realise that knowing a foreign language gives them a distinct edge in dealing with clients and suppliers from other cultures. Job seekers also realise that employers value people who speak more than one language. Language learners also demonstrate to potential employers that they are proactive enough to make the effort to learn a foreign language.

In expectation of a surge in interest from people wanting to learn a language to kick off 2012, we are offering a range of summer intensives.

Courses for beginners are available in Spanish, French, Chinese, Japanese, German, Italian, Korean and Russian.

No previous knowledge of the language is required. By the end of this course, you will already know enough to “get by”: you will be able to cope with the most common everyday situations by asking and answering simple questions. and you will be able to understand people when they speak to you about the situations covered.

Kickstart 2012 with a language boost. Sign up online now.

January 2012 language intensive - 10 sessions over 4 weeks

5-26 Jan 2012

Duration: 4 weeks, 10 sessions; Tue & Thu 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM, Sat 9:30 AM-12:30 PM

Session 1, Thu 5-Jan-2012 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Session 2, Sat 7-Jan-2012 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Session 3, Tue 10-Jan-2012 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Session 4, Thu 12-Jan-2012 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Session 5, Sat 14-Jan-2012 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Session 6, Tue 17-Jan-2012 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Session 7, Thu 19-Jan-2012 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Session 8, Sat 21-Jan-2012 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Session 9, Tue 24-Jan-2012 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Session 10, Thu 26-Jan-2012 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Cost is $649 (inclusive of all materials, no hidden costs).

Beginners language course (2 weeks)

5-14 Jan-2012 OR 18-28 Jan 2012

Duration 2 weeks, 5 sessions (Tue & Thurs 6:00-9:00pm, Sat 9:30am-12:30pm)

Session 1, Thu 5-Jan-2012 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Session 2, Sat 7-Jan-2012 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Session 3, Tue 10-Jan-2012 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Session 4, Thu 12-Jan-2012 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Session 5, Sat 14-Jan-2012 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Cost is $368 (inclusive of all materials, no hidden costs).

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4th Fiesta de la Chilenidad in Auckland - 17 Sept 2011

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 21:22:00 -0700

Euroasia is proud to once again support the Fiesta de la Chilenidad in Auckland. We encourage all our clients/friends to join in the celebrations. It will be an awesome party. Invitation from Renacer en Auckland Cultural Society attached.

Hi Everybody

Renacer en Auckland Cultural Society is cordially inviting you to the “4th Fiesta de la Chilenidad in Auckland 2011” to celebrate Chilean culture with traditional Chilean food and dances as well as a fantastic dance party with a live band.

This great event will be held in the Te Atatu Peninsula Community Centre, at 595 Te Atatu Road, Te Atatu Peninsula, on Saturday 17th of September 2011 between 5pm and midnight.

The evening will start at 5:30pm with the Chilean Folkloric Show in which “Renacer en Auckland” will entertain us with their new folkloric works as well as other Latin American dance presentations from our talented guests.

And from 8pm the amazing “Matecito” Latin Band will make sure we dance to the best Latin rhythms till midnight.

This year we have improved the sales system inside the hall so that you can enjoy the best Chilean food and drinks without wait (only cash is accepted and I.D. is required to purchase alcohol).

Tickets are already on sale at $15 (kids under 12 are free)

To buy your tickets contact Jose Valdivia (Spanish teacher at Euroasia) 0211113569 or jose.valdivia@euroasia.co.nz

So don’t wait any longer and buy your tickets before they go!*

Please extend this invitation to all your friends and resend this email to all your contacts.

We hope to see you soon

Renacer en Auckland Cultural Society Inc.

* Last year tickets sold out a week before the event. We recommend you buy your tickets before September so you don’t miss out.

Hola a todos

Renacer en Auckland Cultural Society los invita cordialmente a la “4ta Fiesta de la Chilenidad en Auckland 2011” para celebrar la cultura Chilena con comidas típicas, danzas tradicionales y un bailable fenomenal con banda en vivo.

Este gran evento se realizará en el Te Atatu Peninsula Community Centre, en 595 Te Atatu Road, Te Atatu Peninsula, el Sábado 17 de Septiembre 2011 entre las 5pm y la medianoche.

La jornada comenzara a las 5:30pm con el Show Folklórico Chileno en el cual “Renacer en Auckland” nos deleitara con nuevos cuadros folklóricos además de otras presentaciones de danza latina por nuestros talentosos invitados.

Y desde las 8pm los encargados del bailable serán la gran Banda Latina “Matecito” quienes nos harán bailar con los mejores ritmos latinos asta la medianoche.

Este año hemos mejorado el sistema de ventas dentro del local para que ustedes puedan disfrutar de las mejores comidas y tragos chilenos sin demora (solo se acepta efectivo y se requiere identificación para la compra de alcohol).

Las entradas ya están a la venta a $15 (niños menores de 12 no pagan).

Para comprar sus entradas contacte a:

Andrés Baeza al fono: (09) 833 1242 o móvil: 021 022 62734

Sebastian Rebolledo-Núñez al móvil: 022 088 4640 o email: krahamrnunez@hotmail.com

¡Así que no esperes más y compra tus entradas antes de que se vallan!*

Por favor extienda la invitación a todos sus amigos y reenvíe este correo a todos sus contactos.

Esperamos verlos muy pronto

Renacer en Auckland Cultural Society Inc.

* El año pasado se vendieron todas las entradas una semana antes del evento. Les recomendamos que compren sus entradas antes de Septiembre para no quedarse sin entradas.

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Ken Applegate from Fisher Funds on doing business with the Chinese

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 19:15:00 -0700

At Euroasia, we have the privelege of meeting talented New Zealanders who do amazing things in their day jobs. For today's blog entry, we have Ken Applegate, who has been learning Mandarin with us since early last year to share his views on the Chinese economy, why he's investing there, and his experience in working with the Chinese.

Ken is the Senior Portfolio Manager for the Fisher Funds International Fund, a specialist New Zealand-based fund manager with assets under management of NZ$1billion spread across more than 30,000 clients. Thanks Ken for sharing your story with the Euroasia community.

As a global investor we have the ability to invest anywhere in the world and our allocation to Chinese companies has ranged from 20-40% of the fund. We have a long term structurally bullish view on the Chinese economy. This is not just our opinion; it is based on fact and history. China has been a global economic powerhouse more than once in history. Countries like the US and the UK have dominated the world economy once before and even Rome was ‘great’ once. Just a little more than 200 years ago China’s economy comprised approximately 1/3 of global GDP and it is on the rise again. To quote Warren Buffett, a legendary investor, “the 19th century belonged to England, the 20th century belonged to the U.S., and the 21st century belongs to China. Invest accordingly“. I firmly believe most people underestimate how important this shift is and the significance of its implications.

China dominated the world economy 200 years ago

I have worked as a global fund manager for more than 15 years with the majority of my experience gained while living in California. I first visited China in 2000, and I now travel to China 2-3 times per year. In addition, I speak with Chinese companies and local investors/analysts on a weekly basis and often meet with Chinese companies when I attend investment conferences throughout Asia, especially in Singapore and Hong Kong. I have described below two examples of investments made in China which highlight some of the many challenges I have encountered and learned from over the years.

I also believe in continued learning and my latest pursuit has been learning Mandarin. I began taking a weekly class at Euroasia language school in Auckland in early 2010. I have experienced first-hand the difference between speaking Chinese and thinking Chinese. While I have spent a good deal of the last 10 years trying to understand the Chinese way of doing business, I decided that learning the language could be another way to bridge the gap between cultures. Many Chinese attempt to learn English so out of respect why shouldn’t we attempt to learn the most widely spoken language in the world?

China’s future will be driven by urbanisation and the emerging middle class

It is critical to understand that while China is one country there are significant regional differences. One way to gain a holistic picture is to travel to a variety of locations throughout China. While Shanghai and Beijing are the financial and political centres, they comprise less than 5% of the Chinese population. The real future of China, in my opinion, lies in the emerging middle class so I have made an effort to travel to tier 2 and tier 3 cities. In addition to Guangzhou in the south, I have been as far west as Chongqing and Chengdu and as far north as Changchun. I like to visit similar locations every few years to see how things are developing. The reason for my travel is to visit company management at their headquarters. I have found they are much more open to a dialogue and it forms a lasting impression if a fund manager from New Zealand makes an effort to come and spend a day with them on their home turf.

This is the welcome I received from Cao Zhao Hui, the CEO of Wasion Group, when I visited them at their headquarters outside of Changsha in 2009

The first example is an investment that didn’t work out. One way we generate our investment ideas is through quantitative screening of financial metrics. We discovered a company called Dapai, China’s leading branded backpack and luggage company. I was attracted to the company because of its leadership position in its industry and cheap valuation. The valuation of the company was low because the company had made some decisions that did not fit the mold of a ‘typical’ high quality publicly traded company.

After significant research on the company and numerous conference calls with company management I believed that this was an investment worth pursuing. We are strong believers in quality management so I travelled to Quanzhou, Fujian Province, to spend a day with the CEO and Chairman at their facility. I also conducted research by interviewing customers at shopping malls (including the competition) to gauge the perception of the company and brand.

As mentioned previously the cheap valuation was due to subpar decisions the company had made in regards to how the stock and company was perceived. I believed these decisions were made in naivety. During my meeting with the CEO I highlighted how to change their perception which could lead to significant wealth creation. I offered my assistance and facilitated a conversation with a public relations firm and numerous specialised brokers and made myself available for discussion on any decision-making if required. They responded positively and we celebrated a fruitful day and good relationship over dinner.

I had continued conference calls with management and while the company did make some positive steps forward they were only baby steps. Unfortunately the key decisions continued to be poor in spite of my advice. This was frustrating as there was no logical rationale for the decisions. The decisions were actually made for reasons other than purely financial reasons, which meant sacrificing their own business in the short term to maintain relationships with distributors. I understand this is important, but it was still frustrating as management had committed to change. While I do understand how Chinese think, I am ultimately a westerner, especially when it comes to business, and our way of decision-making does not always prevail.

Touring the Dapai factory with the CEO, Chen “Perry” Yong

The second example involves a more positive outcome. The company is China Automation Group, a leading company in safety equipment for the petrochemical and rail equipment industries. It is similar in structure to the first example where my research and relationship was developed over a 6-month period. The major difference in this example is that I already had relationships with a number of players in the rail equipment industry. This added depth and meaning to my relationship with this company.

We first invested capital in China Automation Group in mid 2008 and while business for the company continued to be positive, the stock took a dive in 2008. This was frustrating for the company and for me. I remember meeting with Xuan Ruiguo, the Chairman of China Automation Group, in Hong Kong in October 2008 when the stock price was HK0.60/share. To put this into context we bought our first shares at HK$2/share. The good news is that now the shares are trading at more than Hk$6/share. We showed our confidence and belief in the company by buying more shares and it was this day that defined our relationship. I had breakfast with the Chairman in March this year and he recalled my support during that challenging time and said that he always has time for me.

Summary

I have always believed in a long term approach to investing and this is a mindset that is critical when it comes to doing business in China. The best lessons I have learned have not come from reading books but from my own experiences on the ground. This will continue to be the focus for me in the future. We shouldn’t overestimate the ability to change others’ mindsets and this is not a sustainable outcome anyway. We need to adapt if we are to conduct business in their country, and both parties in a relationship must be satisfied. This requires a long term approach – it’s not just about trying to make a short term profit.

The best piece of advice I give people who want to try and understand China is to go there. I tell them to spend some time in one of the big cities and then travel inland to a smaller city. I have offered numerous times to provide assistance to those interested in an attempt to make the process seem less daunting. Seeing is believing. It takes time to develop an understanding and time to create relationships. Confucius said "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step"…and the long term rewards can be unlimited.

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German interpreter in court

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 15:24:00 -0800

Came across this funny story, not sure how true it is, but it's funny nevertheless.

The police swear that this story is true, and that it is about a Christchurch judge who was once in session in a court down south, when the case of a German tourist was called.

The tourist could speak no English and no interpreter was available.

Was there anyone in the court who could speak German? the judge asked.

He did a bit of pleading and cajoling in the interests of getting the case heard right then, and eventually a wee chap in the back of the public seating put his hand up.

Yes, he spoke German, he said.

The judge looked relieved and motioned him forward and told him to stand next to the dock.

He would act as the unofficial interpreter to get the case moving.

Could he start by confirming the person’s name please? the judge asked.

The wee chap turned to the dock and loudly demanded: “Vot iss your name?”

Shaking his head, the judge said, “Ah well, I suppose I asked for that,” and sent the “interpreter” back to the public seats.

Credit: Courtnews

p/s: Euroasia offers professional translation and interpreting services, to ensure you don't end up in these "funny" situations.

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How do babies learn new languages? Astonishing new findings

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 15:23:00 -0800

In this TED video, Patricia Kuhl shares astonishing findings about how babies learn one language over another -- by listening to the humans around them and "taking statistics" on the sounds they need to know. Clever lab experiments (and brain scans) show how 6-month-old babies use sophisticated reasoning to understand their world.

Why do babies pick up language easily? There is widespread acceptance amongst the language learning community that children pick up languages easily. How they do this is not as well understood.

According to Kuhl, babies are listening intently to us, they are "taking statistics" depending on how adults talk. In this video, she gives some examples of Japanese and American babies learning their native language.

In English, babies use a lot of RA and LA. But the Japanese do not, so the study shows that though both Japanese and American babies respond early on to the same RA and LA sounds, but somehow as the babies grow older the American babies respond better to RA and LA, but the Japanese babies deteriorate ie. what sounds babies are exposed to matter.

Bilingual babies have to keep two sets of "statistics". Do they get confused?

Kuhl tested sets of American vs Taiwanese babies at 6-8 months vs 10-12 months

The experiment exposed American babies to Mandarin sounds at these time intervals. American babies exposed to a Mandarin speaker over 12 sessions have equivalent respoonses to those living in Taiwan. This is an amazing finding.

Kuhl then tried to replicate this with audio and TV/video. If the baby is exposed to audio alone or TV/video alone, babies do not absorb the "statistics". Only human interaction matters. This has enormous implications for parents who spend thousands of dollars buying video/audio packs for babies in French, Spanish, Mandarin etc.

Kuhl closed her lecture with some food for thought.

In investigating the child's brain, we will discover deep truths about what it means to be human. And in the process we may be able to help keep our own minds open to learning for our entire lives.

Watch the video. Highly recommended for everyone, not just parents with kids.

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Chinese New Year of the Rabbit kicks off 3 Feb 2011

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 19:18:00 -0800

This Thursday, 3 February, marks the start of the Year of the Rabbit, according to the Chinese calendar. The Rabbit ( 兔 ) is the fourth animal in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac. Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. Despite its winter occurrence, in China it is known as "Spring Festival," the literal translation of the Chinese name 春节 (Pinyin: Chūn Jié), owing to the difference between Western and traditional Chinese methods for computing the seasons.

Apparently those born in the year of the Rabbit are gracious, kind, sensitive, soft-spoken, amiable, elegant, reserved, cautious, artistic, thorough, tender, self-assured, shy, astute, compassionate, lucky and flexible. They can however be moody, detached, superficial, self-indulgent, opportunistic, stubborn.

Do you know anyone born in the year of the Rabbit?

The New Year festival begins on the first day of the first month (Chinese: 正月; pinyin: Zhēng Yuè) in the traditional Chinese calendar and ends with Lantern Festival which is on the 15th day. Chinese New Year's Eve, a day where Chinese families gather for their annual reunion dinner, is known as Chú Xī (除夕) or "Eve of the Passing Year."

The Chinese New Year coincides with the Japanese and Korean New Year as well. So if you meet any of your Chinese, Japanese or Korean friends this week, wish them a Happy New Year!

Or better still, sign up for a course with Euroasia so you can greet them in their language!

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Roger Federer's secret to tennis greatness

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 20:37:00 -0800

Federer switches seamlessly from English to French, then Swiss-German and Italian. He always finishes with a couple of German answers and can also handle Spanish if necessary.

For this reason the French and Germans have adopted Federer as one of their own, and it is not uncommon for his post-match media commitments to take longer than his games.

Reported in NZ Herald today. Maybe the secret to tennis greatness is... to speak 5 languages.

OK, maybe start with a second language.

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Chinese New Year with NZSO - Postcards from Exotic Places

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 13:49:00 -0800

You may be interested in these upcoming NZSO concerts to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit. Two dazzling young Chinese artists will star in the NZSO’s Postcards from Exotic Places concerts celebrating the Chinese New Year in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. The NZSO programme of popular classics features Dvorak’s thrilling Symphony No 9, From the New World – one of the most popular symphonies ever written.

See the full gallery on Posterous

Hong Kong-born conductor Perry So will lead the orchestra. Only in his twenties, he is already set to become a classical music megastar.

He will be joined by 24 year-old violinist Tianwa Yang, whose performances in the US have excited both critics and audiences. A former child prodigy, Yang was described as “The Pride of China” when she was only 11 years old.

The concerts feature arias from Jack Body’s Alley opera, sung by Australian counter-tenor Jon Jackson, whose versatile voice has been said to be able to “wallow in the depths like Johnny Cash, growl like Eartha Kitt, purr like Peggy Lee and trill like Maria Callas”.

The NZSO is using the Chinese New Year as an opportunity to focus on China’s growing importance in the classical music world.

Postcards from Exotic Places takes the form of a journey that will transport the audience from East to West, from the old world to the new.

The concert opens with Chinese-American composer Bright Sheng’s Postcards, which draw a series of colourful pictures of a mystical, old-world Chinese landscape.

We move through a newer China with arias from Jack Body’s opera Alley – which is based on the life of the New Zealand-born teacher, social reformer and friend of China, Rewi Alley. From here we continue to the warmth of Spain and the piquant rhythms and melodies of Lalo’s Symphonie Espagnole.

Our musical odyssey comes to a magnificent conclusion in America with Dvorak’s thrilling Symphony No. 9. The Czech composer was inspired by the local music he heard while working in America near the end of the 19^th century.

Postcards from Exotic Places is presented in association with Four Winds Foundation Limited.

*There will be a free pre-concert talk within the venue by composer Jack Body one hour before each concert.

Postcards from Exotic Places

A Chinese New Year concert

SHENG           Postcards
                         I. From the Mountains
                        II. From the River Valley
                        III. From the Savage Lands
                        IV. Wish you were here
LALO              Symphonie Espagnole
BODY             Alley Arias
DVORAK       Symphony No. 9 From the New World

Wellington / Michael Fowler Centre / Sat 29 Jan / 8pm
Book at TICKETEK 0800-842-538

Auckland / Town Hall / Tues 1 Feb / 7pm
Book at THE EDGE 0800-289-842

Christchurch / Town Hall / Thurs 3 Feb / 6.30pm
Book at TICKETEK 0800-842-538

Tickets start from $25. Booking fees apply

Fast Facts

Tianwa Yang started learning the violin at age four and could very quickly learn her music. She loved reading but her father thought she should focus most on her music practice. When young, she once tricked her father into believing she was practicing by playing her music while reading a book hidden inside the music on her music stand!

Tianwa Yang set a world record when she became the youngest-ever interpreter of the Paganini 24 Caprices, recording them at the age of 13.

Jack Body was inspired to write his Alley opera after a visit to China in the 80s, where he recognised that Rewi Alley was an iconic New Zealand adventurer of the same ilk as Sir Edmund Hillary.

Bright Sheng is the adopted name of the Chinese-born American composer, conductor and pianist Shèng Zōngliàng. The second syllable of Sheng's given name, Liang, loosely translates as "bright lights", which is why he took "Bright" as his English first name.

· Bright Sheng’s Postcards was commissioned by a couple in 1997 to celebrate their silver wedding anniversary. They chose Sheng because his music reminded them of a wonderful trip to China they’d had. Says Sheng: “So I thought a selection of musical postcards from various places in China would be appropriate for the occasion. I based each of the four short movements on folk music styles from different regions in China.”

Chinese New Year in China is as important as Christmas is in the West. It’s about spending time with family and giving gifts, with food being an important feature

The upcoming Chinese New Year falls on February 3, 2011 and ushers in the Year of the Rabbit

Red underwear is a popular gift that couples give each other at Chinese New Year, as red is one of the luckiest colors in Chinese tradition. It stands for loyalty, success and happiness

At New Year it’s traditional to give Hong Bao, particularly to young people. These are red envelopes in which money is placed. The amount is usually in bills (not coins) and an even amount - multiples of eight are considered lucky
The main focus is on food. Chinese families will prepare their New Year meal for many days. If you’ve been invited to Chinese New Year festivities it’s a nice idea to bring your hosts food and drink. Focus on the colours red and gold for presentation
Many Chinese homes will place an upside-down character on their doors or windows at New Year. The character is 福, fu, pronounced “foo”. It means fortune or luck has arrived

Chinese New Year festivities traditionally end with the Lantern Festival or Yuanxiao, which falls on the last or fifteenth day, and provides another reason for families to get together and have fun.

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Immigration or invasion flyers in Christchurch

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 13:56:22 -0800

The Press reports that flyers titled ``Immigration or Invasion'' has been distributed in Christchurch by a group called New Zealand Right Wing Resistance.

Some thoughts on the arguments presented:

"If current trends continue, whites will soon be a minority in this country".

That's a well-known fact. Not just in New Zealand. Around the world white people are having fewer kids. So it's no surprise that the proportion of whites will continue to dwindle.

I imagine similar conversations happening in Christchurch in the 1800s along the lines of "If current trends continue, Maori will soon be a minority in this country".

"Uncivilised immigrants are turning New Zealand into a third world slum. They come to take advantage of our welfare systems, they take our already scarce jobs, they disrespect our culture and have no interest in the wellbeing of our once great nation."

These "uncivilised immigrants" are the very people propping up the New Zealand economy. Globally, it's well acknowledged that immigrants give more than they take as a whole. If immigrants uproot their lives in order to move their family to New Zealand, don't you think perhaps they may want to contribute towards their adopted home, in order for a brighter future for the kids? It's preposterous to suggest immigrants come to New Zealand to sabotage this country so that their kids have no future here.

Some of us "uncivilised immigrants" take it a step further; creating jobs, paying taxes, paying people who pay taxes, buying from local suppliers etc.

Hon Jonathan Coleman, Minister of Immigration, commenting on the Department of Labour research on the economic impact of immigrants to New Zealand, says: "Without current levels of inward migration, both our population base and economy would shrink dramatically. By 2021, our population would drop by 9.6 per cent and our GDP would drop by 11.3 percent. There would be a 10.9 percent drop in the available labour force and the export sector would be savaged with volumes dropping by 12.9 percent.

"What this research tells us is that immigration contributes significantly to every New Zealander's per capita income".

"They bring crime, spread previously foreign diseases inter-breed with our people, and are increasingly taking over our schools, putting our own children at a disadvantage."

Anyone who has ever attended a school prize-giving ceremony in any urban New Zealand town will see that there is a disproportionate number of Asian immigrant kids winning prizes. If that is what is meant by "taking over our schools" I'm not sure if that's a bad thing. After all, the people complaining are supposedly the the very people who champion meritocracy and complain about affirmative action for Maori. It's no secret. The reason immigrant kids are "taking over our schools" is simply because they work harder, in spite of English often not being their first language, and in spite of many having come from humble family backgrounds. Encouraging people to succeed in spite of adversity is supposedly a very Kiwi value. So I've heard.

"Don't allow yourself to be misled by this corrupt financially useless, multiculturalist, perverted Government! Stop sitting back on the sideline, DO SOMETHING for your people and your nation! Send them home and close the borders!

Ahh... when all arguments fail...there's always the standard line: Ching Chong, go home.

I suppose there's only a very small minority who share the sentiments of this white supremacist group. What's worrying however is the number of people who have voiced their support for this group in the comments section of The Press article.

At Euroasia, our corporate vision has always been about "connecting people across cultures". Though we are in the business of providing foreign language courses for Kiwis, in reality we do more than that. We help New Zealanders better understand people from other cultures, and vice-versa. 9 times out of 10, misunderstanding occurs because of a lack of communication between parties, and unchallenged misconceptions about the other party. We are now offering our language courses in Christchurch. Hopefully we can play a small role in bridging the gap between immigrants and locals in Christchurch.

INVASION?

INVESTMENT?

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Why Mailchimp is the coolest email marketing program on the planet

Thu, 06 Jan 2011 17:10:18 -0800

Today I received a package in the mail - with a brand new t-shirt from our email marketing provider, Mailchimp. It's a Christmas gift that they sent out from their Austin, Texas HQ to clients all over the world. I must be one of a few people in New Zealand who received this package. The guy putting the package together might have wondered to himself where New Zealand was. Maybe off the coast of Alaska.

Pretty cool t-shirt don't you think? This is quite a smart way to get people talking about Mailchimp. So for a couple of bucks, they've managed to get me to blog about this :) I wonder if we send out free Euroasia t-shirts to clients it will produce the same effect. Well, maybe not with a monkey on the front.

Euroasia has been using Mailchimp since last year to manage our email marketing campaigns. We pay USD30/month (for 2500 subscribers or less). We're about 100 short of the upper limit, after which we'll have to pay USD50/month for up to 5000 subscribers. With the high Kiwi dollar, it's pretty worth it. Especially seeing the features offered are far superior to what we had previously with our open-source email management software.

There are standard things like Analytics integration, subscriber activity reports, social media integration etc. Even not-so-standard things like the ability to add users on the fly using the Mailchimp app on my iPhone, or to view reports on the go.

For those with a smaller subscriber base, Mailchimp offers a free email marketing plan: store up to 1,000 subscribers and send up to 6,000 emails a month. With no expiring trials, hidden charges or sneaky contracts. They won't even ask for a credit card. All for ZERO dollars. You might be thinking there's no such thing as a free lunch. Well, Mailchimp employs what's known as a freemium model. In a September 2010 blog entry, they explain how it all works, and how they're making a lot more money by offering free plans. They also describe their experience starting the Mailchimp business in the wake of the dot-com bust, and why it makes sense starting up a business in a bad economy (useful reading for all of you still thinking about whether to get started on the business idea you've been thinking about).

So what are you waiting for? If you've been using an underwhelming product to manage your email newsletters, the New Year is the time to consider Mailchimp.

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We can do better selling New Zealand overseas

Wed, 05 Jan 2011 18:49:00 -0800

Marketing guru Seth Godin showcased Ibex as an example of what a good website should look like in his blog today. Ibex is a Vermont, USA-based company that sells outdoor clothing. Their long sleeve tops for men average about USD100 each. Not exactly cheap, but not over-the-top expensive either. Seth Godin outlines five things that make Ibex successful online:

They sell a product you can't buy at the local store. This is easily overlooked and critically important. Because it's unique, it's worth seeking out and talking about. Just because you built a site doesn't mean I care. At all. But if you build a product I love, I'll help you.

They understand that online pictures are free. Unlike a print catalog, extra pictures don't cost much. Make them big. Let me see the nubbiness or the zipper or the way you make things.

They use smart copy (but not too much).

They are obsessed with permission. Once you sign up, you'll get really good coupons and discounts by email. Not too often, but often enough that my guess is that they make most of their sales this way. 25% discount on a product just like a product you love--just before Valentine's day? Sign me up.

They aren't afraid to post reviews. Even critical ones.

No doubt with the advent of online commerce anyone can sell anything online. As you go through the list, it's apparent this is not rocket science. But it's a wonder how few businesses get the basics right. This got me thinking about the missed potential for New Zealand firms. New Zealand is blessed with some of the most amazing natural resources in the world, superior products including honey, wool, seafood, dairy etc.

Almost all of the Ibex products I came across use the same raw ingredient: New Zealand merino wool.

A woolies zip t-neck (USD72) uses 18.5 micron New Zealand Merino lightweight rib; 150 g/m2. Not sure what the raw cost is, but probably not more than USD2 given the low price of raw processed wool. So basically of the USD72 retail price, maybe USD2 accrues to New Zealand wool producers and processors COMBINED, or 3% of the retail price.

OK, this may not be surprising to some people who already understand that it doesn't matter if you have the best product in the world; if you can't sell then you're finished. However, my bet is the average New Zealander probably doesn't realise the extent to which we're "giving away" business. Coming back to the official website of New Zealand merino wool, the organisation tasked with marketing New Zealand merino wool globally.

The homepage is not particularly impressive, and people clicking on the "customer gateway" (curious terminology- maybe they asked the resident IT geek to write this) get this "under construction" message. I don't get these messages. If you don't have a website, just wait until you have one. Why put up an "under construction" message?

Seeing this is the top site that appears on Google whenever anyone searches for "NZ merino wool" I'm not sure it's a good look for foreign visitors researching NZ merino wool.

The 1992 Arthur D Little (American management consultancy) report quoted on the "About Us" page says:

New Zealand merino is unequivocally the best in the world and needs to be taken to the market in a manner which is distinctly different from the rest of the clip.

Sounds good. Hope there has been some progress in the 19 years since that report was published.

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How to achieve your new year resolution: learn a foreign language

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 17:27:13 -0800

So you've decided your New Year resolution in 2011 is to learn a new language. You're not alone. So what do you do next? There are myriad options available for intending language learners, and we'll outline a few here. I know first and foremost you're interested in knowing the cost, time and effort involved in learning a language.

Cost: This can range from FREE (lesson downloads/youtube) to thousands of dollars. How much you spend would depend on your budget and how committed you are to learning a language. Generally there are 3 options (also check out the detailed comparison between Euroasia and other providers/options).

1) Going to a school: You may choose to go down the academic route and enrol at university, especially if you want to dedicate yourself to mastering the language. Some even decide to spend some time at a language school overseas in full-immersion ($5000+). There are also private providers like Euroasia who offer part-time courses (cost: $368).

2) Private tutor: Proceed at your own pace. Supply of private tutors is plentiful. You can even hire a teacher off the supermarket notice board. Quality is highly variable, and so are costs ($20-$60 per hour). You can also hire a teacher from a recognised language school. You will definitely pay more, but at least you have some assurance of the quality of the teacher and the backing of the school.

3) Online/Independent learning: There are plenty of CD or online packages available as a search on google would confirm. This option gives you some flexibility. And is not that expensive (FREE to a few hundred dollars, depending on package you choose). In fact you can get started right away. But do you have the discipline to do everything by yourself? What if you need to ask a native speaker how to pronounce certain words? Or if you get stuck with a certain problem with grammar?

Time/Effort: What do you mean by “learn a language”? To get by in everyday situations, to speak it like a native, or to reach one of many different stages in between? There’s a huge range of possible levels of competence, and a huge range in the amount of time needed. Which one do you hope to achieve? People are also different; some pick up a language faster than others. The ads which say you will be speaking your target language by studying ten minutes a day, watching a video clip or simply listening to your Ipod while you exercise overlook this fact.

In my experience, most Kiwis want to learn enough to "get by", ie. to introduce yourself, ask for directions, engage in small talk, some bargaining, order food. This is why we've designed our course to be as practical as possible, so that you leave us with practical know-how you can immediately use in real life. Our basic beginners course involves 10 lessons delivered over 2, 5 or 10 weeks. Even in this short space of time you can make really significant progress. If you can find time in between lessons to go over material, expand your vocabulary, listen to CDs, then you will undoubtedly make faster progress.

New Year resolution: Learn a language

Language learning is an aspirational goal that ranks highly on many resolution lists. It's an especially worthy endeavour for avid travellers wanting to maximise their travel experience. You've probably heard stories from Kiwis who have returned from their "Overseas Experience" lamenting the fact that they would've enjoyed themselves more if they could speak the local lingo.

Every January, we see a surge in interest from people wanting to learn a language, and I'm sure 2011 will be no different. It's worth checking out my blog entry from last year, on how to make a SMART plan to ensure you meet your language learning goals.

For a zero-risk evaluation of whether language learning is for you, check out the Euroasia FREE language taster lesson that is taking place on Wednesday, 19 January 2011.

6pm-7pm: French, German, Portuguese, Mandarin.

7.30pm-8.30pm: Spanish, Italian, Japanese.

Venue: Euroasia, 10 Titoki Street, Parnell (next to Birthcare) - plenty of parking at Auckland Domain or along Titoki Street.

Please register for the free class as we have a limited number of spaces.

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I was, like....what? - The new new English

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 20:11:00 -0800

For whatever reason, I was recently on a bus in Chile. Having a modest command of Spanish, I can usually manage a basic exchange in the language, but when the conductor addressed me, I heard bla, bla, bla and nothing more. Even when he repeated what he’d said, I didn’t catch a single word.

Annoying! Why can’t people speak their own language properly?

Sitting behind me were three young Aussie guys. I overheard their conversation, which went rather as follows:

“ Man, I was, like… what?” “I was, like… far out!” “And she was, like… what the…” “I was, like… crazy.”

And so it went on. I soon realised that, although I could identify all the words, I had absolutely no idea what they were talking about. All I caught were various parts of the verb “to be”, a handful of “likes”, a grinding pause after every “like”, and then finally some kind of interjection.

After a while, the conversation reached its glorious, inevitable climax:

“I was, like… fuck!”

Whereupon everyone roared with laughter. Whether this meant that the trio had actually extracted some meaning from this curious exchange, or whether they were just accommodating one another, I’m not entirely sure.

Having overheard the sentence, “I was, like… fuck!” and observed the same reaction a number of times now, I’ve concluded that it inevitably produces a kind of Pavlovian chuckle.   It doesn’t require interpretation. Maybe it just cheers people up – if you’re feeling down, you could perhaps recite it to yourself to see if it helps.

That said, I tried to envisage a context in which “I was, like… fuck!” had some meaning. I believe I understand the standard meaning of all four words in this utterance, but how could they come together to convey some aspect of reality?   A number of curious images drifted in and out of my consciousness, but somehow failed to coalesce into anything very concrete. Still less could I attach them to the context in which the words were used – but then, as I hadn’t been able to identify a context anyway, it wasn’t very likely that I would.

But here’s another idea: maybe there’s some mystery code enabling sophisticated meaning to be extracted from a language which has apparently been reduced to about four words. Are there perhaps layers of meaning conveyed by the intonation, and has that replaced vocabulary as the primary vehicle for the conveyance of meaning? Instead of using a hundred different words, just produce “fuck” with a hundred different intonations, and meaning will be conveyed, at least to the cognoscenti, just as well.

I’m thinking now that we should rewrite the textbooks we produce for learners of English. Out goes: much of the old grammar. In comes: “to be + like + pause + interjection”. We could then add, “This construction is now used to convey meanings ranging from ‘to say’, through ‘to feel’, to ‘the reaction was’, to essentially anything at all. It has replaced 99% of the previously existing language.”

But seriously, does it matter if the English language is reduced to about four words? I have to say I’m not exactly offended by the word “fuck”: how can anyone be seriously offended by hearing a word they’ve heard thousands of times already? I do have an issue when it’s used in every sentence regardless of meaning. And I have an even bigger issue with a jarring “like” puncturing every sentence and creating a horrible staccato effect.

It seems to be mainly younger people who speak in this way. Sometimes their speech is so far removed from standard English that it really amounts to a distinct dialect - one determined not by region, class or even nationality, but by generation.   Actually, if they want to speak in this way, and manage to communicate with one another, well, so be it. But I really hope they recognise that this is not standard English, and that there are contexts in which they need to switch codes and use that standard.

One such context is in communicating with non-native speakers of English. No learner of English is actually taught the construction “to be + like + pause + interjection”, and to be suddenly confronted by it must be a little dispiriting.   When you learn a foreign language, you rather hope the native speakers you encounter will speak the form you’ve learnt. Dialects may well create a valuable sense of identity, but they can also exclude, and when you’re learning another language, they can drive you mad – it’s hard enough learning the standard, let alone umpteen variants.

Most English speakers make little effort to learn foreign languages; the very least we can do is to use a standard form of the language when speaking to those who do. The I-was-like-fuck! dialect may have its place, but it’s not here.

One of the travellers now approached another conductor. Speaking Spanish was obviously out of the question, so would he perhaps switch codes and try to communicate in standard English?

“Yeah, we were, like… wondering if we could, like…”

And I was, like… wondering whether English speakers deserved to be understood at all.

Euroasia Principal Peter Chapple recently returned from a holiday in Latin America. He is currently researching the topic of optimal delivery of Spanish lessons for English speakers as part of the Euroasia curriculum development programme.

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Thought of the day

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 21:47:50 -0700

Language and culture are inseparable.
It is impossible to truly understand a culture if you cannot understand their language. Conversely, the best way to understand a culture is to learn the language spoken by members of that culture.

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Pakistan vs United Kingdom

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 23:36:54 -0700

A friend sent me an interesting email today.

A Tale of Two Cities -
This is Lahore in Pakistan .................................

And this is Dewsbury in Yorkshire , United Kingdom...........................

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NZ International Film Festival - July 2010 - French films

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 17:05:00 -0700

Many of you will know that the International Film Festival is on right now. Euroasia is a long-standing supporter of international films in NZ, and every year we encourage all the students at Euroasia Language Academy to go watch these films. Here's a list of some of the French films you should check out. As always, there's an amazing selection of top films on offer.

p/s: Join us for French classes starting 19 July if you wish to enjoy French films without solely relying on the subtitles.

Normal ticket price is $15/session. Tip for film festival fans: if you're planning on attending several films at the Festival this year (or planning to go with a group of people), check out the Ten-Trip Passes. At $105.00, it works out at great value. The Ten-Trip Pass can be purchased on the day or in advance and can be used throughout the Festival to secure tickets to any session that is not sold out. You can also share this pass with a friend or two.

Check out "The Tree" - 16/7 at Lido and 23/7 at Civic. Selected to close this year’s Cannes Film Festival, French director Julie Bertuccelli’s second feature is an arresting drama of loss and rebirth shaped by emotion, intuition and the elemental forces at work in its ravishing Queensland landscape.

Full list of French films showing in Auckland at the Film Festival:

A PROPHET

Jacques Audiard, France 2009, 155 mins

Jacques Audiard's dense, involving, richly layered crimeworld drama is one of the year's standout films. Set largely in a prison, bu...

15 Jul | 8:45pm

Civic Theatre

16 Jul | 3:45pm

Civic Theatre

AMER

Hélène Cattet, Bruno Forzani, France 2009, 90 mins

Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani are a Belgian couple who have made five short films together. Amer is their dazzling debut fea...

24 Jul | 8:30pm

Rialto Newmarket

25 Jul | 6:00pm

Rialto Newmarket

AROUND A SMALL MOUNTAIN

Jacques Rivette, France 2009, 84 mins

New Wave veteran Jacques Rivette sets a tentative late-life romance between a performer and an intrigued admirer in a tiny ramshackle circus...

10 Jul | 6:30pm

Rialto Newmarket

12 Jul | 6:30pm

Rialto Newmarket

9 Jul | 1:45pm

Rialto Newmarket

BABIES

Thomas Balmès, France 2010, 79 mins

With wit, tenderness and a keen eye for the fledgling signs of intelligence and sociability, director Thomas Balmès documents the fir...

10 Jul | 1:45pm

Civic Theatre

11 Jul | 4:00pm

Lido Cinema

Sold Out!

13 Jul | 11:00am

Civic Theatre

9 Jul | 3:30pm

The Bridgeway Cinema

CARLOS - PART ONE

Olivier Assayas, France 2010, 100 mins

This extraordinary three-film epic, made for French television, was showcased out of competition in Cannes to a storm of...

22 Jul | 4:00pm

Rialto Newmarket

23 Jul | 4:15pm

Rialto Newmarket

24 Jul | 4:15pm

Rialto Newmarket

25 Jul | 1:00pm

Rialto Newmarket

CARLOS - PART THREE

Olivier Assayas, France 2010, 123 mins

This extraordinary three-film epic, made for French television, was showcased out of competition in Cannes to a storm of...

22 Jul | 8:45pm

Rialto Newmarket

23 Jul | 9:00pm

Rialto Newmarket

24 Jul | 9:00pm

Rialto Newmarket

25 Jul | 5:45pm

Rialto Newmarket

CARLOS - PART TWO

Olivier Assayas, France 2010, 107 mins

This extraordinary three-film epic, made for French television, was showcased out of competition in Cannes to a storm of...

22 Jul | 6:15pm

Rialto Newmarket

23 Jul | 6:30pm

Rialto Newmarket

24 Jul | 6:30pm

Rialto Newmarket

25 Jul | 3:15pm

Rialto Newmarket

CERTIFIED COPY

Abbas Kiarostami, France 2010, 106 mins

At Cannes this was the year of Juliette Binoche. She graced the Festival’s poster; then she took the Best Actress Award for her role i...

18 Jul | 6:15pm

Civic Theatre

20 Jul | 11:00am

Civic Theatre

ENTER THE VOID

Gaspar Noé, France 2009, 156 mins

25 Jul | 8:15pm

Civic Theatre

FAREWELL

, France 2009, 113 mins

Christian Carion’s tensely atmospheric Cold War spy movie reveals an amazing true story. In the early 80s a disillusioned KGB colonel ...

15 Jul | 6:00pm

Lido Cinema

20 Jul | 6:15pm

Civic Theatre

21 Jul | 11:00am

Civic Theatre

FATHER OF MY CHILDREN

Mia Hansen-Løve, France 2009, 110 mins

It’s a rare reviewer anywhere who has not been caught up by this persuasively acted portrait of a charismatic, workaholic, art-house m...

11 Jul | 1:00pm

Rialto Newmarket

15 Jul | 9:00pm

Rialto Newmarket

23 Jul | 3:30pm

The Bridgeway Cinema

24 Jul | 3:30pm

The Bridgeway Cinema

GAINSBOURG

Joann Sfar, France 2009, 130 mins

A quintessential French icon gets his big- screen bio. In the 60s, singer Serge Gainsbourg mixed pop outlawry with low-down lechery to blaze...

17 Jul | 5:45pm

Civic Theatre

20 Jul | 3:30pm

Civic Theatre

I’M GLAD MY MOTHER IS ALIVE

Claude Miller, Nathan Miller, France 2009, 90 mins

This compelling drama of a boy’s obsessive pursuit of his birth mother is based on a true story. Like many adolescents, rebellious Tho...

15 Jul | 3:45pm

Academy Cinema

19 Jul | 3:45pm

Academy Cinema

19 Jul | 8:30pm

Academy Cinema

LA DANSE: THE PARIS OPERA BALLET

Frederick Wiseman, France 2009, 158 mins

“In La Danse: The Paris Opera Ballet, his 36th documentary in more than 40 years, Frederick Wiseman takes his camera into the stately ...

16 Jul | 12:30pm

Civic Theatre

18 Jul | 12:30pm

Civic Theatre

MAMMUTH

Benoît Delépine, Gustave Kervern, France 2010, 89 mins

Inspired absurdists and cheerleaders of underclass rancour, Delépine and Kervern follow last year’s savoury Louise-Michel with ...

17 Jul | 6:00pm

Lido Cinema

21 Jul | 1:30pm

Civic Theatre

23 Jul | 6:00pm

Lido Cinema

25 Jul | 4:00pm

Civic Theatre

OCEANS

Jacques Perrin, Jacques Cluzaud, France 2009, 84 mins

A miraculously photographed showcase of some of the seven seas’ least seen and most incredible specimens, Oceans is an immersive cinem...

17 Jul | 11:00am

Civic Theatre

18 Jul | 4:00pm

Civic Theatre

THE CONCERT

Radu Mihaileanu, France 2009, 119 mins

A band of out-of-work Moscow musicians travels to Paris posing as the celebrated Bolshoi Orchestra in this lavish, shamelessly popular comed...

11 Jul | 3:30pm

The Bridgeway Cinema

Sold Out!

13 Jul | 1:15pm

Civic Theatre

9 Jul | 6:15pm

Civic Theatre

THE TREE

Julie Bertuccelli, France 2010, 100 mins

Selected to close this year’s Cannes Film Festival, French director Julie Bertuccelli’s second feature is an arresting drama of loss and rebirth shaped by emotion, intuition and the elemental forces at work in its ravishing Queensland landscape. Like her first, the lovely Since Otar Left (NZIFF03), The Tree is attuned to the delicate, strangely inspired unwordliness of characters discombobulated by loss.

On their small country block, eight-year-old Simone and her mother Dawn (Charlotte Gainsbourg) are dealing in very different ways with the sudden loss of their father and husband. While Dawn struggles spasmodically to keep it together, and her other children fare for themselves, Simone becomes convinced of her father’s presence in the magnificent primeval Moreton Bay fig tree that towers over the family’s rambling bungalow. In Simone’s eyes, Martin Csokas as Dawn’s amorous boss has aroused the tree’s anger. Why else would its roots be rupturing the drains and pushing into the house’s foundations?

16 Jul | 6:00pm

Lido Cinema

22 Jul | 11:15am

Civic Theatre

23 Jul | 6:45pm

Civic Theatre

TWO IN THE WAVE

Emmanuel Laurent, France 2009, 93 mins

Cannes, 1959. The 400 Blows carries off the Best Director award. Its young director and even younger star, François Truffaut and Jean...

15 Jul | 4:00pm

SKYCITY Theatre

17 Jul | 11:45am

SKYCITY Theatre

21 Jul | 11:00am

Academy Cinema

WHITE MATERIAL

Claire Denis, France 2009, 102 mins

Over the past 22 years, Claire Denis (Beau Travail, 35 Shots of Rum) has built up one of the most impressive bodies of work in contemporary

18 Jul | 8:15pm

The Bridgeway Cinema

20 Jul | 8:30pm

Rialto Newmarket

24 Jul | 6:15pm

Rialto Newmarket

25 Jul | 3:45pm

Lido Cinema

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French Market Bastille Day special - 11 July, Titirangi

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 17:20:06 -0700

All you Francophiles out there should go along to the French Market, to be held at French Bay, Titirangi on 11 July 2010. This event is going to be really awesome as it's held in conjunction with Bastille Day. Our friends Catherine and Frederic from Eurodis are organising this, and they are doing such an awesome job promoting French culture in New Zealand. Buy some yummy French food, meet some good-looking French people, and practice speaking French!

When:

Sun 11 Jul, 9:00am–1:00pm

Where: French Bay Yacht Club, Cnr of Otitori Bay Road & Valley Road, French Bay

The only indoor market with French food to eat on the spot or take back home including cheese, baguette, patisseries, patés, savouries, coffee, and much more.

Also many non-food products available: Savon de Marseille, decorated boxes , "Tintin" items, table sets...

To celebrate Bastille Day, go along and enjoy a petit dejeuner including croissant, cheese, charcuterie, baguette, tarte a l'oignon, coffee and a soft drink.

Live Music for Bastille Celebration with Oscar, a young and very talented musician

P/S: Tickets for breakfast/brunch are $17 and can be bought through Titirangi Pharmacy, ph 817 76 58 or by contacting Catherine on 816 92 24 or via email at catherine@eurodis.co.nz.

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Viva la All Whites

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 20:36:00 -0700

It's do or die tonight for the All Whites.

New Zealand is ranked 78th in the world, and Paraguay is 31st. On paper Paraguay is a superior team. But that's what they said about Italy, and we all know what happened there. With Paraguay at the top of the table with four points, New Zealand will have to beat them to get to five points and qualify for Round 2.

If Paraguay and New Zealand draw, and Italy and Slovakia draw as well, it will come down to goal difference.

Should be an exciting game. We support the All Whites, and wish them all the best for this crucial game.

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