BACKGROUND
The Mandarin Language Aides (MLAs) programme was established as part of the Free Trade Agreement signed between China and New Zealand in 2008. The agreement enabled Mandarin teachers from China to come to New Zealand for a period of one to three years to support Chinese language education and promote Chinese culture in schools and communities across the country.
During their stay, MLAs typically live with local host families. They assist students in improving their Mandarin proficiency and contribute to cultural engagement through a range of classroom and extracurricular activities. In 2025, the Confucius Institute at the University of Canterbury (CIUC) employs 18 Mandarin Language Assistants and six Mandarin language instructors across schools in the South Island.
THE ROLE OF MLAs
MLAs play a vital role in supporting the teaching and learning of Chinese language and culture in New Zealand schools, from primary through to secondary level. Their responsibilities include delivering effective language instruction, providing cultural insights, modelling accurate pronunciation and intonation, and assisting classroom teachers in a range of capacities.
At primary and intermediate schools, MLAs typically teach age-appropriate, engaging lessons that introduce students to basic Mandarin language and Chinese culture. These sessions are usually 30 to 60 minutes per week per class. Most MLAs work with multiple classes within a school and are often assigned to two or more schools. The aim is to foster early interest in languages and intercultural understanding.
At high school level, the role of MLAs varies according to each school’s specific needs. In some cases, MLAs may teach Mandarin independently, either as part of the formal curriculum or as an extracurricular subject. In some schools, MLAs are also involved in teaching community-oriented evening Mandarin classes as part of the school's extended language offerings.
Where a Chinese language programme is already established at a school, MLAs typically serve in a supporting role. Their responsibilities include engaging students in authentic Mandarin communication, facilitating small-group learning, and assisting with other collaborative classroom activities to enhance communication and student engagement. In addition to student-facing work, MLAs may support Chinese language teachers with lesson preparation and the development of learning resources that reflect Mandarin language and cultural contexts. Their presence may also contribute to the professional development of Chinese language teachers by assisting in the expansion of the teachers' linguistic and cultural knowledge. CIUC further supports this process by providing textbooks and online resources for teacher learning.
CULTURAL DAYS AND FESTIVALS
Our MLAs are skilled in demonstratinga a wide range of traditional and modern elements of Chinese culture. Over the years, they have showcased their talents at various cultural events, presenting art forms such as calligraphy, painting, classical dance, Chinese opera, tea ceremonies, Tai Chi, and performances featuring traditional Chinese musical instruments. In addition to these, MLAs have led hands-on workshops in cultural crafts including tie-dye, paper cutting, lantern making, Chinese knotting, and thread-wrapped flower art. Notably, in 2025, one of our MLAs is also trained in the Sichuan Opera face-changing performance, adding a rare and dynamic highlight to our cultural offerings.
Subject to availability, CIUC may arrange for MLAs to travel to schools and community venues across the South Island to participate in cultural days and festivals. These visits are typically offered free of charge; however, host schools or organisations may be asked to cover the cost of materials where applicable.
CIUC also employs a specialised Martial Arts instructor who is available to deliver regular lessons in Christchurch or provide one-off cultural demonstrations throughout the South Island. The instructor can also participate in cultural events, offering sessions in martial arts and Tai Chi as part of a broader cultural programme.
HOST SCHOOL RESPONSIBILITIES
The international travel and living allowance for each MLA are funded by China. In return, host schools in New Zealand are responsible for arranging suitable homestay accommodation, with the associated costs covered by the Confucius Institute Headquarters. In cases where a single school does not have sufficient workload for an MLA, it may form a partnership with other schools in the region. In such arrangements, the lead school is expected to coordinate the placement and assist in securing appropriate homestay accommodation for the assigned MLA(s).
Host schools are also expected to provide appropriate professional support to MLAs in their teaching and assisting roles. This includes offering opportunities to observe classroom teaching, integrating MLAs into the school environment, and providing regular, constructive feedback on their work. To support the personal growth of MLAs and inform ongoing improvements to the programme, CIUC distributes an evaluation form to the host school twice a year—once in the middle of the year and once at the end—to gather feedback on the MLA's performance.
For schools located outside urban centres, it is the school’s responsibility to ensure suitable transportation arrangements are in place for the MLA. Where weekly transportation costs exceed NZD $25, the host school is required to cover the additional expense. As MLAs typically do not have access to a private vehicle and may not possess a New Zealand driver’s licence, it is essential that transport options provided are both reliable and practical to support their daily commute.
ADMINISTRATION FEE
An annual administration fee of NZD $500 is applied for each MLA. For schools hosting a full-time MLA, the full amount is payable. In cases where an MLA is shared among a cluster of schools, the fee may be apportioned accordingly among the participating schools. For schools engaging an MLA on a part-time basis, the fee is determined by the number of teaching days per week: NZD $200 applies for one day per week, NZD $400 for two days per week. Where an MLA is engaged for three or more days per week, the full fee of NZD $500 is applicable. The number of teaching hours per day does not affect the fee. This administration fee contributes to the cost of the MLA’s medical insurance and supports the administrative and operational functions of CIUC.
For further information or to request an application form for the MLA Programme, please contact us at confucius-Institute@canterbury.ac.nz. Alternatively, you may reach out to the CIUC Deputy Director, Professor Dong Huang, at dong.huang@canterbury.ac.nz.
