Frequently asked questions – Worldwide School of English

Does WWSE offer weekend trip for students?

Worldwide School works with a professional tourism company. Often, we have 4 or 5 arranged options each weekend.

The most common and popular weekend trips are:

Hobbiton
Rotorua/Lake Tekapo/Waitomo Caves
Bay of Islands
Mount Ruapehu (in winter, for skiing and snowboarding)

Weekend trips cost between NZ$125 and NZ$450 and include accommodation, transport, most activities and some meals. Some are just Saturday and Sunday one-day trips.

Is there any discount for students?

Some of the activities have discounts for students. There are many shops and restaurants offering students discounts if you show your student ID.

What kind of Activities does WWSE offer? Are they free?

Every day of the school week we have social activities and events organised.

These usually are:

Body and Mind connection (Yoga and Stretching Classes)
Sports Day (Volleyball, Football, Touch Rugby, other)
Dinner with Classmates
Social Meetings (Pub Night)
School Parties (Every 2 months)

*Students are required to pay for some of the activities.

What should I do if my flight gets cancelled or delayed?

Please contact Premier Transfers 021 272 1010 (From New Zealand) +64 21 272 1010 (From Overseas)

Send an email to: bookings@premiertransfers.co.nz

You need to tell the following information:

Full Name
Flight No.
Arrival Time

How can I change my afternoon class?

You need to tell us before 12:00 pm on the Thursday the week before the class starts.

How can I move up to the next English level?

A percentage score is given for each skill based on your assessment. You can move up when you score at least 75% or higher in each skill. You may still be promoted to the next level, if you score less than 75% in one area, but are strong in other areas. These tests are given in Week 3 and Week 5 of the 6-week Block.

How can I join Cambridge preparation classes? Are there any requirements?

Yes. Offshore pre-tests are required to join the classes. You can also transfer from General English class if you pass the pre-test and pay an additional resource fee for exam and textbook when you start the Cambridge course.

Can I change my class from General English to IELTS or any other course?

Yes, you can, as long as you have an intermediate English level or higher.

If you wish to join an IELTS course, this must be done at the beginning of a 6-week block and is subject to entry requirements including a pre-test.

When can I start my course?

You can start a General English course any Monday. Cambridge and IELTS courses have specific start dates.

What is the average number of students in a class?

Our average class sizes range from 14 to 16 students. Our maximum capacity is 18 students.

Is there any minimum age to enrol with WWSE?

Yes, you need to be 18 years old.

What kind of afternoon options does WWSE offer?

Conversation, Pronunciation, New Zealand Studies, Writing Skills, Business English, CV writing and Job Interview Skill, Activities Programmes, Private Lessons – One-to-One Tuition.

*These options are subject to demand and may require minimum class numbers to run.

What kind of general courses does WWSE offer?

Course content: A communicative course in General English, covering Grammar and Vocabulary development, the skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing.

Course start dates: You may begin your course on any Monday (except public holidays).

Number of levels: 8 levels, from Beginner to Advanced (CEFR A1-C2).

Course length: Choose any length of course from 2 to 52 weeks

What course does WWSE offer?

Part-Time Morning Course: 13.5 hours/week, 9.00 am – 12.00 pm Monday to Friday
Full-Time Course: 20 hours/week, 9.00am – 2.30 pm Monday to Thursday, Friday until 12.00 pm.
IELTS, Cambridge (FCE, CAE, CPE), Business English are available.
We also offer unpaid Internship Programmes.

Are pets common in Homestays?

Many families will have dogs, cats or both. If you are allergic and cannot live with pets, you must tell us on the enrolment form. The WWSE Homestay Team will do their best to match all your requirements.

I hold a valid working visa, but where can I find a job?"

We recommend finding a job in New Zealand on:

TradeMe (www.trademe.co.nz/jobs)
SEEK ( www.seek.co.nz)

Please do not forget to join one of our afternoon options such as CV Writing and Job Club to make sure you are ready to look for a job.

Where can I find out information on my work rights in New Zealand and rules for working on a student visa?

Working in another country can be very different from working in your country. In New Zealand, there are laws to protect all workers, and this includes international students.

We also recommend that you join our afternoon option of CV Writing and Job Interview Skills and we will give you more information about working in NZ.

I want to work while I study, what kind of visa do I need?"

A Working holiday Visa or a Student visa. A Student visa allows you to work a maximum of 20 hours per week.

You cannot work on a Visitor Visa.

More information can be found on Immigration New Zealand’s website.

How can I apply for a student visa?

You can apply for a student visa if you study full-time for more than 14 weeks. Online visa applications are the easiest way. You can do the process by yourself or using an Educational Agent or Immigration Advisor.

Once you pay your tuition fees and prepare all the documents you need, you can apply for a student visa online. Please check the New Zealand Immigration website or ask your agent.

Do I need to apply for a visa? If so, how do I know which visa to apply for?"

Student, Visitor and Working Holiday visas are the most common types of visas that our students have. We also accept Seasonal Visas, Work visas, Diplomatic and Resident visas.

Each of these have different requirements, conditions, rights, processes, and procedures that vary from country to country. To find out which visa is best for you, we recommend that you talk with an Educational Agent or an Immigration Advisor.