At Victoria University of Wellington, our language classes are taught by Deaf lecturers and without interpreters—so students are immersed in the language from day one. We’re the leaders in NZSL research and teaching, so you’ll be learning from some of the best NZSL lecturers in New Zealand.

We make NZSL learning fun, interactive and memorable. Because our classes are smaller and hands-on in nature, NZSL students make friends easily through our classes—you’re not just one among 300 first-year students!

Students enjoy our courses, and we always get excellent feedback on our teaching. They especially like our sense of humour and switching their voices off for two hours.

Each week we hold a weekly Deaf coffee session on campus where students can have a coffee and chat in NZSL. Often the teaching staff will join them.

There’s also a NZSL Club on campus. Students can volunteer to be on the committee and take part in fun events that further enhance their NZSL learning.

I’m involved in creating innovative NZSL teaching resources and am currently managing the Learn NZSL e-learning project (funded by the NZSL Board).

The project aims to give everyone the chance to learn NZSL—wherever they are—and motivate more New Zealanders to learn about the language by bringing it into their homes.

By encouraging more New Zealanders to learn NZSL, Deaf people have more opportunities to communicate in NZSL and thus better participate in education, family and community activities.