EarthDiverse

Ahmad Sayadi, originally from Iran, is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering at Waikato University. Alongside his academic pursuits, Ahmad possesses a deep passion for teaching Farsi/Persian to those who have a genuine love for the language. Additionally, he harbors a keen interest in exploring and understanding the rich diversities that exist among various cultures and nations. Ahmad is deeply committed to teaching Persian, recognizing the power of language as a bridge that connects individuals and cultures. He is driven by the belief that language education is not just about communication, but also about fostering understanding, empathy, and appreciation for different cultures. Through his teaching, Ahmad aims to help his students develop a profound appreciation for the beauty and richness of Persian language and culture. Ahmad's love for studying the diversities between cultures and nations extends beyond the realm of language teaching. He actively engages in activities and research that allow him to explore the unique aspects that shape different societies. His interactions with people from diverse backgrounds inspire him to appreciate the richness and beauty found within the tapestry of global cultures.

Yurika comes from Japan and has been living in Hamilton for over 30 years. She taught Japanese at the University of Waikato for 15 years and currently works as an early childhood education teacher and a freelance translator.

Hidekazu Oka is a 25 year old originally born in Tokyo, Japan. Before he settled in New Zealand seven years ago, he lived in Singapore for two years, and Taiwan for five years. Hidekazu is currently a third year student at the University of Waikato, double-majoring in Mandarin and Mathematics as well as being a Mandarin class representative in his second year. At the moment, Hidekazu is planning to develop a career teaching Japanese and Mathematics at the secondary school level. In his spare time, Hidekazu enjoys watching motorcycle vlogs, while dreaming to own his own motorcycle again, as well as enjoying authentic Chinese foods.

Laura was born in Madrid, Spain in the central part of the Iberian Peninsula. She has always been proud of her motherland and passionate about different cultures and languages. She studied Geography and History at University Complutense in Madrid. She has experience as the International Secretary at St Charles College, working at different companies from law firms, marketing, television and architecture. After studying Tourism at CENP Centro Español de Nuevas Profesiones, she worked at a hotel in Jersey, Channel Islands and as a travel agent in Madrid while volunteering at a local radio station. In 2005 she moved to New Zealand, and is now settled in Hamilton with her husband and two daughters. In 2006 she collaborated on the Community Radio programme Mundo Hispano and joined the Waikato Hispano Latino Cultural Trust, helping as a secretary and establishing the first Spanish playgroup in Hamilton in 2008. Since 2011, she has been working as a community Spanish interpreter and translator for the Hamilton Multicultural Trust and with English Language Partners. She has been working as a volunteer computer mentor at the Hamilton City Library and as a docent and visitor host at the Waikato Museum and at several cultural events at the Meteor. In 2010 she was employed by the Ministry of Education as bilingual teacher support at different schools from Primary to High school to assist new migrant students and their families get settled in New Zealand. During recent school holidays she has been a Coordinator for the Children's Holiday programmes at Shama Ethnic Women’s Trust. She has since been teaching Spanish in different after school programmes for children and adults and as a private tutor. Since 2017 she was appointed as Bilingual Support Staff at Knighton Normal School where she holds a permanent position as an English Language Learners Assistant, not just for the Spanish speaking children but also for all students with English as a second or third language. She has also participated in Flourish, a leadership development programme for aspiring leaders from ethnic communities at the HMS Trust. EarthDiverse is pleased to have Laura's join our team as a skilled instructor and supporter of cultural diversity. She is really happy to start teaching Spanish at EarthDiverse and sharing her language and culture.

Kikey is a well-being worker. She comes from Mexico and is passionate about the Spanish language. She’s very involved with communities and likes to support all initiatives that aim at sharing cultural knowledge and promoting diversity. She works at ALAC, Aotearoa Latin American Community.

Hola a todos! I am Ingrid Chavez, I come from Chile, South America. I have been living in New Zealand for 15 years. I am a passionate educator with a bachelor degree. Through my journey as an immigrant I fell in love with the diversity in our society. Getting to know other cultures and learning how languages work from so many different backgrounds encouraged me to become a Teacher of English to Speakers of other languages at Wintec. This study has broadened my horizon because I love teaching to people of all ages, especially to be able to teach my native language, Spanish.