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International Languages and Cultures

International Languages and Cultures at Waikato offers four specialisations - Chinese, French, Japanese, and Spanish. With advanced language skills, you'll meet the world's need for multilingual and culturally sensitive speakers, enhancing your business and social skills and preparing you for success in a multicultural work environment.

From 2023, four papers in the Korean language will be offered to students as electives. These are KOREA131 and KOREA232 in Trimester A, and KOREA231 and KOREA331 in Trimester B..

Four streams to choose from

When you take a BA in International Languages and Cultures, you choose a single stream.


We offer many possibilities to study languages and enable you to use multimedia applications to make international communication easier. You'll significantly increase your marketability and open doors for adventurous overseas job opportunities. Our languages programme is QS-rated in the top 250 subjects in the world.

We offer a range of options for studying languages with papers in Chinese, French, Japanese, and Spanish. You can choose to major in International Languages and Cultures, specialise in one language whilst completing a minor in another. Or you can major in International Languages and Cultures and take a range of cultural communication papers. You can add a major, or a minor in International Languages and Cultures to any other subject such as business, management, law or science, to further enhance your preparation for the workforce.

Students also benefit from travelling abroad to study their language through immersive learning opportunities. Chinese students, for instance, travel to China to gain first-hand language skills and cultural understanding.

Waikato gives you the space to become versatile to deal with texts in a variety of media formats to meet communication and translation needs. The International Languages and Cultures programme at Waikato is highly reputed and increases employability for those seeking job opportunities in other cultures and with different people groups.

Apply to enrol

Key information

Study Location:Hamilton
Area of Study:

Study International Languages and Cultures in these qualifications

Career opportunities

  • Diplomat
  • Hospitality Operator
  • International Lawyer
  • Tour Guide
  • Translator or Interpreter
  • Travel Agent

100 Level

Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
CHINE131Chinese for Beginners15.024B (Hamilton)
This paper introduces you to the Chinese writing system, pinyin, and tones. You will also learn the basics of greetings and self-introductions in Chinese. The paper is for complete beginners only.
FRNCH131French for Beginners15.024B (Hamilton)
Learn the basics of written and spoken French including greetings, family, city life and daily routines. No previous knowledge of French is needed.
INTLC101International Languages and Cultures15.024B (Online) & 24G (Online)
This paper introduces students to major world cultures and their languages in a comparative context. Students will gain a critical understanding of culture and diversity through examining the languages and cultures of China, France, Japan, Korea, Spain and Latin America.
INTLC102Communicating Across Cultures15.024A (Hamilton)
This paper introduces core elements of communication across major world cultures, and enables you to acquire basic language skills for everyday situations in Chinese, French, Japanese, Korean and Spanish.
JAPAN131Japanese for Beginners15.024B (Hamilton)
This paper assumes no previous knowledge of Japanese. It takes an integrated approach to the four skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking.
KOREA131Korean Language for Beginners 115.024A (Hamilton) & 24A (Online)
This language acquisition paper is designed for absolute beginners. Students will acquire basic written and spoken communication skills in Korean.
SPNSH131Spanish for Beginners15.024B (Hamilton)
Learn the basics of written and spoken Spanish including greetings, family, city life and daily routines. No previous knowledge of Spanish is needed.

200 Level

Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
CHINE231Intermediate Chinese 115.024A (Hamilton)
This paper will extend students' communication skills in Chinese across a range of everyday situations, including celebrations, seeking medical advice, arranging rental accommodation and shopping as a tourist.
CHINE232Intermediate Chinese 215.024B (Hamilton)
This paper will enable you to improve your Chinese communication skills across a range of everyday situations by expanding your understanding of more complex grammatical structures and vocabulary.
FRNCH231Intermediate French 115.024A (Hamilton)
Take your written and spoken French to the next level. This paper focuses on the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing the French language at an intermediate level.
FRNCH232Intermediate French 215.024B (Hamilton)
This paper is the continuation of FRNCH231.
INTLC200Spanish & Latin American Business Culture: Intercultural Competence 115.024A (Hamilton)
This paper analyses cultural traits from Spain and Latin America and examines how these attributes may impact on business and tourism industries.
INTLC221Understanding East Asia15.024B (Hamilton)
This paper offers a critical examination of historical traditions and contemporary life in East Asia within a global context. This paper is taught in English and is open to all students, including those who have no prior knowledge of Chinese, Japanese or Korean.
INTLC222Food Practices & Cultural Journeys15.024A (Online)
Cooking and food is linked intrinsically to history: migration, immigration and colonisation and have all played a part in shaping national and regional identities. Using different media: art, painting, photography and film, we will explore the gastronomical changes and discoveries that have shaped nations.
INTLC225The French-speaking World from Astérix to Zombies15.024B (Online)
Discover the result of contact between French, regional and Indigenous cultures in Europe, Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific. Topics include language revitalisation, the Slave Trade, Creoles and Vodou. This paper is taught in English.
JAPAN231Basic Japanese 115.024A (Hamilton)
This language acquisition paper is designed as a continuation from JAPAN131, a paper designed for absolute beginners. Students will acquire further basic written and spoken communication skills in Japanese language.
JAPAN232Basic Japanese 215.024B (Hamilton)
This language acquisition paper follows JAPAN231, a paper designed for learners with a rudimentary knowledge of Japanese. Students will acquire further basic written and spoken communication skills in Japanese language.
KOREA231Korean Language 215.024B (Hamilton) & 24B (Online)
This language acquisition paper is designed as a continuation from KOREA131. Students will acquire further basic written and spoken communication skills in the Korean language.
KOREA232Intermediate Korean Language 115.024A (Hamilton) & 24A (Online)
The purpose of this paper is to help students build linguistic skills in Korean at a lower intermediate level and acquire cultural perspectives through their language learning.
LINGS203Language, Society and Culture15.024B (Hamilton)
In this paper, we explore cultural diversity through language. We develop understandings of the way that language both reflects, and is used to construct diverse social and cultural identities and practices. We will look at multiple examples of both linguistic and cultural research, as well as learning from our own diverse experien...
SPNSH231Intermediate Spanish 115.024A (Hamilton)
Extend your previous knowledge of Spanish to express past and future situations. Topics will include shopping, local places of interest, and employment.
SPNSH232Intermediate Spanish 215.024B (Hamilton)
Students will extend their language skills, and cover toipcs such as travelling, eating out and wellbeing.

300 Level

Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
CHINE306Reading and Translation Skills: Chinese15.024A (Hamilton)
This paper is designed primarily for native speakers of Chinese. It is taught bilingually and aims to improve students' bilingual reading skills and develop students' ability to translate from and into Chinese and English.
CHINE331Advanced Chinese 115.024A (Hamilton)
This paper focuses on advanced Chinese language learning and is a continuation of Intermediate Chinese 2.
CHINE332Advanced Chinese 215.024B (Hamilton)
This paper focuses on advanced Chinese language learning and is a continuation of Advanced Chinese 1.
FRNCH331Advanced French 115.024A (Hamilton)
Use your French in practical contexts. This paper covers work, CV-writing, presentations, travel, accommodation and everyday life in France.
FRNCH332Advanced French 215.024B (Hamilton)
Extend your written and spoken French skills through creative writing and discussion of current affairs in France.
INTLC301Research Methods in International Languages and Cultures15.024B (Hamilton)
After workshops covering intercultural contexts in research, bibliography, literature reviews, ethics, data collection and editing, students will prepare a research report.
INTLC303Visual Cultures of East Asia15.024B (Hamilton)
This paper critically examines key forms of East Asian visual culture, with a focus on film and art, and within a comparative context.
INTLC304Cultural Identities in the Age of Globalisation15.024A (Online)
This paper explores the formation of cultural identities and the challenges they face in the age of globalisation through case studies from European, Latin American and East Asian contexts.
INTLC312Visual Cultures of Spain and Latin America15.024B (Hamilton)
This paper, conducted in English, offers both a historical and contemporary approach to regional and national identity construction in Spain and Latin America. Through a selection of cultural readings and viewings, the paper aims to provide students with an understanding of the interface of culture and visual culture in relation to...
INTLC317French Culture from Versailles to the Revolution15.024B (Hamilton)
A study of France's literary, social, and historical movements from the Golden Age of Versailles through to the Enlightenment and the Revolution it inspired.
INTLC380Study Abroad 115.024G (Block), 24I (Block) & 24X (Block)
This paper will enable students to undertake appropriate individual study abroad programmes as part of their undergraduate degree. Each study programme should have a significant component of time spent offshore, with a series of assessments being agreed in advance with the paper convenor.
JAPAN331Japanese for Communication 115.024A (Hamilton)
This paper focuses on advanced Japanese language learning and is a continuation of JAPAN232.
JAPAN332Japanese for Communication 215.024B (Hamilton)
This paper is the continuation of JAPAN331.
KOREA331Intermediate Korean Language 215.024B (Hamilton) & 24B (Online)
The purpose of this paper is to help students build linguistic skills in Korean at an upper intermediate level for everyday communication with native Korean speakers.
SPNSH331Advanced Spanish 115.024A (Hamilton)
This paper is designed to enhance proficiency in Spanish at an advanced level. It will focus on contemporary cultural issues, and historical themes related to pre-Hispanic indigenous civilizations.
SPNSH332Advanced Spanish 215.024B (Hamilton)
This paper focuses on advanced Spanish language learning and is a continuation of Advanced Spanish 1.

Scholarships and prizes

New to Waikato? The International Excellence Scholarship is worth up to $10,000.

Visit our Scholarship Finder for information about possible scholarships

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Subject links

East Asian Studies Programme
European Languages Programme


For more information about subject requirements please refer to the Catalogue of Papers for the most up to date information. If you have any questions and need more advice contact one of our friendly student advisors phone: 0800 800 145 or +64 7 838 4080 or email: [email protected]

Note: Students with prior knowledge of the language they wish to specialise in must consult the Programme Convenor before enrolling in language acquisition papers.

Please note: For all graduate subject requirements check the information provided in the papers section above.


Contacts

School of Arts
Phone: 0800 800 145 or +64 7 838 4932
Email Enquiries: [email protected]