I chose Otago because it’s nice and close to home. I can still ... [interview interrupted by children] ... Thank you. Cool, would you better look after it for a minute? I just got to do this video, and then I’ll be able to come find it with you.

Kia ora, my name is Kane Johnson. My name is Erica Kormack. Talofa lava my name is Sami Seao. Hi, I am Elisha DeCourcy, I am a third-year student doing a Bachelor in Teaching endorsed in Primary Education. I think the really great thing about the College of Education as that the lecturers are always available for you, so you can go and ask for help or guidance or anything really. I think that’s what makes the College of Education really special.

The Te Pōkai unit is an opportunity for anybody to be part of. Whether you’re to iwi, you're Māori or Pacifica, it doesn’t matter. It’s not just about speaking Māori, it’s about the concepts and ideals behind it and getting you a better world view, I guess, of te ao Māori, and how we can incorporate that. It’s something to be celebrated and not afraid of.

The early childhood programme involves a bit of class time, which is lectures, tutorials and workshops. You do that usually about four days a week. Then you get put in an early childhood center, and yeah, that’s sort of when you get to put into practice everything you’ve learned in class. Ah, good work!

Placement’s been awesome. I find that I’ve been learning a lot more very quickly in my time here. And also it's been good pairing up with teachers, with mentor teachers, to help us who are quite young in the profession, quite fresh, to be able to practice and develop our pedagogies too.

Once you get into the school and you’re in the class environment, you really realize why you’re doing the degree. The kids absolutely love having student teachers is – it gives you a chance to experience life as a teacher. You see how busy it is but also also how amazing it is, especially when you see students make progress or you realise that you have a really cool impact on their life.

Can’t speak highly enough of our lecturers and the support that we get, and also from the students that you are working alongside as well. You are building that sense of whanau and getting each other through.

In terms of the lecturers, they are very helpful, very informative, very knowledgeable people, and it’s awesome to know that if we are struggling that we are able to approach them on a more pastoral conversation. That’s very comforting and very reassuring for a student who’s not from here.

There wasn’t ever really another option to me. I always wanted to come to Otago. With the OUSA and their events and things like that, it brings you into the whole Dunedin experience I think.

[Conversing with a child as the video fades out].