Kids taken around the world in 22 books
Flying penguins, grumpy vacuum cleaners and chocolate stuffed fish are just some of the children’s story book characters written for primary pupils by international students.
Nayland Primary School pupils spent the morning listening to colourful and imaginative original stories read by Nayland College international students as part of the college’s initiative to develop English and connect with the community.
Nayland College international student advisor Marilyn Gibbs said the international students were encouraged to put some of their own culture into their stories so the primary pupils could learn from the experience.
Two Norweigan international students, Oystein Nordmo, 17 and Emil Bjerkvoll, 17 wrote ‘The Flying Penguin’ with the main characters having Norweigan names which they taught their group of six-year-olds to say.
The pair agreed it was ‘‘awesome’’ reading their story to the primary pupils.
The group of 30 international students, aged 16 and 17, came from countries including Japan, Germany, Chile, Russia, Taiwan and Norway.
‘The Pig with the Wig’ story written by another Norweigan pair, Sigrid Oledal 17 and Susie Frantzen 17 was a hit.
Illustrated by Oledal, she said the children loved the colours, with every pig wearing a different style and colour of wig.
Keturah Clark, 6 said her favourite part was ‘‘when the pig was wearing the long red wig’’.
Carting big world maps around the school with their stories, the international students would show the children where they were from.
From the mouths of babes came some interesting questions aimed at the international students including did they have snakes in their country, did they have electricity, what did they eat, what did the country look like and what native birds did they have?
Nayland College ESOL teacher Patty O’Flaherty was ‘‘excited’’ for the students to get the chance to share their stories.
She said in past years the children had enjoyed the experience.
‘‘They write us those beautiful, hilarious thank you letters.
‘‘They just love it.
‘‘Being Kiwi kids, often it’s the first time they’ve met a foreigner.’’