Languages & Cultures at the University of Otago

29/05/2026

The first award has been made for a scholarship designed to encourage University of Otago students to study German online via Victoria University of Wellington (VUW).
Otago students have been able to include German papers offered at VUW in their Otago degree since 2024.
The inaugural winner is Phoebe Osborne (NZ European/Samoan).
Phoebe has completed a Bachelor of Music endorsed in Performance and is currently doing a Bachelor of Arts in English and Linguistics with a minor in German.
Otago Acting Head of the Languages Will Sweetman says “Phoebe was a standout student, who has excelled during her time at Otago. She has received two prizes for German from VUW this year, including the Eichelbaum prize. She intends to study for a Master’s in Classical Performance in Berlin.”
VUW Associate Professor Monica Tempian says Phoebe was the first Otago student to enrol in the new collaboration scheme in 2024.
She says Phoebe’s vision is to combine music and German on her career pathway as a professional opera singer.
“She pursued her online German studies with remarkable perseverance, dedication, success and joy, completing five courses in two years.
“Alongside her outstanding achievements, Phoebe has also generously contributed on multiple occasions as a German Student Ambassador to promoting German culture and language in New Zealand.
“Her latest success in that respect was an engaging ‘Easy German’ video she participated in alongside my advanced learners, which had recently had more than 80,000 YouTube views,” Monica says.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paIiikWpnok

Phoebe Osborne (right) with Otago alumna and scholarship supporter Judith Geare.

19/05/2026

An Interview with Yoshi Isoyama (Part 1)
Welcome to our nineteenth episode!

In this episode, we join Yoshi Isoyama, another member of Dunedin-Otaru Sister City, an interpreter/translator, a language teacher and a tour guide, etc., and ask him about his upbringing, school days and uni life in Tokyo before moving to Dundin, NZ.

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Host: Haruko Stuart (Senior Teaching Fellow @ Languages and Cultures)

This show is broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - oar.org.nz and made thanks to the support of NZ on Air.

15/05/2026

Today around 50 senior German students from four Dunedin schools spent the day with us on campus for our German Immersion Day.

Heike Cebulla from Logan Park opened the day with a German Karakia. The morning theme was football, with students rotating through three stations: designing a football kit, creating a chant, and blind football outside.

Year 12 and 13 students sat in on a class with Dr Monica Tempian from Victoria University of Wellington, taught live via Zoom, while Year 11 took part in interactive language games. Lunch was Würstchen and Brötchen 🥨🌭In the afternoon, students gathered for Kuchen and Brettspiele.

Danke to the teachers who made the day happen: Heike Cebulla (Logan Park), Karola Franklyn (Bayfield), and Claudia Crooke (John McGlashan) and Katrina Yelavich (Columba College), both former students of the German Programme at Otago. Thanks also to our Otago tutor Lenka Blass and her students, who joined in as volunteers, and to Yona Brand from the Goethe-Institut for being part of the day.

11/05/2026

On Friday, around 70 senior French students from five Dunedin schools spent the day with us on campus for our Journée Française.
There was pétanque on the lawn, French dance, a quiz, and crêpes for everyone. In the afternoon, teams headed out on a scavenger hunt across campus, which included using their French at Otago Global to find out about exchange universities in French-speaking countries.
Students also sat in on a university class on political parody in the French media, for a glimpse of what a 200-level French course at Otago could look like.
Merci to Logan Park, St Hilda's, Columba, Kings and Queens. Stay tuned for German Immersion Day this Friday.

10/05/2026

Dunedin-Otaru Sister Cities Society Podcast hosted by our own Haruko Stuart (Japanese Senior Teaching Fellow)

[An Interview with Izumi Uchida (Part 2)]

Welcome to our 18th episode!
In this episode, Izumi continues to talk about her current and past jobs that she still has a strong passion for. Her boundless curiosity, adventurous spirit and dedication to serving her community are surely inspiring!
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Host: Haruko Stuart

This show is broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - oar.org.nz and made thanks to the support of NZ on Air.
Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/OtaruSpotify
Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/OtaruApplePod

Haruko's former interviewee, Koryu Aoshima (Mural Artist) kindly shared his feedback on my performance as a radio host! Thank you so much, Koryu-san! I hope this feedback will encourage more people to become interested in this show!
“I’ve never had my work explored in such depth in an interview before, so it was a great opportunity to reflect on my practice from a broader perspective. Haruko’s thoughtful and specific questions helped bring out aspects I hadn’t noticed myself and gave me a chance to think about my future direction. Thank you very much for this valuable experience.”

10/05/2026

Ramen lovers! This is your kind of event held this coming Sunday from 12:30 - 2:30! :)

SIGN UP DEADLINE WEDNESDAY 13/05
LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE,
Join us for a hands on experience where you’ll learn about the history and culture behind ramen, learn how to make your own unique bowl!
Bring your friends and enjoy a unique experience together.

📅 May 17th | 12:30–2:30PM
📍 OUSA Evison Lounge

💰 $15 (OJSA Members) $20 (Non-members)

⚠️ Please make sure to register prior to the event we will not be accepting walk-ins on the day.
🚨 Limited spots available!

Sign Up Form in our Bio and Below
https://forms.gle/PAeUReEjSaQ5TqgU8

27/03/2026

Haruko Stuart, our Senior Teaching Fellow in Japanese and an executive member of Dunedin-Otaru Sister Cities Society is a host on OAR (Otago Access Radio), where she interviews Japanese language learners including our students, Japanese immigrants living in Dunedin, people interested in Japan, and those working in Japan-related fields, striving to deepen understanding of Japan, Japanese culture, and the Japanese language in the community.

[An Interview with Sabrina Goh]

Welcome to our 15th episode! (on air on Monday 30 March @6:00pm)

In this episode, we'll hear in detail about how Sabrina Goh (a Teaching Fellow in the Department of Psychology at Otago University and the leader of the O-taiko or Japanese taiko drums club) came to Dunedin from her home country of Malaysia, as well as her student life, her life as a psychology faculty member, and her exciting multi-cultural and multi-lingual family!

Follow us on Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/SocietyFacebook
Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/OtaruNewsletter

Host: Haruko Stuart

This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin - oar.org.nz and made thanks to the support of NZ on Air.

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/OtaruSpotify
Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/OtaruApplePod

24/03/2026

It was a great pleasure to host French writer Katia Astafieff yesterday for a captivating 'café littéraire', organised in collaboration with the Alliance Française de Dunedin.

Katia, currently the Randell Cottage Writer in Residence, is retracing the steps of 19th‑century biologist and painter Marianne North, and offered us wonderful insights into North’s adventurous life and her own upcoming project inspired by it.

Many thanks to the Alliance Française team for this inspiring event — and to everyone who joined us for such an engaging discussion!

17/03/2026

Café Littéraire - Conversation with Katia Astafieff, French Author
Tue, Mar 24 | 5pm Seminar | Room 1.21, Hunter Centre

Join us for a fascinating talk by French author Katia Astafieff. Katia is following in the footsteps of 19th century biologist and painter Marianne North and will share her progress on her current project as the Randell Cottage Writer in Residence.

09/03/2026

Join us on Wednesday 11 March at 4.00 pm at Café Yours, Moray Place for the next Café Babel gathering.

Café Babel brings together people who enjoy languages. Come along to practise French, Spanish, te reo Māori, Japanese, Chinese, or any other language you speak or are learning. Everyone with an interest in languages is welcome.