For teachers: Some considerations in the creation of this blog and website.

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Apart from simplifying the language and re-contextualising religious concepts to fit an Asian cultural understanding, curriculum concerns are complicated by the nature of the enrolment process of international students. This means that the student resource website needed to take the following things into consideration: 

Firstly, international students can be enrolled from Year 10 to 13 level. This means the material on core beliefs needs to be concise enough leaving enough time for senior students to also complete their NCEA credits. Other students who enter at junior levels and have more time to flesh out the basics, so more material is provided through hyperlinks.

Secondly, international students with literacy problems may need to do RE at senior levels. This means material needs to be simplified and as jargon free as possible but specialised vocabulary needs to be intentionally taught. Basic reading, listening, essay writing, summary, discussion and comprehension techniques need to be scaffolded and taught for senior students to succeed in this subject. 


Thirdly, these students need a resource to understand the religious significance of school practices in which they can access themselves, re-watch and a place to ask questions. 


Finally, for overseas students to see the relevance of RE, they need stories that connect them to NZ church history, local cultural and religious practice.

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