Level 5 Diploma helps to realise new dream

When Jinjian Yan entered her thirties, she felt time flying by.

After having children ignited an interest in education and child development, she decided to leave a decade-long career in fashion buying and management to begin working as a relief teacher in an ECE centre.

A year later, she enrolled at New Zealand Tertiary College in the New Zealand Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 5).

“During what should have been an ideal time for studying earlier in my life, I found myself lost and unsure of what path to take. When I finally discovered something I truly enjoyed, early childhood education, the timing was off as I had other responsibilities like raising my children,” explains Yan.

Determined to pursue her new career professionally and get the skills needed to become a great teacher, Yan leaned on NZTC’s student support and her family, and is due to graduate in May 2024.

The flexibility of NZTC’s programs has meant she can work full-time while completing her qualification and “learn from other teachers on the job”.

“Studying allows me to understand the ‘why’ and the underlying logic, while being able to practice means I can develop and learn different strategies. After each course, I find myself connecting the dots with my work experiences which leads to those ‘aha!’ moments,” she says.

“To create your own style of teaching, you need both.”

Yan has found the most value in her Culturally Responsive Early Childhood Education course, which helps her to understand the country and culture better.

The course supports student teachers to understand The Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its influence on early childhood education, as well as how to navigate the cultural diversity in ECE communities in a sensitive way.

With the Level 5 Diploma giving her the confidence and the foundation of knowledge to continue in her new career, Yan says she’ll be studying the Level 6 and Level 7 programs until she’s a fully qualified teacher.

“I knew that when I started studying again, I had to be able to work at the same time. I can’t just hit the books without working – I’ve got two young children to support.

“New Zealand Tertiary College offers people like me a wonderful opportunity to study and build up a new career through flexible study and reduced fees.”