About lessons:

The grammar class level was right for me. I also enjoy the IELTS Prep lessons.

The only lesson that I found a bit difficult sometimes was the conversation class because the levels of students in the class were different.

About Homestay:

My homestay was ok. We had our own flat with an ensuite which was very good.

Sometimes I wished a bit more contact to family members or friends. One minus was there was no internet access there.

About Activities:

I only joined 2 activities, I enjoyed both. The activity teacher is fabulous!

About Evakona:

Evarything was great. Very friendly teachers, helpful, laughing always...

Also the staff! you can come to the office whenever you want and they help you.

The only minus point for me was thin walls... you can hear what's going on in the next class, it was a little bit stressful when you have to do the tests...

From Stafff---We will do tests in room 1 (separated from other rooms) in the future or just tell Lisl to quiet down!! Thank you for your comment  :)

About Whitiangaa:

I like Whitianga. Small village but great opportunities.

Anke Maurer (from Switzerland)

IELTS Preparation Course - 8 weeks in 2008

About Lessons:

I liked studying at Evakona, their teaching style is my fovorite.

About Homestay:

I had a wonderful homestay experience. They have a lot of good things, good people, good food and good room.

About Activities:

Very interesting. I loved it. My favorite was Paint balling.

About Evakona:

PERFECT school in the world for me!!

About Whitianga:

I've enjoyed Whitianga! It is a lovely town.

Kan PAN (from China)

General English Course - 33 weeks in 2008

At first, the class was a bit too strong for me, then later when I got better I enjoyed studying here very much! I didn't like the homeworks much though... (because I'm lazy...).

I stayed at Marina Park Apartment, that was SUPER! (view was excellent!) I also stayed at the flat and that was confortable, friendly and very good.

At Evakona school, teachers and staff were very helpful and very friendly.  More than friends and teachers, I feel like that Im at home. The best place for me to study English.

Whitianga was the perfect place to realx and come down. Environment and landscape beautiful! I enjoyed every day here!

My target was to reach 6.5 in IELTS and I did.  Also I was able to improve my knowledge about English and this I wouldn't have done without the help from Evakona and the teachers.

Joerg Schlenburg (from Germany)

IELTS Preparation Course - 18 weeks in 2008

Everything is good because Evakona has good teachers. I enjoyed studying here.

I think my homestay is the best homestay in Whitianga!

Activities were a little expensive I thought, but I enjoyed them a lot and the activity teacher was very good!   Whitianga was very beautiful and nice place.

Mohammad Baateyah (from Saudi Arabia)

General English Course - 8 weeks in 2008

All the teachers and satff were very kind, I am very greatefull that they taught me everything so nicely.

I loved this school's friendliness very much!

I have exprienced not only English but also all the fun activieies as well as making friends with many people from different countries. Talking to them and exchange each other's cultures expanded my world.

Thank you so much for this wonderful experience!

I take this experience as the treasure and confidence of my life to my future life.

I will come back !!

Yasuko Tsukamoto (from Japan)

General English Course - 12 weeks in 2008

About lessons:

Lessons were Awesome!!! The level was a little bit high for me, but I think I could improve my English.

About Homestay:

Homestay family was very very kind and extremely friendly! I won't forget them.

About Activity:

Lisl was very funny and kidn. Actually, the most fun thing at EVA was activities!

I enjoyed all of them, but I think Banana boating was the best!!

About school:

Staff and teachers, Service, Equipment and Environment were all perfect!!

Dong-Eun Kim (from Korea)

General English Course, 5 weeks in 2008

The level was a little bit too high but it was OK because only for 3 weeks. I could learn a lot from the other students as well. Teachers and staff was very nice and helpful.

Whitianga is lovely small town, I like it.

Adrian Bohren (from Switzerland)

General English Course, 3 weeks in 2008

About lessons:

Good level. I've learnt a lot. Very good private lessons held by Emma and Joerg. Good experience to get in touch with Japanese cultre by communication with Japanese students at school.

About Homestay:

The homestay family was perfect for me. A little remoted on the hill but as I like biking, no problem for me. Very friendly, entertaining, talkative, helpfull people with a beautiful house with a view over the Mercury Bay.

About School:

Very friendly, helpful teachers and staff. I appreciated the variety of the teaching methods as well as the high quality private lessons.

About Whitianga town:

A nice, small, quite town with friendly people and beautiful sorroundings.

Would you like to come back?: Yes

Have you achieve your aim?: Yes, I have managed to pass the Cambridge Advanced with grade A :-)

Christian Wirtz (from Switzerland)

Exam prep course (Group + Private) 4 weeks, Nov-Dec 2007

The lessons were very good, were very funny and interesting. I learnt a lot about NZ and other cultures.

My level was very low at start, and now is better. The teachers were very patient and nice to me.

Whitianga was very good, the town is very beautiful, quiet and very different from my home town. The beach is wonderful. The people are very generous.

Before I was not able to speak with others in English, now it is easier for me. I wish my course was longer.

Elizabet V Aranda (from Spain)

Very Joyful. Teachers at EVA are really good in teaching grammar. They are SUPER TEACHERS!!!

Whitianga is the BEST PLACE to LEARN ENGLISH.

I love EVA, I will remember EVA forever.

Hye Jin Jung (from South Korea)

General / Intensive Course – 4 weeks in 2007

I enjoyed the small classes with lots of discussion. Level was a bit too high for me. Grammar class was ok, but the conversation was a little difficult for me. I wish I could stay longer until I get to express my feelings better. At EVA, I loved the student Common Room. I used it to relax. Free tea and coffee was great. I didn’t need to bring my own drink from home. There always are Japanese staff I can ask questions and help, I could have relaxed and enjoy studying.

Whitianga town was AWESOME!! But… I had kids with me and the places that I could go were limited. However, I was very impressed by beautiful views and peaceful atmosphere of this town.  I am glad to come here. I want to come back in summer.

Yoshiyuki Miyabe (from Japan)

Family Programme, with his 2 sons in 2007

Everything was good in lessons, including teachers and text books.

I think EVA is very good not only because of good teachers and lessons but also they look after the students very well.

Abdulah Alnosiaan (from Saudi Arabia)

Exam Prep Course – 6 weeks in 2007

All the lessons at EVA were really good. I think to start with the intermediate level was a good decision. So I could improve my grammar knowledge.

All activities at EVA were in their own way, interesting. The reason why I had booked the activities was to see something of the environment of Whitianga and to see something from NZ. I think I have reached this aim.  The teacher for the activities was quite good.

There is nothing to complain about EVA school service, staff or teachers.

Whitianga is a good place for learning. Its not over crowded, the locals are friendly and most of the time, it’s a quite nice town.

Thomas Forster (from Germany)

IELTS Prep Course - 8 weeks in 2007

Especially Grammar classes at Evakona were excellent. Conversation classes were more like fun. 

Afternoon classes should have more levels I felt, but the Exam Prep classes were so good. I have learned a lot.

I stayed at the International Lodge, which was very good.

Evakona was perfect in their service, environment and staff / teachers.

Whitianga town was awesome! Safe, beautiful and the locals are very friendly. Dairy products and vegetable were very delicious here. There are a lot of activities that you can experience very cheap! 

I would love to come back.

Hiroshi Imada (from Japan)

General/Intensive & Exam Prep Course – 12 weeks in 2006

I had been running my own business in the last few years in one of the busiest cities in Japan. I have been always busy and stressed and I was having a very defending mind.  When I came to Evakona, everybody was so friendly and nice to me, even those young students who I hardly have a chance to make friends with in Japan, they made my mind melt down, I was so moved, nearly got into tears… Thank you so much. You  have wonderful students!  I had spent all time happy here thanks to the support that the school gave me.

Kuni (from Japan)

General / Intensive Course in 2006

Very nice people, family atmosphere here. Teachers were very patient, open minded, and passionate.  It was lovely to meet you. 

Kim Boblet (from Germany)

General / Intensive Course in 2006

I really enjoyed this class and all the teachers.  I studied English for many years before but I think this was the period that I’ve improved more.  I stayed very well and I hope to come back to this country.

Carlo (from Italy)

General/Intensive Course – 4 weeks in 2005

For four weeks living and studying at Evakona in Whitianga, I could say that everyday here is worth remembering for me. On the first day I came here, I thought this town is totally different from Bangkok. It’s small, quiet and beautiful, and I think it is a good place for studying. In the first week, I found it difficult and hard to adjust myself to the new place, but all the teachers, staff and my new friends were always there whenever I had trouble. They helped me with everything and really made me feel much better, so that I could start to enjoy my new life in Whitianga.

Also, I loved to do activities on Friday afternoon; I could do many things I’ve never done before.

Although I stayed and studied here only for a short time, I will always remember my life in NZ, I was very lucky to study at Evakona. This will be my valuable experience I could never find anywhere else, but here at Evakona in Whitianga.

Chalotorn (From Thailand)

General/Intensive Course - 4 weeks in 2004