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Languages

Take a break with news and views in your language.

Discover a world of language resources

We can help you learn another language or improve the language skills you already have. Maybe you want to read a book, magazine or newspaper in a language other than English? We can help.

Join the library: information in community languages

Information on joining the library in community languages.

Code of Conduct: information in community languages

Read the library Code of Conduct in community languages.

World Languages

Read books, newspapers and magazines in languages from all over the world.

We have online resources as well as titles to borrow and take home. For a full list of languages available see our World Languages Collections page.

World languages eResources

PressReader: Newspapers from around the world

Use your library to access online newspapers and magazines in 60 different languages including Chinese, French, German, Arabic and more.

LOTE4Kids

Storytime in your language! Kids can enjoy a digital collection of books in Languages Other Than English, including NZSL and te reo Māori.

Enjoy world cinema with Kanopy

Watch films in 40 languages, including Spanish, German, French, Russian, Arabic and Japanese online with Kanopy.

Read in your language with OverDrive

OverDrive has eBooks in a range of languages including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Tagalog and Italian.

eMagazines from around the world

World Languages Collection

Including Afrikaans, Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Polish, Rarotongan & more

FAQ: Languages available on the self-issue kiosks

Issue your own library items from our self-issue kiosks in a range of different languages, including Māori.

Learning English

Borrow English language courses, grammar titles, or books in simple English to help you learn or access online resources focused on improving your English skills.

Learning English eResources

Arrivals in English

Aimed at Beginner-level learners this resource provides practical English for newcomers adjusting to life in New Zealand.

Tense Buster

Improve your English with Tense Buster which helps learners with 33 key grammar areas at five levels.

Practical Writing

Practical Writing is for students who need to use written English both in their studies and in their personal life.

Active Reading

Improve your reading skills, Active Reading will help those learning English to read more efficiently and more confidently.

Clear Pronunciation 2 Speech

Learn to speak English clearly, after completing Clear Pronunciation 1 Sounds learn to put the sounds of English together for natural speech

Road to IELTS: General

Self-study preparation course to help you prepare for the globally recognised IELTS exam. Tests English proficiency at a general level.

Clear Pronunciation Sounds

Learn to speak English clearly, recognise and pronounce the 43 sounds of English through audio, video and interactive activities.

Mango Languages

Mango is an online language learning system that can help you learn the most popular languages in the world.

Road to IELTS: Academic

Self-study preparation course to help you prepare for the globally recognised IELTS exam. Tests English proficiency at an academic level.

In the catalogue: Learning English

Learning Te Reo Māori

Read books in te reo Māori, borrow language courses, dictionaries, phrase books and more.

Celebrate Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori / Māori Language Week at the library or find recommended resources to help you improve your te reo Māori skills.

Featured

Learning te reo Māori

Explore library resources to help with learning and improving your reo Māori.

Beginners kete to learning basic Māori

Download and print our foldable wallet card resource that was created to help beginners learn some basic te reo Māori words and greetings.

Te reo Māori reading for adults

Recreational reading in te reo Māori for more advanced or older readers - fiction, poetry, traditional stories, essays, biography & history.

ChristchurchLib

Ngā Pakiwaitara - Bilingual Storytimes, part of a series

Dec 3rd | 10:30am - 11:00am

Tūranga

View all dates

Nau mai hoki mai rā, join us every Tuesday between 10:30-11am for our Ngā Pakiwaitara, bilingual story times.

New Zealand Sign Language

Find recommended resources on our New Zealand Sign Language Week page, or borrow sign language grammars, workbooks and DVDs.

Online Resource