ABOUT US

After teaching at SCLI for many years I became the principal and a short time after that owner and director of SCLI. It is my goal to provide an exciting and challenging language program for our students and to encourage and motivate them to make the most of their special year abroad. I am proud that SCLI is a partner with Color Vowel®, whose unique pronunciation teaching system helps students develop clearer, more natural English communication skills while also improving their listening ability and confidence. Outside of school, I enjoy walking, doing word puzzles, cooking and trying new recipes, spending time with family, boating, travelling, and browsing antique stores.

Prior to becoming the administrator and host family liaison person at SCLI, I did contract work for various companies. The business skills and inter-personal skills from those positions are useful in ensuring the non- academic side of SCLI runs smoothly. An important part of my job is recruiting and supporting host families and finding out -of- school clubs and activities for students to join. Both Lisa and I do our absolute best to keep our SCLI family of students, staff and families (both Japanese and New Zealand) well informed and cared for. Outside of school, I love fishing, boating, scuba diving, and exploring New Zealand's countryside and coastline. I am always happy to share recommendations on places to visit and things to do in Christchurch.

I moved to New Zealand with my family in 2003. As a long-term resident and former stay-at-home mother, I was deeply involved in many school activities, such as the PTA, fundraising, children’s sports and music, and various community events. Following my children's high school graduation, I also gained valuable experience working for a New Zealand company.Throughout these years, I have realized that connecting with people is my true passion and motivation. To further my skills, I studied counseling and completed a Health and Wellbeing course here in Christchurch in 2024. I am dedicated to supporting SCLI students in achieving their goals by helping them find their own paths to success. I hope to help students discover New Zealand's unique culture and lifestyle, encouraging them to adapt to and embrace everything this beautiful country has to offer. I like to spend time with my family and catch up with friends in my free time. Watching musicals, movies, and Japanese and Korean dramas is one of my favorite things to do. I really love pandas and also love eating spicy food.

Kia ora,my name is Lesley Davidson-Hurst and I have been teaching at SCLI for about 20 years. I love teaching here and making positive relationships with the different students every year. I especially love teaching about vocabulary and pronunciation. Learning vocabulary is such an important part of any language learning so I teach students a variety of techniques to remember words that will help them now and for any future language studies they may do. I believe that students learn more when they are enjoying themselves so I try to make my class relaxing and engaging. I have lived in Denmark, South Korea and Laos and I have learned Danish, Korean, Lao and also Maori. Therefore I understand the struggles of learning another language, but also the challenges of living with a host family and in a different culture. This helps me connect with the students and understand their experiences.