Merle Braithwaite was born in South Africa, and immigrated to New Zealand in 1995, where she joined the Tauranga Writers for Children. The support of this group was one of the factors that helped Merle to settle in New Zealand so happily, as did the love and support of Bookrapt (the Bay of Plenty Children's Literature Association).
Merle was a registered teacher and published writer. In 2000, she established The Speech and Learning Centre, which offers a variety of communication and literacy courses. The Centre caters for students of various age groups, ability levels and cultural backgrounds and publishes educational resources. Merle was a member of TESOLANZ and the Speech Communication Association (NZ) and an accredited examiner of the SpeMerle Braithwaite was born in South Africa, and immigrated to New Zealand in 1995, where she joined the Tauranga Writers for Children. The support of this group was one of the factors that helped Merle to settle in New Zealand so happily, as did the love and support of Bookrapt (the Bay of Plenty Children's Literature Association).
Merle was a registered teacher and published writer. In 2000, she established The Speech and Learning Centre, which offers a variety of communication and literacy courses. The Centre caters for students of various age groups, ability levels and cultural backgrounds and publishes educational resources. Merle was a member of TESOLANZ and the Speech Communication Association (NZ) and an accredited examiner of the Speech New Zealand OCESOL exams.
Merle developed and presented professional development courses for teachers at various centres in New Zealand. Her presentations included: Improving Intelligibility: University of Auckland 2006, 2007 Scaffolding for the ESOL Learner: CLESOL Conference; Napier 2006 Supporting the ESOL Learner: o Mana Education Centre, Wellington 2006, 2007, 2008 o Kohia Centre, Papakura Techers Centre, University of Auckland 2006, 2007 o School Support Services, University of Waikato 2006, 2007, 2008 Strategies for Speaking: College of Education; Christchurch 2006; Kohia Centre; University of Auckland 2006, 2007. Teaching students with limited English in mainstream classes: o Mana Education Centre, Wellington 2006, 2007, 2008 o Kohia Centre, University of Auckland 2006, 2007, 2008 o School Support Services: University of Waikato 2006, 2007, 2008
Merle also published SLC Resources, a range of publications for ESOL teachers. These included: English Sounds ISBN 0-473-08162-8 Speaking English ISBN 0-473-08163-6 The Setting the Standard Series (eighteen assessment guides for providers of ESOL Unit Standards).
Her series Sounds Right! published by Curriculum Concepts, was launched at the CLESOL conference in October 2008.
Publications by Merle Braithwaite:
Fiction: 1999 - 2008 Several stories in Stories for Kiwi Kids published by the Tauranga Writers for Children 1999 What a Commotion: (The Four A’s) Wildcat Series; Shortland (NZ) 1996 Thandi Goes to Town; Heinemann (UK) 1995 City Kids; novel for teenagers; Via Africa (RSA) 1994 Three Against the Big Boys; novel for teenagers, Via Africa(RSA) 1991 The Little Clay Elephant; short story for children, published in an anthology, Storyland , Tafelberg (RSA)
Educational Resources: 2008 Sounds Right! A pronunciation programme for speakers of Han languages, learning English: Curriculum Concepts, New Zealand 2008 Sounds Right! A pronunciation programme for speakers of Korean, learning English: Curriculum Concepts, New Zealand 2008 Sounds Right! A pronunciation programme for speakers of Japanese, learning English: Curriculum Concepts, New Zealand 2005 - 2008 Setting the Standard (A series of ESOL Unit Standard assessment guides), SLC Resources 2001 Speaking English, ESOL Resource, SLC Resources English Sounds, ESOL Resource, SLC Resources 1994 Revision of, and contribution to Windows, an English Language and Reading Course published by Shuter and Shooter (RSA) 1994 Materials used in Word Power, a reading programme for students learning to speak English; Shuter and Shooter (RSA).
Merle passed away on 21 October 2012 after a long illness. She is greatly missed and very fondly remembered. This biography appears on the Bookrapt website....more
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