LANGUAGES
LEARNING LANGUAGES IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND BEYOND
Last week I attended the German State Conference with the title `Multimedial. Digital. Global.` The program and key-note speakers alerted the participating teachers to the fact that our students, growing up as digital natives, are more and more impacted by technology and teachers need to respond by using more innovative ways to promote the learning of Languages.
One of the key-note speakers, the Austrian Writer, Film Director and University Lecturer Andreas Kurz brought to our attention the increasing speed of technology and the changes connected with it. His keynote 'Beschleunigung und Entfremdung' (acceleration and alienation) addressed that it is not the technologies that change our life but they are the responses to a changed environment and its demands. The increasing speed of new organisational and communication tools and its widespread use are not only beneficial, they also have attached to them quite some challenges, which teachers see in their classrooms.
However, the top three skills for future jobs named in a report from the Foundation for Young Australians in 2016 were: digital literacy, bilingualism and creativity.
The Languages faculty is well placed to deliver these skills and aims to strike a balance between the use of technology, active use of language in the classroom and creative and challenging opportunities for students.
With French and German being significant trade languages around the world and many French and German companies having their subsidiaries in Australia, we are offering students skills they will benefit from not only in Australia but in a global community.
We are also looking forward to starting a new Year 9 Spanish course in 2018 which will be another great option for students to take up a language that has significant impact worldwide.
So encourage your sons and daughters to take on the challenges and rewarding experiences of Language learning. They will open doors to more opportunities in the future!
Andrea Fowler
Head of Languages
LANGUAGE NEWS
There is quite some concern regarding the number of secondary school students studying a language and achieving language qualifications in Australian schools.
If you interested in the benefits of Language learning, listen to the following Counterpoint program on ABC RN!
Andrea Fowler
Head of Languages
NEW CALEDONIA: PRE-DEPARTURE MEETING
As our departure date is approaching, the parents and students attended a meeting to discuss the itinerary, the packing list and other important information. The three teachers accompanying the tour (Ms Ludmila Antal, Ms Kellie Dickson and Mr Paul King) and a representative from the tour company, GET Educational Tours, run the meeting and were able to answer questions. The students and parents seem very excited about the opportunity, especially after seeing photos and hearing about the itinerary.
The tour will leave on Monday 18 September and will return the following Monday. Noumea (the capital city) is only a short three and half hour flight away and it is likely to be warm and sunny. There are twenty-eight Year 9 students of French participating and will stay with host families, attend a language school and explore the islands.
The students are encouraged to following the packing list and recommendations in these last two weeks before departure.
Kellie Dickson
New Caledonia Trip Organiser