LANGUAGES

GERMAN SENIOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE TELLING THEIR STORIES

This week, Year 11 German students interviewed senior native speakers who have been participating in the Intergenerational Conversations throughout the year. The topic of our last conversation was the German volunteers´ immigration in Australia. The senior native speakers shared their personal reasons and as to why they or their parents decided to start a new life on the other side of the world. They talked about their childhood experiences, family, education and professional life.

This program aims to teach students not only language skills but also to develop respect, empathy and understanding for the contributions older participants have made and are still making to our society.

Students enjoyed working in pairs with our volunteers and will have to write a historical account of their interviewee´s journey. Thank you to all our participants for sharing their life stories and for offering some of their most personal experiences.

This activity was preparing students for further research during their three day study tour in South Australia later in September. The first German immigration to Hahndorf and the Barossa Valley in 1838 is the focus of this upcoming study tour that the Year 11 German students are very much looking forward to.

Andrea Fowler

Head of Languages

YEAR 8 FRENCH: LE PETIT NICOLAS THEATRE INCURSION

On Tuesday 30 June the Year 8 French classes got the opportunity to experience French outside the walls of the classroom. After the students spent a few lessons researching the history of this well-known French series of books and films (Le Petit Nicolas) and rehearsing with the play script, the Melbourne French Theatre group came to McKinnon to run some interactive drama workshops.

Each group of around twelve students worked with a bilingual animateur or animatrice from the company who coached them in their drama skills and French pronunciation. The groups then performed in front of the other Year 8 classes, showing off their skills.

There was a lot of talent and enthusiasm on display as many of the students threw themselves into the experience. It was great to see them get involved with a different style of learning French.

Kellie Dickson

French Teacher

LA MATINÉE DU FRANÇAIS

On the morning of Sunday 28 August (mais oui, a Sunday!) sixteen Year 12 French students attended the Matinée du Français at the Melbourne Convention Centre. This is a major annual event run by the Association of French Teachers of Victoria. Experienced French teachers and VCAA assessors provide information and advice to prepare students for the Oral and Written Examinations.

As in previous years, this year’s event saw the attendance of hundreds of French students from schools all over Melbourne and country Victoria. Our students reported that they found the morning to be very informative and entertaining. They were pleased to see and hear that the preparation and work they have been doing to this point was validated. Nous avons passé une matinée géniale!

Daniel Casey

French Teacher