LOTE News
LOTE Week Bonanza!
On Monday 16 October, the Language department had the pleasure of hosting LOTE week. It was an opportunity for staff and students to celebrate languages and culture that make our school such a rich and rewarding community. The week began with a morning tea for staff, who enjoyed sampling a variety of desserts from a wide variety of cultures.
The staff were quizzed daily on their knowledge of Italian, French, Japanese and Vietnamese culture.
On Thursday, the whole school enjoyed a bonanza of foods from different nations in the courtyard and the stalls were sold out before lunchtime had even finished. Thanks to all the staff and students who took part and celebrated the wonderful variety of cultures and languages that make up St Albans.
Language excellence!
On 31 September, our Year 7 and 8 Italian students participated in a state-wide Italian Poetry competition run by Swinburne University. Students recited a poem by heart in from of an external judge. It is with great pride that we announce that Thanazal Jawfar of Year 8L received the first prize in the Year 8 category!
High Distinction certificates were awarded to Jaspriya Grewal, Ornela Sulce, Aimee-Joy Agiraneza, Cindy Dang, Jolanta Jodka, Jasmine Mondia, Thanawat Nguyen and Maria Villareal.
Certificates of ‘Merit’ were also awarded to Anna Benny, Lil, Eddie Nguyen, Gloria Rulinda, Kirsty Smart, Aydin Vikic, Huy Vo,Jamal Baba, Pooneh Cheraghi, Gaylene Piscopo and Trinh To.
A big thank you to all staff and students who gave of their time so generously to support LOTE.
Piera Biondi
Nishishiba Junior High School
During week two, students who study Japanese from year 10, 9 and 8A participated in a Skype conference with students from our sister school, Nishishiba Junior High School, in Japan. Leading up to the conference, we sent questions about Japan to our sister school. Questions like 'Do you really have a pool on the roof of your school?' (Yes!) and 'Do people really confess their love to someone like in anime?' (No!). In return, we received questions from students in Japan, which we prepared answers to in Japanese. We received questions like 'Don't you think it's strange that Christmas is in Summer?' and 'What is traditional Australian food?').
Overall, it was a valuable and fun cultural experience between the two schools and we look forward to more Skype conferences with our new friends in the future.
Emi Narasaki, Caroline Tran & Emma Viney Japanese Teachers