History/Languages  

Languages 

Term 2 has been an exciting and productive term for students studying languages, with a range of engaging learning experiences taking place across all year groups.

We are pleased to welcome Ms Aimee Chau to the Languages Faculty as an SLSO, supporting several classes each Tuesday. Her enthusiasm and assistance in the classroom have already had a positive impact on our students’ learning experiences. In addition, from June, we are delighted to welcome our new Assistant Language Teacher, Arisa Kikuchi. Kikuchi-sensei will be working predominantly with our senior students, supporting them as they prepare for the HSC speaking examination and helping them build confidence in their conversational Japanese.

Our Year 8 students have been thoroughly enjoying their current topic on Sports and Hobbies. Throughout the unit, students have explored a variety of traditional Japanese hobbies and sporting activities while expanding their vocabulary and cultural understanding. Students particularly enjoyed hands-on cultural experiences such as practising kendama and learning how to make origami.

Year 9 students have been working through their first unit of study, where they completed presentations on popular anime characters and their families. This topic has allowed students to creatively apply their language skills while exploring aspects of contemporary Japanese culture. Students also had the opportunity to experience Japanese calligraphy with Ms Nagata, learning about the techniques, precision and artistic traditions involved in this important cultural practice.

Our Year 10 students have recently completed their topic on inviting people out and making social plans in Japanese. Through this unit, students learned how to discuss the weather, special events and seasonal activities in Japan, while also developing their ability to invite friends to outings using authentic conversational expressions. It has been wonderful to see students growing in confidence and spontaneity when communicating in Japanese.

Ms Tran and her Year 12 Continuers class spent a day in the city visiting the Japan Foundation, where students participated in cultural immersion workshops focused on travel and Japanese festivals. The excursion provided a valuable opportunity for students to apply their language skills beyond the classroom while deepening their understanding of Japanese culture. Students also enjoyed delicious Japanese cuisine and visited a number of Japanese-related hotspots around the city.

We are also excited to celebrate Ms Chang’s Year 11 Korean Beginners class, the first Korean Beginners cohort at our school. Students have been putting in tremendous effort as they begin their journey in learning Korean, and it has been wonderful to see their enthusiasm, curiosity and enjoyment in the classroom. This is an exciting milestone for the Languages Faculty, and we look forward to seeing their confidence and skills continue to grow.

It is now crunch time for our senior students as they continue preparing for the HSC. With the Oral Speaking Examinations taking place in Term 3, followed by the written HSC examinations, students are working diligently to refine their speaking, writing, listening and reading skills. Their dedication, focus and perseverance have been commendable, and we are proud of the maturity they continue to demonstrate as they work towards achieving their personal best.

We look forward to another successful term filled with meaningful language learning and cultural experiences.

History

12 Society and Culture State Library Excursion, Term 1

Year 12 Society and Culture students recently visited the State Library of New South Wales for a valuable research excursion to support their Personal Interest Projects (PIPs). Students participated in an informative research session where they learned how to access reliable academic sources, databases and archives to strengthen their investigations. They also enjoyed a guided tour of historical artefacts and collections housed within the library. Throughout the day, students explored exemplar PIPs to gain insight into successful research and presentation techniques before spending time developing and refining their own projects. The excursion provided students with practical research skills and inspiration as they continue working towards their major projects. 

Alyce Peruzzi

Head Teacher History/Languages