Languages Faculty

From the Co-ordinator of Languages

Student Adventures: Exploring France and Taiwan

We are excited to share a glimpse into the travel stories of two of our adventurous students. Finlay (G9), is currently on a cultural exchange in France, enjoying the Olympic Games while staying with a French family. Meanwhile, George (G8), embarked on a trip to Taiwan, where he immersed himself in traditional food and explored ancient temples. Their experiences have not only broadened their knowledge of the languages they study here at school but also brought back valuable lessons to share with their classmates and teachers.

In Paris for the Olympic Rugby 7s, which was overall a super great experience. I’m a bit glad that Australia didn't make it to the Rugby final as Australia vs France would have been heated as they are seriously into their sport – we (host family) have 2 TVs and 2 laptops set up in the living room so we can watch all the sport at once!

We got tickets to the Opening Ceremony, as Eloi’s (host family) brother works for the organising committee, opposite the pink Can Can dancers. The greatest night of my life !! It was absolutely amazing and 100% a core memory. The crowd was wild, and the show was absolutely amazing, with the torch bearer zip lining IN FRONT of us across the Seine, and riding a submarine horse through the Seine, and waving and cheering to all the athletes whilst getting drenched in rain. There was an insane light show, theatrics, performances, and the significance made it so incredible.

Next few days doing lots of touristy activities with Eloi’s family, including the Metro, and Champs-Élysées and surrounding luxury shops and I’ve been speaking French a lot. We enjoyed a delicious café lunch, out on a terrace with the sun out and views through green trees to classic French buildings.

Finlay (G9)

In my opinion, Taiwan was probably one of the best countries I’ve ever visited. The Taipei 101 building, the night markets, the malls, the food, the palace museum, the temples, everywhere is so cultural and so much fun. I loved the liveliness of Taipei and how everything was so dense. The weather was also generally pretty good (apart from the heat) with it being sunny all throughout the day, then a splash of rain towards the end of the daylight. My favourite part of Taiwan was probably the food or the palace museum, with every single chunk of meat, or vegetables there being absolutely outstanding, especially the hot pot. I loved the amazing stones, pieces of ancient Chinese writing, pots, and carvings in the intricate place of the Palace Museum. Overall, I had a really great time with my dad, and had a enjoyable time going to places that I could never dream of.

George (G8)

In our French classes, students have been enthusiastically participating in a variety of engaging activities to celebrate the 2024 Paris Olympics. From researching facts about the host country, to investigating Olympics symbols and learning how to cheer their favourite team, the excitement is palpable! These activities not only immerse students in French culture but also provide a fun and authentic way to learn new key sentences. The blend of language learning with the global spirit of the Olympics is making the experience both educational and exhilarating for everyone involved – Junior and Senior students alike. Allez l’Australie!

I love talking about the Olympics in French as we can learn about the colours, the numbers of medals, and we can see pictures of the Eiffel Tower.

Tilly (J1)

I know how to say all the colours of the Olympics rings now: bleu, noir, vert, jaune and rouge.

Juliette (J1)

I liked the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics because it was something different. It is nice to see a change. I particularly watch the surfing events which take place in Tahiti. And I know that this place is in French Polynesia!

Max (P6B)