Languages
Kaya!
Welcome to our Term 2 edition of Hello from the Languages Department!
Well done to the students and language teachers on getting through what is always an extremely busy term.
Preparations are now underway for the hosting component of our French Exchange Program, led by Mr Mael Coret, Teacher in Charge of French. Our school has enjoyed a long-standing partnership with Lycée Sainte-Famille in Amiens, France, providing students with valuable opportunities for language learning and cultural exchange.
Earlier this year, our French language students were scheduled to travel to France in March. However, after careful consideration and consultation with the Department of Education, the school made the difficult decision to cancel the tour due to increasing risks associated with international travel at that time.
Despite this disappointment, we are delighted that the exchange will continue through the program's hosting component. From 10 October to 24 October, our students will welcome the French students they were originally due to stay with in France.
Hosting a French student is a rewarding and enriching experience for both the student and their family. Over the years, many participants have formed lasting friendships and meaningful connections through the program. It also provides students with an authentic opportunity to practise their French language skills, learn some basic French if they are new to the language, and gain first-hand insight into French culture and daily life.
International exchange programs foster cultural understanding, broaden perspectives, and build confidence and independence. For many students, the experience becomes a memorable and life-changing journey that leaves a lasting impact long after the exchange has ended.
Languages Week will take place in Week 4 next term, so look out for the exciting events during that week.
I will be on Long Service Leave in London and Croatia for the first three weeks of Term 3, but I know that I leave you in the capable hands of the Language team during this time.
I hope you all have a wonderful holiday.
Melinda Kennington, Head of Learning Area - Languages
こんにちは Kon'nichiwa!
This term has been a busy time for assessments and reporting processes and students have performed quite well overall. Well done to all students.
Year 7
Students in year 7 classes have been expanding their discussions beyond themselves to include other people, such as family members. They have learned an important cultural practice of respectfully addressing or talking about other people’s family members. The term culminated in a family tree poster that introduced family members. There were some amazing looking posters. Well done, Year 7.
Year 8
Year 8 students have deepened their knowledge of school and club life in Japan. They have been learning about different practices in Japanese schools, such as the school lunch program (kyuushoku) and cleaning (souji). The final written task for Year 8 is an extended piece in an article format. Here, students learn about the layout and conventions of the article text type. The article introduces Applecross SHS to Japan and covers topics such as school life, subjects, and transport to and from school.
Year 9
Year 9 students have been learning about how to discuss milestones in their lives. Things such as travelling overseas for the first time or beginning a sport or musical instrument at a certain age. An OITACHI (milestone timeline) poster was created.
Year 10
Year 10 students have been learning about city and country lifestyles and looking at the differences between Australia and Japan. This term saw their first ‘exam’ in Japanese.
Year 11
Students in year 11 have extended their grammatical competence in the language on topics such as school and home rules, and by comparing these in both Japan and Australia. Discussions about the use of devices and social media in classes also took place. They decided that Japanese school rules and household rules are more rigid than in Australia.
Year 12
Year 12 students have been consolidating their language skills with a focus on money and part-time work… something close to their hearts. They had been busy preparing for their semester exam with the assistance of our Native Speaker volunteers.
Japan Club
Hina, our Japanese Language assistant, has run a very successful Japan Club this term. Students were introduced to the Japanese event of Children’s Day, in which homes fly koi carp flags to symbolise family unity and children's growth.
“Tsuyu”, or rainy season, is another time of year important on the Japanese calendar. Students learned how to make tissue paper hydrangeas. Japanese folklore embraces the rainy season, and hydrangeas are deeply intertwined with temples and shrines. Their ability to change colour depending on the soil is often likened to the changing moods of the weather.
Students will participate in a Calligraphy competition run by the Japanese Language Teachers Association. Hina has been coaching students on technique and style. To prepare, students practised using a brush pen to form the character “emi” (smile), which is this year’s theme, before completing their competition piece with a ‘fude’ (brush).
A food relay quiz was also popular with students. One group member viewed a food, went back to the group to describe it, and the rest of the team attempted to draw it.
Eric Qu Year 12
Eric is a Year 12 student of Japanese. He has achieved something amazing this year.
Eric undertook the Japanese Language Proficiency Test at the end of 2025. His results came through in March. He has achieved the N2 level. This level is often the minimum for professional work in Japanese companies. Eric wants to attend university in Japan.
Congratulations, Eric, on your amazing achievement, and we wish you all the best in your future endeavours.
Craig Murray, Teacher in Charge - Japanese
Bonjour!
French Language students have been having a lot of fun both in and outside of their classes during Term 2.
Year 7 students of French have learnt about animals this term and played games such as animal battleships and the mighty French game called le beret, where students reinforce their vocabulary while battling against another team over a French hat. They have created a wonderful poster of their Australian native animal totem! By the end of the term, they will have enjoyed making and eating traditional crêpes bretonnes!
Year 8 students learnt about the French school system and now know how to tell the time in French, too. They have played school subject battleships and le béret! To celebrate the end of the semester, they will also have hot chocolate and traditional French madeleines in class!
Year 9 students have created wonderful posters about the weather and are currently working on a project (TV show) about clothing items or weather forecasts. They must be creative and use vocabulary learned during the semester. Hot chocolate and traditional French biscuits will also be enjoyed in class at the end of the term!
Year 10 students have learnt about relationships and daily routine, and have
learnt how to talk about past events. They worked hard to prepare for their first formal French examination and are now working on a project about the French association Les Restos du Coeur.
Year 11 and Year 12 students worked hard this term to be ready for their French examination. They improved their French speaking skills with our French assistants and worked in groups to create posters on various themes. They also learned more about French music and participated in collaborative activities such as jigsaws and running dictation.
Mael Coret, Teacher in Charge - French