Languages

A Royal Challenge for Year 9

In recent Indonesian language lessons, Year 9 students have been exploring rare and exotic fruits that are found in Indonesia but uncommon in Australia. As part of this program, students were given the opportunity to taste some of these unique fruits, including the infamous durian. Known as the raja buah (king of fruits) in Indonesia and Malaysia, the durian is notorious for its pungent odour, often described as reminiscent of raw sewage. Despite its popularity in Southeast Asia, durian is typically banned from hotels and public transportation due to its strong smell. However, the Year 9 students bravely tasted the fruit, although they found it challenging to get past the overpowering aroma. 

Fun fact:  the fruit gets its name from the duri (spikes) on its exterior which add to its unique character. 

Students also had the opportunity to try some rambutan – a small fruit similar to a lychee. Like the durian, the rambutan also gets its name from its exterior which is covered by rambut (hair).

Year 8 – Guess  Who?

In the Language Lab, Year 8 students sharpened their Indonesian listening and speaking skills with the popular game ‘Siapa Itu?’, which you may know as ‘Guess Who’. Students engaged in interactive sessions, describing and guessing characters in Indonesian to practice comprehension and conversation and reinforce vocabulary. The game provided an enjoyable way to develop language proficiency while fostering cognitive and social skills.

NAILA Awards: An Opportunity to Showcase Language Skills and Win Prizes

Get ready for the National Australia-Indonesia Language Awards (NAILA), offering some exciting prizes! Students in Year 7 to 9 have a chance to win $600, while Years 10-12 can win $800. Simply create a short video discussing food in Indonesian to enter. Further information is available below. The Indonesian faculty staff is eager to support any students interested in participating. Deadline is 27 August. 

Pak Rogers

Head of Faculty - Languages