LANGUAGES
LANGUAGES FOR LIFE
McKinnon Secondary supports all students in their Language learning and we encourage parents to continue speaking the native language within the family and their community.
Our school offers students the study of German and French from Year 7 to 12, however, we highly recommend the study of the native language with the Victorian School of Languages.
Students are able to attend face-to-face classes or study through distance education. The VSL centre at McKinnon offers Hebrew, Korean and Russian and the New Chinese Language and Culture School conducts face-to-face courses on Saturdays.
The study of languages does not only increase opportunities in the future, it supports our understanding of cultures and communities.
Please visit www.vsl.vic.edu.au for more information about Hebrew, Korean and Russian or contact Mr Ye on 0407 188 886 in regards to Chinese courses.
VET IN APPLIED LANGUAGES - ENROLMENT 2016
In our fourth year of teaching the VET Certificate II in Applied Language in German and French courses, we are proud to celebrate the success of our students. The new pathway in Languages has allowed 50% more language students completing their language study at the end of Year 10 with a national accreditation of their language learning.
In December 2014, VCAA decided to change the entitlement for VCE VET Units, which allows students to have a VET Certificate III in Applied Language acknowledged for their VCE (2 Units for VCE Unit 3 and 4) with an increment to the ATAR (10% of their top four subjects).
We are currently enrolling Year 9 German and French students for 2016, however, this pathway is also offered for other languages at the Victorian School of Languages.
If you have any further questions do not hesitate to contact us.
E-COMMUNICATION WITH GERMAN SCHOOL
Each year at the end of Year Eight, German students correspond with a group of students in Germany via email. The students this Year are at Dietrich Bonhoeffer Gymnasium Secondary School in Bavaria. McKinnon students utilise all the Language skills they have learnt in Year 7 and 8 to compose messages in German. The German students then reply using their English Language skills. Topics covered include school, what sports they play, what type of music they listen to and favourite artists as well as exchanging information about Victoria and Bavaria. This is a really practical and exciting way to consolidate previous learning and find out more about German Culture and Language.
LANGUAGE PERFECT NEWS
CONGRATULATIONS to all students at McKinnon Secondary College for completing over 3.3 Million questions on Language Perfect this year and making the most of this educational programme! An incredible effort!
CONGRATULATIONS also to Phoebe Dunn, in Year 10, who has earned over 30,000 points this year. She has been a prize winner in the German World Championship and the Victorian Championship. Phoebe was invited to apply for the Education Perfect Internship, which is only offered to highest achievers.
BUILDING UP LISTENING SKILLS FOR VCE FRENCH
It is not always easy to find appropriate listening resources for VCE students of French. Authentic material is excellent but can be too challenging at times. Therefore, students should use a range of resources to build up their listening skills through regular practice at home. This YouTube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9CpOel9cqE presents a number of resources and strategies to practice listening skills independently.
There is one website specifically created for VCE French http://www.ecoutezbien.com/ It is made by experienced teachers of French from Victoria and focuses on the specific skills and topics prescribed by the French Study Design. It is not free but students can ask for a free trial.
The GOETHE INSTITUT Melbourne offers preparation courses for VCE students Please visit the following website for more information: http://www.goethe.de/ins/au/en/lp/lrn/mel.html
Andrea Fowler
Head of Languages