Languages News

It’s been a busy few weeks in Languages with students working hard and enjoying different cultural and language activities, as well as end of year exams. Teachers have also been connecting with our sister school and planning is underway for a tentative School Trip to Japan in 2023 and Indonesian in 2024.

In the Classroom

Year 7 have been studying food some students tried their best at being Japanese Junior Master chef. A big thanks to Junior School Leaders, Chris Tate, Simone Moore and Alex Vincent for your expert judging, and a huge congratulations to Cohen B, Lucien M, Thomas B, Liam H, Josh G, Thomas F, Tess A and Ruby W for the scrumptious dishes they prepared. The judges had a very tough time deciding a winner because all the dishes tasted so good. We certainly have a talented group of Master chefs this year.

Year 9&10 students, along with their teachers, worked together to complete a Melbourne City scavenger hunt. They followed directions and instructions in Japanese to go to places of importance and various stores, influenced by Japan and its culture. Students worked very well together and although some groups sometimes took a wrong turn, we all made it back on time and were able to enjoy a Japanese lunch sitting together under the kotatsu. This excursion prepared students for the Japan 2023 School Trip where they will also need to work in groups and follow directions in Japanese.

Our senior students have been completing their end of year exams and year 12 students had to wait till the second last day to complete their Japanese exam. We all wish Audrey F, Silvia G, Kassandra L and Jeffrey S the best in their future endeavours and applaud them on their tenacity, resilience and perseverance. 「夢をあきらめないで」 In 2023 we also welcome our largest class of Year 12 Japanese students at GSC, who first started learning the language here at GSC in Year 7 and after 5 years of study, almost half of which was in lockdown, are ready for their final year of study 「一生けんめい勉強しましょう！」

Japan 2023 School Trip (tentative)

Japan’s boarders are now open and reduced travel restrictions are in place. As such, we are currently seeking expressions of interest for the proposed 2023 Gisborne Secondary College Japan Study Trip.

At this point in time we are looking at travelling to Japan at the end of June/early July 2023. We are expecting the trip to be about 2 weeks. In the past some highlights of the Japan Study Tour have included:

Visiting our Sister School in Fukuoka
Completing a short home stay with the students and families of our Sister School
Sightseeing in Tokyo
Visiting temples and shrines in Kyoto and Nara
Visiting Peace Memorial Park and the Atomic Dome in Hiroshima
Visiting Tokyo Disneyland or Universal Studios Japan
Staying in Traditional Japanese Inns

The Japan Study Tour offers our Japanese students to improve their language skills and cultural understanding. Students also have the chance form lifelong friendships with their host families and sister school classmates.

If you are interested in participating in the 2023 Japan Study Trip, or are interested in finding out more information, please click here to complete the online Expression of Interest form. Hard copies are available on request. Details of an upcoming parent information evening will be sent to those who have expressed interest and will also be promulgated on XUNO.

Staffing 2023

Emily Ezzy will be returning at the start of 2023 and is looking forward to reconnecting with her Indonesian students and staff at GSC. Emily is a cheerful and experienced Indonesian teacher and we look forward to working with her again.

We are also fortunate to welcome a Japanese Language Assistant, Natsuki Wada in April 2023. Natsuki is part of the Victorian Governments Foreign Language Assistants Program and will be with us until December 2023, providing valuable native speaker language and cultural assistance. She will be travelling from Japan and acknowledge that living so far from home has its challenges but are confident that she will feel the warmth and support of the GSC community.

It is with great sadness that we will be farewelling Chris Pagonis from Languages. Over the years, Chris has helped with our junior Indonesian classes and shown great teamwork and enthusiasm for all things Indonesian. We will miss you and wish you all the best.

Wishing everyone a safe and relaxing festive period. 良いお年を Selamat Natal dan Tahun Baru