English News
2021 OzCLO
On Wednesday March 3, numerous Year 10, 11, and 12 students competed in OzCLO, the Australian Computational and Linguistics Olympiad. Students worked in teams of up to four to solve problems relating to foreign languages. Students were provided with example sentences or words, and translation into English, they then had to work put how to translate between the foreign language and English.
The experience of this competition is invaluable, as there are many transferable skills that can be obtained/gained by undertaking this challenge. For one, working together with other students can help students communicate their ideas, and understand and listen to their teammates. Students who compete also gain valuable skills in logic, and an understanding the way in which language is constructed. OzCLO also has many applications in the classroom. Many of the students who undertake OzCLO will study English Language in VCE, perhaps, because of how the competition creates an interest in linguistics. For me personally, I find linguistics enjoyable, and my strengths are in logic and mathematics, and the participating in OzCLO last year is one of the reasons why I eventually chose English Language this year.
I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude to Mr Mahalingam and Ms Lloyd for organising OZCLO again this year. I also would like to extend this gratitude to Dr Schroor and my thanks to the remainder of the English Domain for their help. I would also like to thank the Nossal alumni (Class of 2020: Rahul Preman and Ram Sankar; Class of 2016: Yong See Foo; Class of 2019: Hudson Smith) who returned to school for mentoring sessions, their insight into how to solve these problems has proven to be valuable, and their time is greatly appreciated. Finally, I would like , and the students who competed, for fostering a friendly competitive spirit. I hope to be competing again next year and would encourage students who are in Years 9 – 11, particular for those who enjoy puzzles, to consider enrolling next year.
Rory Kilpatrick
Year 11
2021 OzCLO Competition
On Wednesday 3 March after school, a group of Year 10-12 students excitedly waited to begin their 2021 OzCLO (The Australian Computational and Linguistics Olympiad) competition. OzCLO is a competition challenging students to develop strategies and find patterns in languages they have never come across (hopefully!) and to use these strategies to help translate further phrases/words. Students are expected to work in groups of 4 with 2 hours to solve all 5 sections of the competition. The competition is split into a Junior and Senior section - Junior consisting of Year 10s and Senior consisting of Year 11s and 12s.
Looking around, it was quite clear by the focussed expressions on everyone's faces, that the competition was indeed very challenging and students had to form strategies between each other in order to solve all the problems within the given time. The teachers also helped out by coming around throughout the competition to provide sugary treats to ensure we had the energy to keep our brains thinking for the full 2 hours.
Overall, the competition was a great experience and let's hope some Nossal teams made it through into the National Round!!
And finally a big thank you to the English Domain for ensuring the competition still went ahead and students were still provided with this opportunity despite having to pay for each team this year unlike in previous years.
Rasna Preman
Year 11
Theatre Studies
"Stars, hide your fires! Let not light see my black and deep desires. " Last Friday, on the 19 February, the theatre studies class of year 10, 11 and 12 had the opportunity to see "Macbeth: Theatre Under the Stars". After a delightful meal (and getting lost) in the city, we grouped up at the Royal Botanic Gardens where we were measured of our temperatures and given blue stickers of entry. With picnic mats under us, the sky as our blanket and surrounded with snacks of high sugars and carbohydrates, we enjoyed the story of the couple whom killed together and died apart. The stage was backdropped with the trees and the moon, and the night falls on us as the plot descent deeper and deeper into the darkest places of Shakespeare tragedy. When intermission rolled around, we bought over-priced ice reams and took the chance to discuss what we were seeing for the not-so-enjoyable part (the assessment) that we will have to face in the very near future. We ended the night with an awkward group photo, taken with the help of lights borrowed to us from the lovely staff members on site, and went home to get that precious sleep we missed. The experience was definitely one of the best, and certainly most unique we've had in our time at Nossal.
Cecilia Liu
Year 11