Languages Faculty

From the Co-ordinator of Languages

Exploring Language and Culture Through Food: Student Reflections and Recipes from the Languages Faculty

In today's interconnected world, understanding the nuances of language and culture is essential for success. As we encounter diverse cultures and languages more frequently, preparing students for cross-cultural situations is a crucial component of modern education.

Exciting times are ahead for students of French and Chinese in Years 8 and 9 as they reflect on their Term 2 units of work focusing on food and language.

Student Reflections:

Term 2 French is centred around the vocabulary of food and creating sentences about ordering or discussing a person’s preferred meal. Within the first week, we were introduced to French foods such as 'Les Escargots' (Snails) and 'La Baguette'. We even got to taste a baguette! Using our knowledge of French Food vocabulary, we will construct a bilingual menu of our chosen French cuisines. This will be combined with a French restaurant roleplay where we act the role of either waiter or customer. I plan to learn all my vocabulary and structures so that when I am in a French restaurant I can speak fluently.

Marlon (G8)

In Chinese, we are learning about food and drink, dining etiquette and how to handle chopsticks. We are learning these topics in many different ways such as songs, class discussions, games and roleplays. By the end of the term, we will be able to order food and drinks in Mandarin and know how to eat with the proper etiquette.

Anna (C8)

Our intercultural reflection centred around breakfast. In France, they eat a lot of pastries and sweet food for breakfast 'les croissants and les pains au chocolat'. French people rarely eat egg for breakfast, it is more for dinner such as la quiche or for 'une omelette'. Whereas we usually eat eggs, bacon or Vegemite on toast here in Australia, which is more of a savoury breakfast option.

Jade and Jasmine (C8)

We encourage families to try out these recipes from the teachers in the Languages Faculty:

Ms Harvard suggests:

Crêpes from Brittany

Ingredients:

• Half a litre of milk
• 100g of melted butter
• 4 eggs
• 250g of plain flour
• A pinch of sugar

Method:

1. Put the flour and milk in a bowl. Mix with a wooden spoon.
2. Add the whole eggs and sugar to the bowl. Mix with a hand mixer.
3. Melt the butter in the microwave. Add the butter to the bowl and mix.
4. Heat a non-stick pan and add a little butter.
5. Pour a ladle of batter.

Wait for the crepe to cook on one side before flipping it.

Ms Yu suggests:

Coca-Cola Chicken Wings 

可乐鸡翅 Ke Le Ji Chi

Ingredients:

• Soy sauce
• Salt
• Shaoxing wine
• Dried chilli pepper
• Chicken wings, pat dried
• Green onion and ginger
• Coke (regular, not diet or zero)

Method:

1. Sear the wings until golden.
2. Saute the spices and vegetables to release the fragrance.
3. Add the liquid ingredients.
4. Braise the chicken while skimming the brown foam from the top.
5. Flip the wings occasionally until the liquid has reduced.

The wings are ready when the braising liquid has thickened enough to thinly coat the wings.