Languages Week

Languages Week 2025 – A Celebration of Culture and Creativity

What a fantastic Language Week we had this term!

From 26th to 30th May, the school came alive with culture, and creativity during Languages Week 2025. The week provided students with enriching opportunities to engage with French and Japanese languages and cultures through a range of interactive and fun activities.

Year 8 Japanese students had hands-on experiences in their incursion, exploring traditional brush painting and preparing Okonomiyaki, a savoury Japanese pancake. Cooking okonomiyaki was fun. We made okonomiyaki using a variety of ingredients such as flour, eggs, cabbage, kimchi, shrimp, cheese, green onions, pork seaweed, mayonnaise, bonito flakes and okonomiyaki sauce.

The brush painting workshop was also a hit. It is a beautiful art style with fine strokes of paint from soot, which is found in chimneys. We used a brush made of bamboo, and the tip of the brush was made of horse and weasel hair. With the right strokes, the artwork looked stunning.

Meanwhile, Year 8 French students enjoyed an exciting incursion which included a fencing demonstration and workshop, followed by the delicious experience of tasting crepes. We were introduced to fencing, a sport with French history by Coach Chris Jones, who trained in Paris. Not only did we learn the basic rules of the game, but we also discovered the importance of respect and sportsmanship towards one's opponent. We had the chance to play against each other and against our teacher! Madame Haddad was very impressive and beat us by a lot! . There was also a crepe stall where students could buy a variety of delicious crepes. With so many flavours to choose from, it was hard to pick just one! The incursions were a fun and exciting experience that gave us a deeper appreciation of French and Japanese culture.

During the week, students had the pleasure of listening to live French accordion music and the soothing sounds of Japanese Koto (harp) music during recess and lunchtime in front of the JLC. These performances created a vibrant atmosphere and offered students a glimpse into cultural traditions through music. The Koto performance was beautiful, and we enjoyed every moment of it. Its calming melodies resonated deeply with us, creating a sense of peace. Students also had the special opportunity to ask questions and even try playing the Koto themselves, making the experience both memorable and meaningful. The instrument is so unique, and we loved the sound it produced when played. Another thing we really enjoyed was hearing others ask thoughtful questions about the Koto. It made the experience feel even more engaging and interactive. 

We were delighted to hear live French accordion music and traditional melodies during recess while enjoying delicious French crepes. The combination of music and food created a joyful and authentic cultural experience. The lively, upbeat tunes created a fun and energetic atmosphere, even prompting some students to dance along! 

Students participated enthusiastically in the Art, Essay, and Origami Competitions, showcasing their talents in creativity, writing, and traditional craft. The artwork we created for Language Week was incredibly fun to make! Most of us chose to focus on Japanese culture. Even though time was limited, we managed to finish our pieces on time. Many artworks featured familiar characters like Doraemon, Godzilla, Konata Izumi (from Lucky Star), Pac-Man, and more! Creating something that reflected our love for Japan was such a fun way to express our interest in Japanese pop culture. French students created paintings inspired by French landscapes or famous artworks like the Mona Lisa, known as La Joconde in French. The Origami creations were a delight to look at. The dinosaur park display was especially impressive, featuring intricate and complex origami designs that amazed everyone.

Painting at home and preparing our entries for the competition was a rewarding experience. We really enjoyed connecting with both French and Japanese cultures and learning more about their artistic traditions. It was a fun and meaningful way to deepen our understanding of the richness of both cultures. We were proud to see our artwork displayed in the school library for everyone to enjoy.

We congratulate our talented winners:

Art Competition:

1st Prize: Angelica Creddo (French) and Emily Campbell (Japanese)

2nd Prize : Monica Petranov (French), Liam Ho (Japanese)

3rd Prize : Mariam Kakavas (French), Jordan Lim (Japanese)

Essay Competition:

1st Prize – Tristan Le 

2nd Prize – Marius Bongers 

3rd Prize – Miranda Higgins

Origami Competition:

1st Prize – Archie Davis, Liam Gaffy and Shriyan Sekhri Handa

In addition to these cultural highlights, the week featured a range of interactive language activities. Daily trivia quizzes during Tutor Group sessions had students competing for sweet prizes while testing their knowledge of French and Japanese. A lunchtime quiz in the Library on Wednesday drew many students eager to challenge themselves and win canteen vouchers.

PSC staff also enjoyed a special Language Week morning tea featuring delicacies from France and Japan. This event was a wonderful reminder of the importance of learning languages. It connected us to the wider world, helped us appreciate diverse cultures, and encouraged us to use our multilingual skills to create lifelong opportunities.

Jackson Lawford (8B), Liam Ho (8B), Sabian Wright (8B), Chai Wichienkaew (8B) , Angelica Creddo (9J), Grace Cheek (8G)