LANGUAGES

NOUVELLE CALEDONIE

The Languages Department at Kew High would like to thank all the families who hosted a student from Lycée la Pérouse for ten days of their stay at the beginning of May. The New Caledonian visitors toured different parts of the city, including Melbourne Port, museums, science fairs and so forth. They also attended and participated in our classes, which they loved. In an attempt to  australianise  our guests, we took them to see a thrilling Melbourne versus Bulldogs AFL match. Their participation during the match was fantastic. The hospitality shown by the host families, taking the visitors to excursions and restaurants was nothing short of extraordinary. Thank you again to all those involved.

Olivier Elzingre

Languages  Coordinator

OUR JAPANESE SISTER SCHOOL

Soja Nishi Junior High School made t-shirts for visiting Kew High students and teachers as a farewell gift on our 2012 tour. On the back was a single character, kizuna, meaning bond. This kind and symbolic gift typifies the deep commitment Soja Nishi has towards Kew High.

 We hosted our first group in 2007 and by 2010 were able to send our first reciprocal tour to Soja. Over the years, ninety Kew High families have welcomed Soja students into their homes. Many have kept in touch and some students have been lucky enough to visit their buddies in Japan or even stay with their families. One Japanese student came back on holiday to visit her hosts and one came as an overseas student for a year.

 2014 marks our third tour to Soja. The students will stay for a week with host families and join Japanese classrooms every day. Our sister school organises calligraphy classes, tea ceremony, kimono wearing, participation in club activities such as kendo, baseball and cooking - not to mention a tour of local temples and ancient archaeological sites. We are so well looked after and students always come away with fond memories. This year students will also visit food mecca, Osaka, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, picturesque Miyajima Island, the ancient sites of Kyoto and downtown Tokyo.

 Before the group departs for Japan, we will host this year’s Soja visitors from August 1 to 9. Many of the host families are hosting for a second or third time, testament to the ease of hosting our Japanese visitors and the potential for enduring friendships. Students of Japanese are encouraged to consider hosting at least once while at Kew High School. Students should also consider the benefits of joining the next tour, tentatively scheduled for 2016. Ask your Japanese teacher for further information.

Andrew Cerini

Languages Coordinator