Languages Corner
French News
A lot has been happening in the Languages Department in term 1!
All the Year 7 students doing French as well as Year 8 immersion and French first language students had the opportunity to go to the French Film Festival. They enjoyed watching ‘Little Nicholas’s Treasure’ based on the famous French Petit Nicholas books. Year 9 immersion and French first language students watched the exciting ‘Adventures of Margot and Marguerite’, while Years 11 and 12 students saw a Second World War film set during the occupation of France, ‘Farewell Mr Haffmann’. All students had a great experience watching a French movie with their friends!
From the 12th to 20th of March, the school celebrated Francophonie Week! The Semaine de la Francophonie is a great opportunity to explore and celebrate the diversity of the French-speaking world. ‘La Francophonie’ encompasses a variety of French speaking cultures on the 5 continents and represents over 200 million speakers.
Congratulations to Eden in Year 11 French who won first prize in a Francophonie Week poster competition organised by Lycee Condorcet in Sydney!
The following week, the school celebrated Cultural Diversity Week! For this occasion, the Breakfast Club went international, hosting three very tasty and very different breakfasts. On Wednesday, students enjoyed a delicious French breakfast with croissants and pain au chocolats.
Students also had the opportunity to participate in a variety of cultural activities. On Tuesday, they learned how to play chess in French.
Our new immersion students have settled in extremely well and taken up the challenge to study a non-language subject in a foreign language! In the French immersion program, students are studying Humanities in French and this term Year 7 students have learned about ancient cultures including Aboriginal culture and Ancient Rome in French.
In the Japanese immersion program, students are studying science in Japanese, focusing on developing lab skills and exploring the scientific method. Well done Immersion students!
Celine Fompudie
Head of Languages
Japanese News
On Friday morning, the Breakfast Club welcomed the Japanese department for a Japanese breakfast. Students and staff joined us as we made hot miso soup and onigiri (rice balls). Onigiri often take the place of sandwiches in Japan - they’re great for a filling snack or lunch. Everyone was able to choose their own flavours and many tried their hand at making the traditional triangular shape of onigiri. Many thanks to the helpers, both staff, parent and students. Oishikatta! (It was yummy!)
At lunchtime, interested and talented students, including many from our Anime Club, came to the Library for a Manga drawing competition. In the short time we had, so many impressive drawings and sketches were created that it was very difficult to pick the three best ones. The winners were a little camera-shy, but the drawings speak for themselves! They were happy to receive some Japan-related prizes: a genuine obento box, beautiful chopsticks and a traditional fan. We look forward to seeing more of their work in Anime Club this year.
Angelika Melches
Japanese Teacher