Languages

Lyndale Goes Global: Languages at Lyndale

A special celebration of languages was held during the sixth week of this term.

Its all-inclusive theme of,” Welcome to Lyndale: 64 Languages One Family,” was promoted with a year 7 poster competition. With some beautiful artwork on offer and the aid of Rita Camenzuli from the art department a final decision was finally made, and the winners of the canteen vouchers were Anh Nguyen, Emily Nguyen, Fatimah Ahmadi and Yusra Popal. Certificates of achievement participation to come early next term.

The beauty and diversity of cultures was evident in the colourful national costumes that many students wore to the language assembly. This was followed by greetings from teachers and students in a variety of languages. Several students who were not originally listed for this activity lined up on the day, asking for their voice to be heard.

Marko Stanic, of year 12, then provided a musical interlude, performing two French standards. He not only played “La Vie en Rose” and “Feuilles Mortes” (Autumn Leaves), but he also capably crafted improvisations based on them in true jazz fashion. Students showed their appreciation in unplanned audience participation, with hand waving and beating in time to the music and rapturous applause at the end.

Items were engagingly presented by French and Japanese students, demonstrating the sheer delight of communicating with all the rhythms and intonations of languages other than English. The overall message of communication was well conveyed by these young performers and continued beyond the assembly. I still have students that I have never met before approach me in class, or in the yard to say “Bonjour, ça va” and they seem delighted they have successfully communicated when I respond!

The bilingual (or polylingual) nature of the day continued with the puppet incursion, delivered in both French and English. Students were encouraged to use the French that they had learned for realistic interaction and the year sevens, in particular, responded enthusiastically. The handmade puppets themselves showed off the craft of European puppetry and its performance techniques – very concrete and passed down over the centuries: a welcome change from the often highly commercialized and virtual post-covid world with which we are surrounded.

The poetry competition is now being run in the year 8, 9 and 11 French classes, using contemporary street poetry or Slams as well as traditional poems, provided by the Alliance Française. A variety of presentations has been encouraged, from a group of year 8 rappers performing a Slam to another group reciting in full costume. Place winners will be announced early next term and prizes and certificates, including honourable mentions, will be awarded.

Special thanks and mention go to my fellow multi-lingual teachers, Upeksha Lankapeligedara and Andrew Pyrcz, whose expertise and solid preparation allowed our students’ linguistic skills to shine in the celebration of cultural and academic diversity!!

Vive les langues!!!

Jean Trungove 

French Teacher