LANGUAGES

2021 LANGUAGE PERFECT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

 

MCKINNON SECONDARY COLLEGE IS A WORLD CHAMPION IN LANGUAGE LEARNING!

 

Congratulations to our students at McKinnon Secondary College for winning the Education Perfect Global Languages Championships 2021! 

For seven days, our students competed relentlessly on an international stage against 1,894 schools around the world. The competition was fierce but our students prevailed by steadily answering questions while developing their proficiency in 15 different languages. We are extremely proud of our students - allez McKinnon!

 

Special mentiongoes out to Luka Magee (Year 10) (fourth in the world, second in French in the world), Alma Segev (Year 8) (first in Hebrew in the world)and Antonia Darmos (Year 10) (second in Greek in the world).

 

This year we answered over 1,000,000 questions which is unbelievable!

 

OUR ACHIEVEMENTS:

 

☰1st overall globally (out of 1,894 schools)

☰1st overall in Australia (out of 1,231 schools)

☰1st overall in VIC (out of 304 schools)

☰1st overall in the 1001-2500 students category (out of 133 schools)

☰5th overall in French (out of 1,383 schools)

☰4th overall in German (out of 1,082 schools)

2nd overall in Greek (out of 648 schools)

☰2nd overall in Hebrew (out of 22 schools)

☰3rd overall in Russian (out of 790 schools)  

☰4th overall in Latin (out of 785 schools)

☰6th overall in Malay (out of 453 schools)

☰10th overall in Spanish (out of 1,205 schools)

☰13th overall in Japanese (out of 1,315 schools)

14th overall in Mandarin (out of 1,128 schools)

☰1st in Australia for the 1001-2500 students category (out of 92 schools)

☰1st in VIC for the 1001-2500 students category (out of 30 schools)

☰1st for French in the 1001-2500 students category (out of 126 schools)

☰1st for German in the 1001-2500 students category (out of 122 schools)

 

An epic battle for the top spot unfolded before our eyes on Wednesday between Amaroo School and McKinnon Secondary College. Twice we were cast down to the second spot for a few hours before reconquering the throne. Then on Friday a new challenger, Cashmere High School in Christchurch, was hot on our heels for the top spot! One thing is for sure they did not give up. Nor did we!    

 

Thank you to all students who participated, we are very proud of all of you and be sure that your efforts will be rewarded.

 

Thank you to all Languages teachers for their dedication and supervising students during recess and lunchtime. Without the support of the entire team this would not be possible. 

 

Thank you to all staff who participated and congratulations to Ms Diana Hatch, Ms Erin Rollason, Ms Jessica Dixon, Ms Kerryn Scott and Ms Kerryn Gill who won prizes in the teacher competition. 

 

Thank you to all teachers who gave a little bit or a lot of their class time to the EP Championships. It made a world a difference!

 

Finally, thank you to the Principal team who showed constant support for this endeavour.

 

Congratulations to everyone involved!

Monsieur Cédric Chamontin

French Teacher

THANK YOU

I would like to thank the McCommunity for showing again great dedication to Language Learning.

 

I am very proud to be a member of this multilingual community who has shown the world how we achieve excellence.

 

A very special THANK YOU to Monsieur Chamontin for organising this event. 

Andrea Fowler

KLA Manager Languages

YEAR 12 FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL EXCURSION 

On Wednesday 24 March, the Year 12 French class went to the French Film Festival in South Yarra to watch Un Vrai Bonhomme. 

 

The movie is about Tom, who is a shy and sensitive teenager and is about to return to a new high school. To help him integrate, he can count on the advice of Leo, his older brother and true mentor.

 

The Year 12 students chose the movie via a survey as they related to the themes of growing up and going to school.

 

We cried, we laughed and overall it was a fun experience for all Year 12s involved.

Merci beaucoup!

 

Monsieur Cédric Chamontin

French Teacher

MULTILINGUALISM AND SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION

The University of Melbourne Research Unit for Multilingualism and Cross-Cultural Communication offers very interesting information and clarification of myths related to Multilingualism and Second Language Acquisition

 

Please visit the website or download the following brochureat your convenience. 

 

Andrea Fowler 

KLA Manager Languages

THE FALLAS FESTIVAL VALENCIA

Siena Goldfarb
Siena Goldfarb

In Spanish class this week, we learned about a festival in Valencia called Las Fallas. It occurs every year from March 15 - March 19. It is a celebration that includes a variety of traditional music, food, costumes and other festivities. 

 

Leading up to the event, locals will spend lots of time working to create outdoor art installations. These installations are mostly made from paper, wax and wood and they are all very colorful and different. After spending a year on making these sculptures, they are deliberately set on fire and burned to the ground as a part of the festivities (hence the name Las Fallas, meaning Festival of Fire). This is supposed to symbolize rebirth. 

I encourage everyone to watch the following video to have a better understanding of how Valencianos (people from Valencia) celebrate their most beloved festival. 

Siena Goldfarb

Year 9P