Languages Faculty News
Lucie Dickens, Academic Dean of Languages
Spotlight on Year 1 student - Meenakshi Ashok Varadhan
What was the most fun lesson you've ever had in French class? What did you do?
Learning the parts of plants in French was fun. We got to see the seedlings grow and plant beans and peas!
How can a student become an amazing French speaker?
By listening to the teacher. My mum and I also play duolingo at home to learn French.
Do you speak any other languages? Has it helped you learn French?
I speak and write Tamil and English. Many words in French are similar to English (like fleur and flower).
Imagine yourself as an adult. Where do you think you will be using your French?
As an adult, I will speak in French while travelling to France for holiday. I will also speak French at work if required. I will make friends from France.
Anything else you'd like to say about your French lessons?
I love learning French.
Junior French Club
Muskan Kapoor, Year 4
In French Club, we have doing a variety of activities, from watching French films to carving pumpkins!
One of the activities we have enjoyed is playing Jungle Speed. Jungle Speed is a French game which a lot of people play in France.
We have had fun with the Just Dances 'Elle m'a dit' and 'Papaoutai'. Just Dances is a rhythm video games series. We also watched the French film Le Petit Nicholas, which is about a mischievous boy who faces many problems.
In the escape rooms, we tried to solve French problems to escape the room. One of the dishes we made were madeleines, which are like big flat cupcakes sprinkled with sugar.
French Club was a wonderful way to learn French and have some fun!
Years 5 and 6 'Monet and Friends' excursion to the Lume
Milana Skrypnyk, Junior School Languages Leader, Year 6
On Tuesday 15 November, the Years 5 and 6 students, and some of our teachers, got on a bus to visit The Lume and to see the new 'Monet and Friends'exhibition.
When we walked into the Lume, everyone was shocked to see how big the space was! Then, after eating our lunch outside, we started to slowly make our way inside to see the exhibition.
INTERPRETIVE ROOM
We started in a room called the 'Interpretive Room'. As we entered this room, our eyes were immediately drawn to a big real-life copy of Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies, one of Monet's famous paintings! There was also a wall with other Impressionist artists.
Some comments from students about this room:
I loved the Interpretive Room because you could go on the big bridge. - Hai Nhi Hoang
I saw a 3D version of Monet's bridge where he painted most of his artworks. - Areti Kolivas
The 3D bridge was a great picture spot. - Grace Anastasiadis
EXHIBITION SPACE
After we finished exploring the Interpretive Room, we moved onto the 'Exhibition Space'. This was a giant room with projectors where we could sit, stand or lie on the floor.
When my class (6H) walked into the ginormous room, everyone’s mouths dropped open! Luckily, we got into the room just as the clips on the projector started, which was great since we got to see a lot of different artworks!
Here are some student comments about this amazing room:
I felt intrigued as soon as I stepped into the Exhibition Room. The best part was looking at the amazing art while listening to peaceful music. – Hao Kun Sun
This exhibition was unique because you could sit down, lie down, stand or walk around. I didn’t expect it to be so big, bright and colourful. The best part was when I lay on my back looking at all the screens that projected paintings. – Macie Power
When we entered the Exhibition Room, it felt like we had been transported into a different reality. It was an amazing experience and one I will not forget. – Alexander Moore
I loved the big room with the screens. It was amazing. Monet’s art makes me feel calm. – Lachlan Griplas
I didn’t expect to lie down on the carpet. – Xavier Misso
INFINITY ROOM
In the big 'Exhibition Space', tiny little rooms had been set up for activities. This included the 'Infinity Room', which had mirrors on the walls and fake flowers on the benches. There was also a certain smell of flowers in the room. It was so pretty!
Here are some of the student highlights and favorite moments in this stunning room:
The Infinity Room was unique because I didn’t expect it to smell like flowers. – Christian Kanellopoulos
The best part was the Infinity Room, with all its beautiful but fake flowers. You can’t explain this room, you can only feel it. – Henry Bath
I didn’t expect the smell to be so strong and intense. – Emily Morris
I loved the area where we got to sit among the fake flowers, it felt wonderful. – Nirvi Bijwal
There was also a room where we could learn about art and even draw on a canvas, as well as a pretty big café.
At the end of the excursion, we all went to look at the cool things in the gift shop. Some students bought some items, but most just had a look around. Overall, this experience is very different to a normal art gallery.
Thank you to Madame Mullins, Madame Dickens, Mrs Tham and Madame Paulin for organising this excursion and helping out during this wonderful day out.
Year 7 Japanese
Thank you to Ms Guyton and Ms Sano for organsing such a culturally enriching and fun experience with their Year 7 Japanese students classes. Students celebrated the end of a big year of Japanese this week.
They designed and made their own kyaraben; small lunch boxes with characters made of rice and other yummy goodies. They also made paper cranes and watched Ponyo! It was a lovely way to end the year.
