Faculty News - Languages

These few weeks the VCE Language teachers and students have negotiated all that COVID19 has thrown at them and performed their external Oral Exams. The Oral Exam includes a general discussion with two VCAA examiners and then a focused discussion on a topic of the student's choice. Our teachers, Mie Takamatsu, Cindy Mao and Denis Passalent dedicated many of their lunchtimes to conversation practise in preparation for this exam and at times the Language area was a hub of communicating youth in four languages which were one very cool look. These past September holidays were again no holiday for our teachers and students who zoomed their Oral Exam practise. Our team of devoted teachers sourced examiners wanting some paid work in the holidays to come and practise with our students and Mr Coghlan supported their work. Ms Cranston and Mr Fuji, our past teachers of language, generously came to help perform mock oral exams for our students and we appreciate them very much together with our assistant language teachers, Nicola and Ayaka. Year 12 Language students break a leg.

Last term some of our Italian students participated in the Dante Alighieri Poetry Competition. The Dante Alighieri Society has run in Melbourne since 1896, promoting the Italian language and culture in Australian communities. In the poetry competition, our students were required to memorise a poem in Italian and recite their poem in front of one judge. Professor Lando from Melbourne University came to Mazenod as our judge and was very impressed with the level and maturity of our students. The following students received first, second and third places. We congratulate them on their hard work.

Joshua Ciamarra

Dante Sedita

Antonio Di Giovane

Roberto Di Giovane

Aaron D’ Souza 

Jonathan Ho

Jamie Wilton

Below is one of our first-place getters expression of his thoughts on experiencing the Poetry Competition.

Year 9 Italian: Dante Alighieri Italian Poetry Competition 

“A new language is a new life”. Even after 700 years of Italian poet Dante Alighieri’s passing, his influence on the Italian language is still prominent. At the start of term 3, 

myself, Antonio Di Giovine and Mr Passalent’s year 8 class participated in the annual Dante Alighieri Poetry Competition. This competition built upon our speaking, comprehension and memory skills, with each of us tasked with reciting a particular poem. The process of comprehending Dante Alighieri’s outstanding utilisation of old Italian was an exhilarating journey and certainly one not to be forgotten. 

Roberto Di Giovine

We sadly farewelled our online conversation exchange buddy from Meiji Gakuen University in Yokohama. The Year Ten Japanese students have been communicating with Komiya Senpai for two years now during lunchtime half English and half Japanese chats. Komiya Senpai has recruited more participants for this Japanese school year and so we look forward to continuing the program with even more participants. Here is the thoughts of Year Ten Japanese student James Kwan:

“For nearly the past two years, Japanese language learners at Mazenod have had the fantastic opportunity to have conversations and discussions with a Japanese university student named Komiya (who we refer to as Komiya San) during lunch times on a Monday. There is so much that a textbook can’t teach you and so as a language learner, the experience gained from these conversations has been invaluable and has helped me and 

many other Japanese students to grow in their skills and understanding of Japanese culture. Unfortunately, however for us, Komiya-San will be finishing her university studies soon and as so will not be able to continue these sessions. I know for one, that I have become a better language learner as a result of talking with her and I cannot thank her enough. We, at Mazenod College, wish her the very best of luck for her and her future.” James Kwan

Above: Japanese Conversation Exchange with

Komiya-senpai from Meiji Gakuen University, Yokohama

From oral exams to poetry to casual chats, our language department has been pushing our students to perform in sometimes stressful environments. These controlled stressful environments are a wonderful way for our students to develop confidence and resilience. We are very proud of our language students and we thank the support we receive from their parents.

I wish you all the best for Term Four. 

Kind regards,

Ms Yolanda Bonica

Head of Languages