LANGUAGES

VISIT BY COLLEGE DE TUBAND

McKinnon’s new sister school relationship with the College de Tuband was made official in 2022, after starting out with a pen pal arrangement during lockdowns. Once travel became possible for the New Caledonian students, the wheels were set in motion for them to visit our school. This was a major undertaking because the plan was to bring both the 4e (Year 8) and 3e (Year 9) SIA (Australian International Section classes) - a total of 45 students. It is only because of a combination of McKinnon’s large size and the generosity of our families that this was possible.

The visitors were with us for a week, arriving on Thursday 7 September and meeting at the Main Campus at 5am on Friday 15 September for a very disrupted return trip home. They alternated visits to the two campuses on Friday 8 and Tuesday 12 September. They spent time with Years 9, 10, 11 and 12 French classes and also attended other classes with their host students. There was a real buzz on both campuses when they visited. They spent the weekend being provided with a variety of experiences by their host families including AFL matches and a visit to Port Fairy, and also visited the CBD and Healesville Sanctuary with their teachers.

As the organiser of this visit on our end, I have to say how incredibly grateful I am to the families who opened their homes and their hearts to our visitors. Their generosity, the joy they showed, and their forbearance as I worked on the logistics were amazing. I also have to thank Jacinta Kaaden from College de Tuband, who I have previously worked with on exchanges to my last school, and who is an absolute powerhouse.

Jenny Lynd

Languages KLA Manager & French Teacher

2023 BERTHE MOUCHETTE COMPETITION WINNERS

Congratulations to the following McKinnon students who won prizes in the annual Berthe Mouchette competition run by the Alliance Française. They are:

Year 9 Winner - Recitation of poetry (native-speaker section):Daniela Tapia Leal (Daniela won this section last year in Year 8 as well!)

Year 12 - Honourable Mention - Oral Examination:Gisele Hennequin

Year 12 - Honourable Mention - Written Examination:Ewa Agboton

A great effort from them, and also from our other finalists.

HOST A GERMAN EXCHANGE STUDENT IN 2024

CULTURAL EVENTS

Below are links to some cultural events related to the languages we teach at McKinnon:

GUEST SPEAKER FROM NEW CALEDONIA

Bonjour,

In the last week of Term 3, our Year 12 French students were treated to a special Q&A session with Rita, hailing from New Caledonia. This was no ordinary language lesson! Students had the chance to delve deep into the local culture, gaining insights from a unique French-speaking part of the world, right here in our own backyard.

The session was conducted entirely in French, providing our students with a golden opportunity to practise their speaking skills with someone from a Francophone background. The classroom was buzzing with curiosity and enthusiasm. Students were incredibly engaged, keen to learn more about New Caledonia's vibrant culture, history and day-to-day life.

A big shoutout and thank you to Madame Bares for facilitating this incredible opportunity.

PUBLIC SPEAKING TAKES CENTRE STAGE IN SAVOIR-FAIRE SERIES!

On Friday 6 October, our Lecture Theatre echoed with the voices of eager students. A group of 18 students from Years 10, 11 and 12 French classes came together for a workshop on public speaking, marking the debut of the Savoir-Faire Series.

Throughout the session, students delved into the art of public speaking. They critically examined the traits of an effective public speaker and uncovered various techniques to boost their own speaking prowess. And of course, there was plenty of opportunity to put theory into practice, with students stepping up to give it a go.

While the workshop was tailored primarily for our Year 12s gearing up for their French examination, it was heartening to see students from other senior year levels seize the opportunity to hone their skills.

A big merci to all the participants and looking forward to more workshops in the series.

Until next time, happy speaking!

Cedric Chamontin

French Teacher