LANGUAGES

WELCOME TO NEW STAFF IN THE LANGUAGES FACULTY

Unfortunately we had to say good-bye to Mr Kamener at the end of last year who has taken on a leading position in another school this year and Miss Koehne also left McKinnon for employment in a Primary school.

And as I am very happy for Ms Dickson to start her parental leave next week and we are all excited about the expected addition to the McKinnon family, we all will be missing her exceptional contributions to the faculty. I sincerly thank Ms Dickson for the transition within the French team and the clear guidance she prepared for our new staff members.

With vacancies to fill, we welcome this year two very experienced staff members. Madame Jennifer Lynd joins us from Hampton Park Secondary College and Monsieur Cedric Chamontin is joining us from Glen Eira Secondary College. Our colleagues will teach French students in nearly all year levels. I wish them an enjoyable and successful year and look forward to their contributions to the McKinnon program. 

SPANISH NOW WITH A VET CERT II IN APPLIED LANGUAGE IN YEAR 10 - ANOTHER GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO ACHIEVE A LANGUAGE QUALIFICATION!

The McKinnon Spanish program for beginners at Year 9 level has now been extended into a Year 10 Spanish course including a VET Certificate in Applied Language qualification that students may obtain. The course is based on social and vocational communication as well as cultural enrichment and includes a closer collaboration with our sister school in Cuenca, Spain. Ms Jimenez, who has been training as a VET trainer next to her teaching load and has developed the courses for our students, works closely with the Ripponlea Institute, our RTO for VET programs. Ms Jimenez ́s skills as Spanish native speaker benefit not only our students but the entire school community. In addition we are looking forward to our first inaugural tour to Spain in March/April this year which was also organised by Ms Jimenez. Students will visit our sister school and surrounding areas and deepen our ongoing relationship with our sister school in Cuenca. I would like to thank Ms Jimenez for her outstanding contributions to the Languages program at McKinnon and we look forward to hearing more about this program throughout the coming year.

E-BOOKS IN LANGUAGES

All French Language students are using the e-book version of the course book which needs to be purchased from Campion. Language lessons are a compulsory part of the Curriculum and give students the best start in an increasingly multilingual world. 

Your child will require the online version of the prescribed textbook. You will receive an access code for the purchased book. Please make sure you keep this information secure, in case your child's access gets interrupted. 

All German students, Year 11 and 12 French students are subscribed to Oxford online resources which are purchased by the school. The cost for these books has been included in school fees. Students will be enrolled by the administrator and have full access for the entire year.  

VET IN LANGUAGES

As in the past years, all Year 10 German, French and Spanish students will be enrolled in the 10297NAT Certificate II in Applied Language. This course includes social and vocational language and is auspiced by a Registered Training Organisation, Ripponlea Institute.

The course is funded by the Government and encourages each student to complete this certificate.

This national qualification is part of our Year 10 program and acknowledges the students' language learning. It counts for three units at Units 1 and 2 level and could be completed with Certificate III in Applied Language in Year 11. For the Certificate III, students will receive an increment to their ATAR - 10% of their 4th subject.

This course should attract students who do not feel confident in completing VCE languages, but would still like to have their languages qualifications acknowledged in their final VCE statement.

If your son/daughter studies another language outside of school, the Victorian School of Languages offers this certificate in several languages. 

An information session will be held before the Year 10 Information Night. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions. 

LEARNING A SECOND LANGUAGE: HOW PARENTS CAN HELP

Please support your child in learning another language! Research confirms that the parents ́attitude towards language learning has a significant impact on the child's success. 

Another language is a lasting asset in an increasingly demanding global world whilst many other skills undergo constant change. Languages do not only teach communication skills but also develop flexibility, creativity and higher order thinking. Language learning also adds health and social benefits. As already Goethe said “The more languages you know, the more you are human”.

The following article will give you a few tips on how you can help your child! 

http://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/learning-a-second-language/

Andrea Fowler

Head of Languages

FRENCH IN THE COMMUNITY

Welcome back for another year of learning languages and exploring cultures at McKinnon. We aim to maximise exposure to authentic French texts and experiences in the classroom but we also like to share information about other French activities that you can enjoy in Melbourne.

Interested in opera? In partnership with the Festival d'Aix en Provence, the Alliance Francaise are screening some of Europe's best opera performances from their garden in St Kilda in February.

Interested in fashion? Early in March, presented in partnership with the 2020 Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival as part of their Art Program, French Couture designer Delphine Genin exhibits her new collection at the Alliance Française for an intimate showcase of fine French craftsmanship and delicate embroidery.

Interested in cinema? The annual French film festival opens in Melbourne on Wednesday 11 March with a range of films screening in Brighton, South Yarra, Balwyn and the CBD.

Interested in acting? The Melbourne French Theatre Inc. have just announced their new play for May: La Candidate. If you are interested in being part of this new play, auditions will take place on Saturday 15 February at 2pm and Monday 17 February at 7pm.

Heard of anything else French-inspired happening in the community? Let us know!

Ms Kellie Dickson

French Teacher

FRENCH/AUSTRALIAN EXCHANGE PROGRAM 2019

The first stage of the exchange took place in June/July when fifteen McKinnon students and their families each hosted a French student for three and half weeks in Melbourne. The McKinnon families were generous hosts, enabling our overseas guests to visit different parts of Melbourne, of Victoria and even of Australia.

Just before Christmas, the second leg of the exchange was completed with the McKinnon students returning home from their stay in France with their host families. Our Year 10 French students (now in Year 11) faced many new challenges during their time in France. Whilst they had already an established relationship with their French counterparts, it still proved to be initially challenging to make the adjustment of living with them in their own families. This was not unexpected, of course, and they should be very proud of the way they responded to these new challenges. Many of the French parents commented on the positive way the Australians interacted and contributed to the life of the family.

The time at school was probably the most challenging part of the experience, if one was to ask our students. However, there were also some great excursions that our students enjoyed immensely and in which they were able to fully relax. Some of our students were also lucky to visit different parts of France as well as other European countries with their host families. Being away from home was no doubt somewhat tough for everyone. However, it turned out to be an experience that everyone would agree they would never forget. The French families went to a lot of effort to make the stay of their 'Aussies' as enjoyable and culturally enriching as possible, just as the McKinnon families had done for 'Les Français' whilst they were in Melbourne.

The positive outcomes of an exchange can be seen in the renewed enthusiasm of our students for their language learning in general, including the obvious improvements in their linguistic skills, their confidence and resilience to tackle new and challenging situations, their ability to communicate and empathise, as well as to reflect and make considered decisions, to name just a few. And, the bonus for many, a life-long friend! 

Annette Reid

German Language Teacher