LANGUAGES

INTERGENERATIONAL CONVERSATION

On Monday 22 February, our Year 11 German class was excited to meet our German senior participants in the Intergenerational Conversation program which started in its third year at McKinnon Secondary College.

We welcomed eight German senior participants to our first conversation, some of them have been attending for the third year, but there were many new and interested volunteers that joined for the first time this year. Monash University researched this program in the past, and I would like to thank especially Ms Ramona Baumgartner, project coordinator for the German program, who assisted in recruiting German senior citizens for our program.

This program connects younger language learners with older bilinguals. The study on this project revealed that there are mutual gains for all involved. Whilst our young learners improve their oral and aural communication skills through natural conversations with native speakers, our senior volunteers facilitate active aging and feel valued and appreciated for the contributions they make. Monash University also found “evidence of significant improvements of senior citizens’ quality of life, health and well-being”. The program equally develops a better understanding amongst our students for the aging population.

Our first conversation, getting to know each other, in the form of some speed-dating conversations, and a shared afternoon tea was enjoyed by all participants.

We are looking forward to our Intergenerational Conversations this year and thank all senior participants for raising the students’ interest in these personal encounters already in this first session.

E-BOOKS IN YEAR 7 LANGUAGE CLASSES

With the introduction of Chromebooks and the wish to reduce the weight of schoolbags, the Languages faculty decided to reduce one hardcopy book (Textbook) with the opportunity of having this book available as an e-book.

The e-book is a compulsory book that every student will need to purchase, our Workbook is still a hardcopy book, as students have to complete exercises in this book in hand writing.

The e-book will allow students to access a range of audio-video resources that were not available with the traditional book. Teachers also have access to a wider range of resources and they can project selected book content on the board. It is new for teachers and students; we are discovering a new range of possibilities for teaching and learning.

GRANT FROM THE ASSOCIATION OF FRENCH TEACHERS VICTORIA

Congratulations to Mr Hubert for receiving a grant from the AFTV to support his work in developing VCE French tutorials and podcasts. The money will be used to purchase new editing software and sound recording devices. Existing videos can be viewed on YouTube http://goo.gl/IkcedK

Andrea Fowler

Head of Languages