4 minute read
Staff spotlights
Rebecca Cooke
Head of Commerce
Rebecca Cooke pursued the subjects she loves to find a career that motivates and inspires her. After graduating with Honours in Arts/Law and completing her Articles, Rebecca practiced as a lawyer for four years in both Melbourne and London. Industry experience gave her a global perspective and awareness of the opportunities available for the next generation of women. With a passion for working with young people and a desire to make more of an impact in the lives of others, Rebecca returned to Australia to complete her Graduate Diploma of Education. After another stint in London and in Brisbane, Rebecca took on her “career defining” position at MLC as the Head of Commerce.
“I believe my industry experience has allowed me to teach the law with a real-world perspective and give authenticity to the student’s learning. I love being able to bring my passion and love of the law to the students. The thought of inspiring and educating young people was very appealing to me.
“MLC’s over-arching goal is to nurture and develop each MLC student so that she leaves school with the skills, knowledge and values necessary to be world-ready. It was this goal and many other reasons which drew me to MLC and this position.”
Miss Rebecca Cooke, Isabelle and classmates discuss their ‘The Law and You’ assignment
Likewise, Rebecca is equally enthusiastic about the MLC Commerce department, the pathways it offers to students and the opportunity for real-world skill development. “Over the past two years, approximately 20% of MLC graduates have received offers for commerce-based tertiary courses”, she says. “Business and related subjects are among the most popular fields of study at universities worldwide, particularly at graduate level. Commerce-based pathways allow students to develop a global mindset, which is even more important in today’s international economy. “In view of the increased needs for agile and entrepreneurial skills for young people today, our goal, as Commerce teachers, is to foster and build 21st century capabilities such as collaboration, critical thinking and communication.”
“As a language teacher, I am able to develop young people’s linguistic skills so they can connect to the world beyond the classroom. My goal is to equip my students with the tools to become independent thinkers in a globally connected world and to develop a love of learning for the rest of their lives.”
Anne-Lise Llewellyn
Head of Languages
A passion for languages started young for MLC’s new Head of Languages Anne-Lise Llewellyn. Born in France, Anne-Lise was instinctively drawn to globe-trotting. “I studied English, Russian and Latin during my secondary schooling and embraced the opportunity to immerse myself in a new culture by completing my degree in both France and England.” After a stint working in logistics, using language and business skills, Anne-Lise completed her teacher training in the UK and taught in various schools in the north-west of England. However, it was a wish to explore more of the world that motivated Anne-Lise to emigrate to Australia in 2003 with her husband.
“Having the opportunity to work in such a large and diverse school as MLC has been amazing”, she says. “I was first attracted by the fact that the College proudly embraces diversity and engages respectfully and responsibly with people of all backgrounds, including Australia’s Indigenous people, their culture and country. I love that MLC students are encouraged to develop a strong sense of self whilst respecting and learning from others.” Another point that appealed was MLC’s global outlook. “Global mindedness is at the core of MLC’s mission, and languages are valued and promoted by the school with MLC offering an extensive range of programs. “As a language teacher, I am lucky to share my days with a large team of highly skilled and experienced language educators from all over the world. This creates an environment rich in stories, interactions and perspectives from various cultures, which reinforces the importance of intercultural understanding.” Far from seeing technology as a hinderance to language acquisition, Anne-Lise embraces the possibilities. “Learning methodologies have continued to evolve steadily over the years, and a research-based approach underpins every language program delivered at MLC. An example is how we use ImmerseMe, an interactive language learning tool that combines automated speech recognition with VR technologies (360 video), to ‘immerse’ learners in authentic cultural experiences. “Now that Australia is opening up to the world again, we want to continue to increase the level of student engagement in the classroom by using powerful communication strategies and innovative digital platforms.”
