French

Madelene Whitford

A different language is a different vision of life Federico Fellini “ ” Despite the challenges of COVID-19, our talented students of French certainly gained a new perspective and new vision of life in different French speaking countries and cultures this year. The French program focuses on cultural understanding and appreciation through meaningful language learning.

We started this language and cultural journey in Term 1, celebrating Francophonie Week. The French Faculty were blown away by the enthusiasm and support of our French students and the wider school community in celebrating the diversity of the 28 countries whose official language is French.

La semaine de la Francophonie was kicked off with a brilliant guitar rendition of La Marseillaise, the French National Anthem, played by Dean Umpad, Year 12, over the loudspeakers during homeroom. Harry Ellwood (Year 12), Michael Holmes (Year 11) and Max Corrigan (Year 8), spoke and presented the celebratory week’s activities in French, demonstrating their high levels of language proficiency in their respective year levels.

Despite the restrictions of lockdown, our students continued on their language and cultural journey this year, celebrating and learning about le 14 Juillet or Bastille Day, the French National holiday on 14 July, in Term 3. Year 8 French students also adapted exceptionally well to Home Based Learning, delighting their teachers with many creative culinary delights as they studied French food and restaurant culture. After learning about the region of Britany in France, students enjoyed perfecting the craft of crêpe making with their families during lockdown.

The Year 12 French Continuers class, which was combined with students from St Joseph’s, have shown great resilience and commitment to their studies this year, and we wish them all the best for their futures and continued language learning journeys abroad or at university.

The French Faculty congratulates all French students for their commitment to their studies, rising to the challenges of home-based learning, return to school, assessment tasks and for their dedication to learning a foreign language, making them true global citizens.