Stepping Ahead in French
Step Ahead Week for the French program was a huge success, transforming language learning into a dynamic exploration of global connection, cognitive science, and delicious cultural fusion.
The activities for Year 7 and Year 8 students emphasised that learning French is not just about vocabulary, it’s also about opening doors to new perspectives.
Year 7: The Cognitive and Culinary Connection
Our Year 7 students kicked off the week by delving into the hidden benefits of being bilingual. Through a reflective worksheet, they explored how learning a new language like French can actually sharpen the mind and connect people and cultures. Putting this cultural understanding into delicious practice, students then took on a design challenge: creating a dish that deliberately combined flavours from different cultures. The activity fostered creativity and demonstrated the rich possibilities that come from crossing cultural boundaries.
Year 8: Global Voices and Mentorship
The Year 8 French students took on a mentorship role while broadening their own understanding of language in the global community. First, they practiced their high-level communication skills by preparing and delivering engaging presentations on a range of topics related to languages in the world. In a wonderful act of peer support, the Year 8s also wrote heartfelt letters to the Year 7 cohort. These letters shared personal reflections on the challenges and rewards of learning French, offering practical advice and encouragement to the younger students as they look ahead to their next year of studies.
Félicitations to all the students for an insightful and creative Step Ahead Week!
Alizée Bourgault
Teacher