Languages
Each year, our Year 7 and 8 students dive into Cultural Days—dynamic events that celebrate diversity and offer hands-on learning experiences in different cultures. These days let students actively use their chosen language outside the classroom, reinforcing skills for a globally connected world.
Year 7 students enjoy activities led by native speakers, such as cooking, calligraphy, manga drawing, drumming, judo, and pétanque. Senior students also join to inspire younger peers with their language learning journeys.
In Year 8, students will immerse themselves in cultural dances and entertainment activities before working in teams to create a cultural luncheon, where they plan menus, cook, and arrange tables in the style of French or Japanese traditions.
The calligraphy workshop was an amazing experience! Learning to write kanji with patience and precision was both relaxing and rewarding, and I’m grateful to Saito Sensei for sharing these valuable skills with us.
— Student | Year 8
Students experience the vibrant culture behind the languages they learn through exciting excursions that bring classroom knowledge to life!
Japanese students will enjoy authentic Japanese cuisine in the city before catching a Japanese film at the Melbourne International Film Festival. French students, meanwhile, will immerse themselves in French cinema at the French Film Festival, followed by a taste of France at a local crêperie or café.
The National Gallery of Victoria also offers rich opportunities, with exhibitions that showcase works by French or Japanese artists, adding depth to students' cultural learning. We actively seek out and integrate these opportunities to make language learning a truly immersive experience.
The film offered our French classes a wonderful opportunity to immerse ourselves in the language in a fun and engaging way. As a member of the school orchestra, the musical elements of the film also resonated with me.
— Student | Year 11
To enrich language learning, we offer a range of fun and supportive lunchtime activities tailored to different age groups. For our youngest learners in Prep to Year 2, we have ‘French Story Time’, where they can enjoy stories in French. Students in Years 3 to 6 can join the ‘Junior French Club’ to build language skills through engaging activities and games.
Students from Years 7 to 12 are invited to ‘Languages Time’, a space to practise their chosen language, receive the support they need and where Languages Leaders may offer a cultural activity such as a Cultural Trivia lunch or viewing a French or Japanese movie.
One of my favourite experiences was taking part in French Club. I got to practise French with my friends in a fun way, and I loved helping to organise activities.
— Student | Year 6
Global Connections Program Tours
Students participating in our Global Connections Program will embark on an unforgettable overseas adventure. Years 9-11 Language students have the incredible chance to join Kilvington’s study tours to Japan and France, immersing themselves in new cultures and languages.
Plus, students can experience an individual five-week exchange for a deeper, more personal journey.
My daughter has made lifelong connections with the host families she stayed with, especially in Hiroshima. Her Japanese has become more fluent, and her overall confidence has improved.
— Parent | Post tour to Japan
VCE Language Assistant Sessions and Tutoring
All VCE Languages students have one-on-one individual sessions with a native speaker who converses in the target language for 30 minutes on a regular basis. These sessions are part of the VCE curriculum and ensures growing confidence with students’ speaking skills and preparation for oral examinations.
Past students who have excelled in their chosen language, such as Charlotte Westaway who received a 2023 Premier's VCE Award for achieving a 50/50 in French, are invited to run tutoring sessions for Year 12 students.