This year is the end of one era for Year 12 French students Tiahna Davies, Madeleine Mullins and Amyliah Harrison. The end of high school and learning French in a school setting. To celebrate this special occasion, we are sitting in a French Cafe La Maison du Patissier, looking back at the girls’ 13 years of French learning at GCC. Mrs Nadine Hammill, the girls’ former primary French teacher, joined us to share some fun memories from the girls’ primary school years. We can see the excitement on the girls’ faces when they think back at their past lessons and the time spent with their French classes and teachers and when they reflect on the amazing progress that the thirteen years of French learning have provided them. 

As we chat, the girls point out some of the highlights of their French learning journey. On top of their list are the following special memories:

• Creating Primary and Middle School French play performances and a Senior French environmental video
• Participation in the MLTAQ Speech Contests
• Grammar games (Yes, grammar can be fun!)
• Dancing Zumba with French instructions and listening to French songs, in particular, the annual Eurovision Song Contest French songs 
• Enjoying croissants and ‘chocolat chaud’ in class on a cold winter’s day, wrapped up in blankets
• One-on-one time with their French teacher in a small class where everyone’s specific needs could be catered for
• Mrs. Hast’s ‘sass’
• Gaining confidence in their personal French skills;  from being able to say a few set phrases in Prep to being able to have deep, advanced conversations in fluent French in Year 12

They also name some of the challenges:

• Oral assessments and the occasional awkward silence during those exams
• The wonderfully complex French grammar and verb conjugation that just keeps on giving exceptions to every possible grammar rule

Tiahna, Amyliah and Madeleine all agree that the benefits of learning French easily outweigh the occasional challenges. Here are some of the key benefits the girls highlight and value the most:

• Learning French has improved their English vocabulary and grammar .
• Broadened understanding of the world and gaining cultural appreciation.
• Future work opportunities, having the possibility to work in a French-speaking country.
• Improved employability in Australia.
• Achieving a Diploma of French (DELF) at Alliance Française.
• 2 ATAR points added.
• A second language added to their resume.

As a piece of advice to current students at GCC, Amyliah, Tiahna and Madeleine all say the following: 

“Keep going with your language studies, it’s all worth it in the end! You should value this opportunity to study French while it’s free and provided in a school setting – it’s a wonderful tool to have in your ‘toolbox’ as you never know where you might end up in life, whether it’s through travelling, your free time activities or pursuing a career.”

Tuija Hast, Head of LOTE