Félicitations à Jane Boussalem (Matthew Flinders Anglican College, QLD), Kelsey Cooper (Tasmania) et Jasmine Sotiroulis (Renmark High School, SA), heureuses gagnantes des bourses 2024!
On the 15th of July, our school hosted a vibrant and enjoyable French Day. The event was a delightful celebration of French culture, filled with music, dance, and delicious food. Students and teachers alike participated in the festivities, showcasing their enthusiasm and school spirit. Throughout the day, we engaged in various activities that highlighted the richness of French culture. We had fun dancing to traditional French music and singing the French anthem. The atmosphere was lively and filled with joy, as everyone came together to celebrate. One of the highlights of the day was the sale of French-themed treats. We sold an impressive number of croissants, homemade crêpes, and French lolly bags. The delicious aroma of freshly baked goods filled the air, attracting many eager customers. All proceeds from the sales were generously donated to the Little Windmill charity, a wonderful organisation that supports children and families in need. Our collective efforts raised a significant amount of money for this worthy cause, making our French Day not only enjoyable but also meaningful. Overall, French Day was a resounding success, filled with fun, laughter, and a sense of community. It was a fantastic opportunity for everyone to immerse themselves in French culture while contributing to a great cause. We would like to thank everyone again for making this day possible. We look forward to many more such celebrations in the future.
On Saturday 27th July, Tasmanian French teachers benefited greatly from a grant received from the French embassy. This grant was made possible through Tasmania’s association with FATFA (Fédération des Associations de Professeurs de Français en Australie). Attendees were from all sectors and spanned from early career teachers to well seasoned professionals and semi-retirees. The 4-hour PL consisted of 2 parts. The first section coincided with Alliance Française de Hobart’s monthly Cafe, Croissant, Conversation (CCC) morning. Here teachers mingled with other CCC attendees, conversing in a mixture of French and franglais about various topics. Gatherings such as this are so important for teachers to maintain their own spontaneous speaking skills and to pick up new phrases to share in the classroom. Professional engagement isn’t only an AITSL standard, it is a necessity for forming connections and authentic dialogues, and ensuring that what we are teaching in the classroom is current and useful. In the second part of the morning, Alliance Française tutor and French native Julien Scheffer ran an immersive “Donner son opinion” session where teachers engaged with skills and vocabulary to enhance written and conversational skills around giving opinions in French. There were many “uh ha” moments and much collegial laughter throughout the morning. There were, of course, multiple snacking options to keep spirits high. Tasmanian French teachers thank FATFA and the French embassy for the opportunity to develop their professional knowledge, professional practice and professional engagement in such an authentic and engaging way.
On behalf of Renmark High School, recipient of the FATFA/Embassy Language Pedagogy Bursary 2024, I am writing to extend our gratitude to the Federation of Australian Teachers of French Association (FATFA). This grant enabled our school to organise a day excursion to Trinity College, Gawler, Adelaide ( a six-hour return trip) to participate in the first ever French rock show presented by global French teaching rock star, ‘Etienne’. It enabled 50 students from Years 7 to 11 to enjoy from this unique inspirational and entertaining experience. For a significant number of these students, the removal of a financial barrier enabled them to be able to participate for the first time in the excursion. Students were captivated and engaged throughout the concert, actively joining in by singing the lyrics to songs and engaging with the choreography. My two colleagues, a teacher and SSO also found themselves drawn in by the experience! On a personal note, after using ‘Etienne’s’ materials in my French classes for over 20 years, it was truly a wonderful experience to finally take my students to one of his concerts.
MORE LANGUAGE-PEDAGOGY BURSARIES TO COME FOR 2025. STAY TUNED!