Assessment Task 3: Advocacy for Languages

1. Assessment Task 3: Advocacy for Languages Whitney D’Sa 42634628

2. Why Learn French? • French is a Romance language with approximately 110 million native speakers and 190 million second language speakers • It is the official language in 29 countries • Check out this YouTube video on why learning French is so important: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k548146ym4g (Source: YouTube, Foopie09)

3. Studying French at Pineview High School • Students in Years 7 and 8 select one of the following languages offered at Pineview High Schoolto study: French, Japanese, or Spanish • Year 8 language classes are taken three times a week (50 minute lessons) • From Years 9-12, languages are offered to students as an elective course • Year 11 students also have the option of learning a language at the Beginner’s level; these classes are 4-5 times a week (50 minute lessons)

4. French: Year 7What has your child achieved this term? • Your child: • has just completed a Unit of Work entitled, “Sports & Activities” • can name a variety of sports and activities • knows how to tell someone whether they like or dislike a sport • can distinguish when you play a sport as opposed to doa sport • knows popular sports played in France, including famous sporting events (Ex: La Tour de France)

5. French: Year 8B and 8FWhat has your child achieved this term? • Your child: • has just completed a Unit of Work entitled, “The Monuments of Paris” • knows the French names for the famous monuments in Paris • knows key facts about each monument • is able to locate the monuments on a map of Paris • can write a letter in French about the famous monuments in Paris they will see while on vacation • is familiar with “le métro” (the underground railway system in Paris) • knows how to give directions in French to someone trying to find a monument by travelling via “le métro”

6. Social Media Usage in Australia

7. Social Media Usage in Australia

8. ICT’s in Languages • As shown in the previous two graphs, it is evident that social media sites such as Facebook and YouTube are predominately used by people 0-17 years of age • This is why each language class has their own Facebook group where the teacher uploads exercises and worksheets for students who wish to have the extra practice • Students can also use this space to talk with their peers about the lesson taught in class or to study for quizzes/tests • YouTube clips are used in the classroom for language learning via songs, movies, TV shows, etc.

9. More ICT’s in the Classroom • Interactive Smart Board: students complete tasks, games, and activities in a hands-on way via the Interactive Smart Board • Online games: students play online games as instructed by the teacher to reinforce key concepts taught in the lesson; research has shown that student participation in language learning has increased due to language gaming • Quizzes: teachers set up online quizzes through certain websites for students to complete as a mode of studying for tests

10. The Intercultural Aspect • Through studying French, your child has been able to distinguish similarities and differences between: • sports played in France vs. Australia • famous sporting events in France vs. Australia • famous monuments in France vs. Australia • the underground railway system in France vs. Australia • the sentence structure of French vs. English • ways of being polite when speaking or writing in French vs. English

11. Other Benefits for your Child to Continue Learning French… TRAVEL • It is a huge advantage for students to know French if they ever travel to a French-speaking country • This includes France, but also many other French-speaking countries such as Canada, Congo, Madagascar, Switzerland, Senegal, Belgium, Ivory Coast, etc. • Simple phrases of asking for directions, ordering food, asking for an address/phone number, etc., can be quite helpful when you’re in a new country

12. Other Benefits for your Child to Continue Learning French… JOB OPPORTUNITIES • Knowing another language opens many doors of job opportunities because you have a skill that many other people do not have • Knowing another language will most often result in a higher pay salary

13. Other Benefits for your Child to Continue Learning French… CRITICAL THINKING • Learning another language helps with learning strategies in other subject areas • Language learning helps with students’ metacognitive development • Students have knowledge of their own abilities, knowledge of the task and strategy effectiveness, and are able to self-regulate their learning

14. Other Benefits for your Child to Continue Learning French… IT’S FUN!!! • Learning a language is fun because it is so interactive. It’s not only about reading or writing, but also speaking and listening too. It’s great for all types of learners! Plus, ICT’s and games make it lots of fun too! • Knowing another language gives you an edge since you are able to communicate in a language that not everyone else can • Students will often feel “special” knowing they can communicate in a language that not all their family and friends can communicate in

15. Students’ Views on Learning French… • Check out this YouTube video of students from different cultures speaking about why learning French is so important: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k548146ym4g&feature=related (Source: YouTube, Richard de Meij)

16. Merci! Àbientôt! (Thank you! See you later!)