French Comes Alive at Kilbreda: Year 8 Students Learn Directions Through Play

At the start of Term 4, Year 8 French students embraced a fresh and energetic approach to their learning. As they explored how to ask for and give directions in French, the classroom quickly filled with laughter, movement and confidence during an interactive game called “Au Voleur!”, which is a fun and effective way to practise reading and speaking aloud.

Armed with just a few cards and a shared list of sentences, students set out to “steal” as many cards as possible by reading in French and even settling turns with rock, paper, scissors in the target language. The result was more than just a game as it became an engaging way to build pronunciation skills, teamwork and spontaneous communication.

Student feedback highlighted the enthusiasm and learning benefits of the activity:

“The game made the lesson more exciting and helped me remember the new words better.” – Lucy Ingram

“I liked that we practised pronunciation together first. Now I feel more confident saying the words correctly.”  – Sienna Turner

“It was so fun and creative. It really helped me learn and enjoy French more.” – Vanessa Comarmond

Moments like these remind us that language learning is not only about memorising vocabulary, but about using it through laughter, interaction and authentic communication. In this spirit, French came alive in the classroom as a shared experience of curiosity, connection and joy.

Lucia Barbera

Teacher: French

Empowering Voices in French: Year 12 Students Celebrate Coco Chanel

This year, our Year 12 French students have been exploring the fascinating world of Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel as part of their Detailed Study / Discussion for the VCE oral examination. Chanel, one of the most influential figures of the 20th century, revolutionised not only the fashion industry but also the image of women in modern society.

Through their research, our students discovered how Coco Chanel broke conventions at a time when few women dared to dream beyond domestic expectations. She built a brand from modest beginnings, guided by vision, creativity and an unshakable sense of independence. Her designs – simple yet elegant – freed women from the restrictive clothing of the past, symbolising a new era of confidence and self-expression.

For our students, studying Chanel has been more than just learning about fashion; it has been an exploration of female resilience and entrepreneurship in a male-dominated world. Chanel’s story reminds them that courage and innovation can change industries – and minds.

We are proud of our students for the dedication and curiosity that they have shown throughout their French studies. Like Chanel, they too embody the spirit of perseverance and creativity that defines strong, independent women.

Year 12 Students Complete Their Italian and Japanese Oral Examinations

Over the past few weeks, our Year 12 students have reached a major milestone in their VCE journey – completing their Italian and Japanese oral examinations (with French scheduled for next week). These assessments mark the culmination of years of commitment, perseverance and passion for language learning.

Sitting an oral exam in a foreign language is no small feat. It requires not only a strong grasp of vocabulary and grammar, but also confidence, composure and the ability to think on one’s feet. Students described the experience as both challenging and rewarding. Although many entered the exam feeling anxious, several commented afterward that the conversation went by too quickly and that they wished they could have said more – a sure sign that they had prepared thoroughly and were eager to showcase their skills.

We congratulate all of our language students for their hard work and determination. Regardless of the result, they have achieved something truly valuable: the ability to communicate across cultures and to appreciate the richness of another world.

Brave!  おめでとうございます (Omedetō gozaimasu)!

Giovanni Di Fabrizio

Learning Leader: Languages