Happy New Year!   / Buon Anno! / Bonne Année ! /  明けましておめでとう！

Languages are an essential part of the curriculum at the College. As we begin 2023, I would like to reflect on this statement taken from our College Mission Statement:

…Engage and dialogue with others, advocate for the vulnerable and act with a spirit of justice for all…

We often think that studying a language is a wonderful exercise to engage with others and to connect to an outer world full of opportunities. Getting out of the English language comfort zone also allows us to gradually discover that our way of doing things and interpreting life is only one way amongst many other possibilities, all precious and respectable.

At the College, we are aware that students will be living in a world where ‘change’ will be constant. They will have to adjust throughout their life and at times find alternatives to redefine themselves to keep moving forward. Languages are a great ‘gym’ for the brain as it trains one’s cognitive skills such as problem solving and creativity. It is not a coincidence that neurologists recommend learning a language to patients at risk of dementia.         

Learning other languages does not only have important benefits invisible to the eye. Language classes are also literacy classes. Languages have a place in the curriculum because they have an impact on two major human communication tools we can see and hear: writing and speaking. Every time students sit in a language class, they gain more awareness of the linguistic structures of the English language. As students learn how to manipulate the underlying patterns which they have unconsciously learnt as children, they become more articulate.

Languages are obviously also a window to the world, allowing us to develop an appreciation for other cultures and lifestyles. I have copied some of the College commitments to our students found amongst our mission statements. At Kilbreda, we strive to ensure that our students develop the following:

• An appreciation of the experiences and heritage of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples and their influence on Australian civic identity and society
• An appreciation of Australia as a multicultural society and a commitment to supporting intercultural understandings
• An understanding of the ways in which governance structures from other countries are similar to, or differ from, democracy in Australia.

These statements resonate in the Language classrooms because inclusivity is deeply embedded in the Brigidine spirit, but also because we encourage students to think critically by comparing our Australian context to other parts of the world.

Finally, we also strongly encourage our families to demonstrate an interest towards the foreign language students are learning in their classroom. Discussions about linguistic and cultural aspects learnt in class are greatly beneficial to students. It is also by examining and reflecting on these similarities or differences that students form their own identity.

BENVENUTO ANDREA ! Welcome Andrea !

Joining our Italian Language Team in 2023 is Professor Andrea Di Castro.

Andrea, a native Italian speaker with proficiency in Latin and French, has dedicated the past six years to teaching various subjects such as Humanities, History, Geography and the Italian language.

Before transitioning to secondary education, Andrea gained extensive experience working at institutions like the Italian Encyclopedia in Rome, and as an archaeologist in several countries including Italy, Nepal, China and Australia. He has also taught archaeology, ancient history, and Asian civilization at the University of Melbourne and Monash University and has worked at the State Library of Victoria and the Italian Institute of Culture of Melbourne.

Andrea is a lifelong learner and is driven by his passion for history, cultures and civilizations. He is thrilled to join us at Kilbreda College. During his leisure time, he enjoys spending quality time with his family, cooking, gardening, and spending time in nature, either locally or exploring trails in national parks.

Giovanni Di Fabrizio
Learning Leader: Languages