How will students at Kalamunda SHS lead with languages?

The truth is, in today’s increasingly interconnected and interdependent world, proficiency in other languages is a vital skill that gives you the opportunity to engage with the world in a more immediate and meaningful way—whether in your neighbourhood or thousands of miles away—while better preparing you to compete and succeed in the global economy.

Here Are Our Top Ten Benefits of Learning Languages:

1. Connect!
   One of the most rewarding aspects of the human experience is our ability to connect with others. Being able to communicate with someone in his or her language is an incredible gift. Bilinguals have the unique opportunity to communicate with a wider range of people in their personal and professional lives. Knowing the language makes you a local no matter where you are, opening up your world literally and figuratively. You will be shaped by communities. You will be humbled by the kindness of strangers. You will build lifelong friendships. And for these reasons alone, you will see the reward of learning languages for many years to come.
2. Advance Your Career
   Language skills can be a significant competitive advantage that sets you apart from your monolingual peers. They are among the top eight skills required of all occupations—no matter your sector or skill level—and the demand for bilingual professionals is rising exponentially. Employers are seeking professionals who can communicate seamlessly with customers in new and expanding overseas markets, as well as serve and sell to a large foreign-born population here at home. As an added incentive, in many instances, language skills also lead to hiring bonuses and increased salaries. Whatever your career aspiration—with language skills added to the mix, you’re ahead of the crowd!
3. Feed Your Brain
   The many cognitive benefits of learning languages are undeniable. People who speak more than one language have improved memory, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, enhanced concentration, ability to multitask, and better listening skills. They switch between competing tasks and monitor changes in their environment more easily than monolinguals, as well as display signs of greater creativity and flexibility. If that weren’t enough, as we age, being bilingual or multilingual also helps to stave off mental aging and cognitive decline.
4. Deepen Your Connection to Other Cultures
   Language is the most direct connection to other cultures. Being able to communicate in another language exposes us to and fosters an appreciation for the traditions, religions, arts, and history of the people associated with that language. Greater understanding, in turn, promotes greater tolerance, empathy, and acceptance of others—with studies showing that children who have studied another language are more open toward and express more positive attitudes toward the culture associated with that language.
5. See the World
   Traveling as a speaker of the local language can revolutionize a trip abroad. While monolingual travellers are capable of visiting the same places, travellers who know more than one language are more easily able to navigate outside the tourist bubble and to connect and interact with the place and its people in a way that is often inaccessible to those without the language. Learning a second language also opens additional doors to opportunities for studying or working abroad.
6. Go to the Source
   In a world of more than 6,000 spoken languages, we sometimes require translation, but speaking at least one additional language empowers us to access information that would otherwise be off-limits. For example, individuals proficient in other languages are able to navigate the Internet as genuine global citizens—consuming and assessing foreign media and entertainment.
7. Become a Polyglot
   Not only does learning a second language improve communication skills and multiply vocabulary in your first language—yes, really!—but research shows that it makes picking up additional languages a much easier, especially among children. That’s because when you learn a new language, you develop new brain networks that are primed and ready when you embark on learning a third language.
8. Boost Your Confidence
   Any language learner can attest to making his or her share of mistakes while discovering a new language—often in front of an audience. It’s a necessary part of the learning process! Learning a language means putting yourself out there and moving out of your comfort zone. The upside is the amazing sense of accomplishment you’ll feel when conversing with someone in their native language.
9. Strengthen Your Decision Making
   Studies show that decisions made in your second language are more reason-driven than those made in your native language. Contrary to popular assumptions, when we deliberate in a second or third language, we actually distance ourselves from the emotional responses and biases deeply associated with our mother tongue. The result? Systematic and clear-headed decisions based on just the facts.
10. Gain Perspective
    As we explore a new language and culture, we naturally draw comparisons to what is most familiar. Learning about another culture sheds light on aspects of our own culture—both positive and negative—we may not have previously considered. You may find a greater appreciation for what you have, or you may decide to shake things up!

Study tips for learning foreign language

• Check CONNCECT library for resources and presentations and spend 10 minutes reviewing.
  
• Rehearse phrases, alphabet, expressions and conjugation of verbs out aloud at home to Mum, Dad and younger siblings.
• Check out SBS on Demand. There are excellent foreign films!
• Watch the news or the weather forecast in the target language. Find out what time the Japanese, Italian or Indonesian news is broadcasted on SBS.
• Set small goals for the week. Write them down eg Say 5 things about myself in Italian and record my voice.
• Use Languagenut platform. It is competitive and topic based. It focuses on all the macro skills; Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking.
• Use sticky notes and write new words on different colours. Place these sticky notes where you walk by the most eg: The fridge, pantry or bedroom door.
• Use gestures to connect to new language eg: personal pronouns (Italian students know what I am talking about!).
• Add the subtitles in Italian/Indonesian/Japanese if possible to your favourite NETFLIX show.
• Write words and sentences BIG, BOLD and COLOURFUL.
• Purchase a roll of butchers paper from KMART and each night roll it out and write down as much as you can remember from your previous language class.
• Liquid chalk or whiteboard markers for conjugation of verbs on your bedroom mirror or window (if you are allowed!).
• Palm cards- write 10 questions about personal information in the target language and rehearse these out aloud.
• Make a chatterbox and each tab can be a topic in the target language.
• Take a deck of normal playing cards and practice the numbers out aloud.
• Label items (eg food, cutlery, clothing, furniture, electronics, school supplies) with small sticky notes in Italian around the home over the weekend or say them out aloud eg: As you set the table, say each item in the target language.
• Create an Italian/Indonesian/Japanese playlist.
• Listen to podcasts in the target language.
• Take out a book from the foreign language section in our school library and read it to your parents or your pet. Record your story telling!
• Rehearse a simple poem or expression in the target language (eg Trenta giorni ha novembre: Thirty days has November) and pay attention to tone, pronunciation and expression. By the end of the week you will have memorised it. This is called the Shadowing technique.
• Make a time with the language assistant to practice general conversation and review grammar.

How do KSHS feel about learning Italian?

(Charlotte Irving, Yr 11, Cert III Italian)

I have been learning Italian for the past 5 years. Learning Italian has allowed me to be involved in the global community and has given me the skills to make connections on an intercultural level. What I love about Italian is not only the language but the traditional and modern day culture.

(Indara Gentle, Yr 11, Cert III Italian)

I have been learning Italian for 9 years and it has helped me learn about my own language. I am confident that it will help me in the future too.

(Angus Hunt Cert, Yr 11, III Italian)

Over the past 6 years I have been learning Italian. It has allowed me to learn more about cultural awareness and identity. I am also interested in travelling to Europe so learning Italian will allow me to get the most out of my travels, particularly in Italian speaking countries such as Germany, Switzerland and Slovenia.

(Sinead Browne, Yr 12, Cert III)

I have been learning Italian since primary school. Italian was my chosen language to learn. I chose to continue this subject for many reasons.; the ability to use the attained academic skills in other subjects, cultural exploration, future work opportunities and expanding my knowledge of other cultures through creative writing and role play scenarios.

(Kourtney Cummings, Yr 12, Cert III)

I have studied the Italian language since year 1 and I have not regretted this choice. By studying a language, I have learnt skills that you use in everyday life as well as understand the importance of intercultural and bilingual skills in the workplace. Many places look for people with language skills and cultural knowledge. Studying Italian has given me the opportunity to participate in many excursions and incursions as well as the Italy Tour 2020 which was cancelled due to Covid.

(Chloe Corfe, Yr 12, Cert III)

Learning Italian for 8 years has developed my cultural awareness and my English skills particularly understanding terminologies. I chose to continue learning in senior school because the class is interactive, it has a good atmosphere and my peers all have similar interests. I hope to continue learning Italian after completing year 12.

(Alethea Johnson Yr 12, Cert III)

I have been learning Italian for 9 years and I have loved every second of it. It is so exciting to order in Italian at a local restaurant and see the surprise on the waiter’s face- they appreciate it! I love learning Italian and will continue to do so outside of school.

(Jorjia Watson Yr 12, Cert III)

Italian Club

Ci vediamo alla prossima settimana! See you next week!

Signora Pennington’s favourite movie on SBS Demand this month!

CJ7- Chinese movie with English subtitles- a fantastic movie about a space creature who finds friendship with a poor, adventurous school boy. It is a movie that will make you laugh and cry. Perfect for the whole family. Take the challenge!

Maria Pennington
Teacher in Charge of Languages