The importance of studying a second language is taken very seriously at Ruyton and we are proud to encourage a love of language in our students. French is ranked as the second most influential language in the world, according to the Summer Institute for Linguistics Ethnologue Survey in 2009, so it goes without saying we need to equip our girls to meet the challenge of global communication, while still endeavouring to engender a passion for one of the world’s most beautiful languages.
AIM – Accelerative Integrated Method
By extending the innovative AIM programme uniformly in the Junior School and into Year 7 in 2010, we have continued to strengthen the French programme at Ruyton. During lessons, both students and teachers communicate only in French, using gestures to reinforce meaning. Songs, dances and a myriad of other activities are incorporated to facilitate the inductive learning of French and its linguistic conventions. In 2011 this programme will be extended into Year 8.
Alliance Française Competition
Students in Years 11 and 12 undertaking VCE Units 3 and 4 participated in the written section of this competition. Claire Seton and Bianca Strugnell, both in Year 11, achieved outstanding results and were invited to participate in the State finals. This is a very fine achievement which reflects the depth of our French programme at Ruyton.
French Cultural Activities
The importance of French culture as an integral component of studying the language in a classroom situation cannot be underestimated. At Ruyton we have continued to enrich our students through various activities, such as visits from Monsieur Crêpe, excursions to the Alliance Française French Film Festival and an extended French Reading Programme. Plans for the future include furthering our focus through increased incursions, excursions and an optional trip to France in 2011 for students in Years 9-11.
As the 17th century French mathematician Blaise Pascal wrote 'le coeur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît pas' (the heart has its reasons that reason can’t explain) and so it is with French: you can argue that studying it improves students’ ATAR scores but, in the end, if you enjoy learning it, no matter what the reason or the reasoning, the passion for the language is what counts.