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Students who choose to learn a Language at Iona Presentation College are embarking upon an exciting pathway. They are able to choose from French, Italian and Japanese. Those students who already speak Indonesian as their first language are able to study Advanced Indonesian in Years 11 and 12 at the College.

Language lessons have an emphasis on communication, problem-solving and everyday relevance. Students are provided with a wide range of opportunities to enable them to explore and extend their language skills both in English and the language they have chosen to study. They are encouraged to see the value of acquiring a second or third language and the impact it may have on their future and their lives in a multicultural Australia. Acceptance and tolerance of other cultures is an inherent part of the acquisition of a language and is actively promoted in the language classroom. Through the study of a Language, students can gain an understanding of other societies, the ability to interact with people and cultures other than their own, and practical skills which they can use in future social, cultural and vocational areas.

The Language learning area has six learning outcomes, each of which is essential to students’ ability to communicate effectively and appropriately in the target language. These learning outcomes are interrelated and cannot be achieved in isolation.

The outcomes are:

1. Listening and Responding, and Speaking
2. Viewing, Reading and Responding
3. Writing
4. Cultural Understandings
5. The System of the Target Language
6. Language Learning Strategies

Students achieve the outcomes of the Language learning areas across Years 8, 9 and 10 by responding to and creating a variety of texts (written, spoken or visual) in the target language.

Learning a Language in Years 7, 8, 9 and 10

The lower school French, Italian and Japanese courses aim to develop the students’ speaking, listening, reading and writing skills.  Languages is a major learning area for Year 7 and Year 8 students.  In order for a student to consider studying a language in Years 11 and 12, it is necessary to have studied the language from Year 8 to Year 10.  Please refer below for an outline of the topics covered in each language.

 Year 7 French, Italian and Japanese

The topics covered throughout the 12 week course for each language in Year 7 aim to allow the students to acquire a basic appreciation for French, Italian and Japanese. The topics which the students cover in brief will seek to stimulate an enjoyment of learning the language rather than delivering an academically rigorous course. This exposure will seek to draw a choice for the students where they will be able to select their preferred language for future study.

Year 7 French, Italian and Japanese

The topics covered throughout the 12 week course for each language in Year 7 aim to allow the students to acquire a basic appreciation for French, Italian and Japanese. The topics which the students will cover in brief will seek to stimulate an enjoyment of learning the language rather than delivering an academically rigorous course. This exposure will seek to draw a choice for the students where they will be able to select their preferred language for future study.

Year 8 French

The following topics are covered throughout the year:

• Salut – meeting and greeting people
• En Famille – talking about family and pets
• La Rentrée – talking about the classroom and school life
• A droite ou à gauche? – understanding and giving directions
• Au Café – ordering food and drink in a French café

Year 8 Italian

The following topics are covered throughout the year:

• Piacere – greetings and introductions
• Scuola Scuola – learning about school life
• La Mia Famiglia – talking about family and pets
• La Casa – talking about house and home

Year 8 Japanese

The following topics are covered throughout the year:

• Greetings
• Family, Friends and Pets
• Things about Self
• Days, Dates and Months, Numbers
• Sports, Hobbies and Activities

Year 9 French

The following topics are covered:

• Nouveaux Amis – colours, shapes, weather and seasons
• La Mode – talking about clothing and fashions
• Un Stage en Nouvelle Calédonie – talking about one’s daily routine
• Allez!  On bouge!! –leisure activities and sport
• Chez Moi –talking about house and home
• Cogolin – une petite ville en Provence – shops and shopping

Year 9 French students take part in the Australian Language Certificates in Term 3.

Year 9 Italian

The following topics are covered:

• Al Bar Prendo
• Perche Non Usciamo?
• Lo Shopping
• Che Bella Vita

Year 9 Italian students take part in the Australian Language Certificates in Term 3.

Year 9 Japanese

The following topics are covered:

• Telling the Time
• Neighbourhoods
• The Four Seasons
• Weather
• Shopping

Year 9 Japanese students take part in the Australian Language Certificates in Term 3.

Year 10 French

The following topics are covered:

• Qu’est-ce qu’on fait? –talking about leisure, going out, cinema, television
• Bon Appétit – at the café, restaurant, reading recipes
• On y va! – catching buses, trains

Chez les Francophones – staying with a French family

Year 10 French students take part in the Alliance Française Examination in Term 3. 

Year 10 Italian

The following topics are covered:

• Io e Tu
• Si Mangia Bene
• Le Vacanze

Mondo Lavoro

• Mondo Spettacolo

Year 10 Japanese

The following topics are covered:

• Japanese Media
• Sports
• Exchange Students
• Money
• Travel
• Let’s Protect our Planet

The aims of learning Language Other Than English in Year 11 and Year 12 are many and varied.  First and foremost, they aim to promote the students’ communicative skills while enhancing and extending their understanding of the different cultures and ways of life in both target language countries and such communities within Australia.  These courses also aim to develop the students’ understanding of language as a system and encourage their enjoyment of language learning.  In order for a student to consider studying a language in Years 11 and 12, it is necessary to have studied the language from Year 8 to Year 10.

Year 11 Stage 2 French

Prerequisite - refer to Head of Department

In this course, the work covered in Years 8, 9 and 10 is expanded and treated at a more complex level. The course is student-centred and activities based.

Communication is facilitated through the achievement of four outcomes:
Outcome 1: Listening and responding
Outcome 2: Spoken interaction
Outcome 3: Viewing, reading and responding
Outcome 4: Writing

The Stage 2 Course is divided into two equally weighted Units:

Unit 2AFRE:
The focus for this unit is “c’est la vie!”(that’s life!).  It is for students who have sound basic skills in French and are ready for further development.  They compare their own culture and identity with that of their peers in France. They share information about their health, their free time and future plans.  They also explore notions of national and regional identity, and other forms of culture specific to France.

Unit 2BFRE:
The focus for this unit is “voyages” (travel).  It is aimed at students who are ready to develop their skills to a higher level.  They interact with French speakers in either Australia or France and begin to view their culture from the perspective of French-speaker.  They share information about where they have been and where they hope to travel in the future.

Year 11 French students take part in the Alliance Française Examination in Term 3.

Year 11 Stage 2 Italian

Prerequisite - refer to Head of Department

In the Year 11 Italian course, communication is central.  Students will develop the skills and knowledge to communicate in Italian, both orally and in written form.
Communication is facilitated through the achievement of four outcomes:
Outcome 1: Listening and responding
Outcome 2: Spoken interaction
Outcome 3: Viewing, reading and responding
Outcome 4: Writing
In the Italian course, students learn about the Italian language; how it works and how to use it.

• Unit 2AIT – Rapporti  (relationships)– students compare their own culture and identity with that of their peers in Italy and explore different Italian-speaking communities.  They explore popular or traditional culture, the culture of everyday life, notions of nation or regional identity, or other forms of culture specific to Italy.
• Unit 2BIT – Andiamo!(Let’s go!) – students interact with Italian speakers in either Australia or Italy and begin to view their own culture from the perspective of an Italian-speaker.  This unit focuses on ways in which learning Italian may be of benefit to students in relation to future work.

Year 11 Italian Students are given the opportunity to take part in the Dante Alighieri Examination in Term3.

Year 11 Japanese

Prerequisite - refer to Head of Department

In the Year 11 Stage 2 Japanese course, communication is central.  Students will develop the skills and knowledge to communicate in Italian, both orally and in written form.
Communication is facilitated through the achievement of four outcomes:
Outcome 1: Listening and responding
Outcome 2: Spoken interaction
Outcome 3: Viewing, reading and responding
Outcome 4: Writing
In the Japanese course, students learn about the Japanese language; how it works and how to use it.
The Stage 2 Course is divided into two equally weighted Units:
Unit 2AJSL
The focus of this unit is    ホームステイしよう! (homestay).  Students make arrangements to have an overseas student visit their home or visit a Japanese family. This unit explores aspects such as typical rules and routines of home and school life, celebrations and gift giving.
Unit 2BJSL
The focus for this unit is ようこそ、 私の国へ！(welcome to my country).  Students explore situations and events associated with welcoming visitors to Australia.  They compare and contrast their own lifestyles with other cultures specifically in the areas of food etiquette, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and leisure activities.

Year 12 French

Prerequisite - Year 11 French

In Year 12 French, students will continue to extend their knowledge of the language. Students completing this course successfully will be able to use French in a variety of purposeful and meaningful activities. Topics covered in Year 12 include:

• Health and Welfare
• Sport and Leisure
• World Issues and Current Affairs
• Obtaining Service
• Reading for Pleasure
Year 12 French students take part in the Alliance Française Examination in Term 3.

Year 12 Stage 3 Italian

Prerequisite - Year 11 Stage 2 Italian

Year 12 Stage 3 Italian is an extension of Year 11 Stage 2 Italian with a view to attaining higher levels of proficiency in the written and spoken forms of Italian. It aims to expose students to increasing communication in Italian during the course of each lesson. Language structures introduced are more complex and students are expected to use all grammar covered in the course extensively in their own work.

Communication is facilitated through the achievement of four outcomes:
Outcome 1: Listening and responding
Outcome 2: Spoken interaction
Outcome 3: Viewing, reading and responding
Outcome 4: Writing

The Stage 3 Italian course is divided into two Units:
Unit 3ITA: made in Italy (made in Italy):what’s in! what’s not!, things Italian in my life, trends in Italy, Italian contribution to Australia, media advertising and identity, trade and tourism, business relations, economy (Australian and Italian).
Unit 3ITB: …e poi? (what next?): looking back, looking forward, Italy and the European Union, studying and working in Italy, youth/world issues, world of work.

Year 12 have the opportunity to take part in the Dante Alighieri Examination in Term 3.

Year 12 Japanese

Prerequisite - Year 11 Japanese

The Japanese course aims to extend the students’ basic communication ability by teaching all four language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Cultural studies are integrated with the communication skills. Students will be able to communicate with speakers of Japanese using a limited range of grammatical structures and expressions on certain topics and in certain contexts. They will be able to comprehend written and spoken Japanese in given situations as prescribed in the syllabus. They will also be able to use spoken and written Japanese in such contexts.

Important Events in LANGUAGES

ALC Certificate 2 – Year 9 French, Italian & Japanese –annually.
ALC Certificate 3 – Year 11 Japanese –annuallyThursday 7 August 2008
Alliance Française Examination (Years 10, 11 & 12 French) – annually.
Dante Alighieri Examination (Years 10, 11 & 12 Italian) – annually.
French Tour/Exchange – biennial exchange between St Jean et la Croix with Iona. April and July of the relevant year.
Lycée St-Jean et La Croix students and staff arrive Sunday 29 June and return to France on Thursday 17 July 2008
Italian Study Tour – every three years.
Japan Study Tour – every three years.

Japan Study Tour

Students who study Japanese at Iona are given the opportunity to participate in a study tour to Japan when they are in Year 10 or Year 11. This is usually held every two years for a duration of 3 weeks of which 2 weeks are spent in the city of Kagoshima at our host school, Immaculate Heart College. Students are billeted to families of Immaculate Heart College and every effort is expended to expose the girls to a wide range of aspects of Japanese culture and language. Japanese is the primary language used in the homestay. In the last week of the study tour, the group travels from Kagoshima to Tokyo via Hiroshima, Himeji and Kyoto. A snippet of one of our Study Tours to Japan can be seen:

Italian Tour

Year 11 students of Italian have an opportunity to participate in a Study and Cultural Tour of Italy. This is held biennially and is of two to three weeks duration.

This tour allows students to participate in an intensive language course at a selected Language school in either Florence or Perugia.  Students visit major cities and day trips are organized to surrounding towns from the main cities.  Over the years, students have visited the main attractions in the many and varied Italian cities and have acquired invaluable cultural and linguistic insights.  So too, the students learn some very important life skills along the way!

French Tour

Students of French in Years 10, 11 and 12 have the opportunity of participating in the French tour/exchange. This three week tour takes place every two years in April (generally, the last week of Term 1 and the two weeks of holidays). The tour involves two weeks of home-stay in St-Quentin (a town, one hour north of Paris) and one week in Paris.  During our three weeks in France, students get to experience school and family life and go on a range of interesting excursions – from the Australian War Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux to the Parc Asterix; the Eiffel Tower to the Pompidou centre. These are just a few of the highlights of past tours.

This is a wonderful opportunity for students to enhance their cultural awareness of their hosting country and, more importantly, a chance for them to improve their fluency in the language they are learning and make life-long friends along the way.

In July, the reciprocal stage of the exchange takes place, as the French hosts are now hosted by their Australian counterparts.  This allows our students to better appreciate what it means to host a student from France and equally, the French visitors are given the opportunity to immerse themselves into our Iona school and extended community.

Iona takes part in an exchange program with Immaculate Heart College, a Catholic Girls' college in Kagoshima, Japan since 1982. Every year a small number of students from Immaculate Heart College visit Iona for 5 weeks, staying with Iona families. During this time, the College organizes several excursions for them to such places as Rottnest Island, Hilary's Boat Harbour, The Perth Mint and Fremantle. Whilst at school, the girls attend classes and interact with students during recess and lunch. The College supports fostering international understanding and goodwill through this exchange program.

The College is also a long-standing supporter of the WA-La Réunion Exchange Program, which was established in the early 1980s. This exchange program arranges for students of French to spend a month (usually July) in a French-speaking environment by staying with a family on the beautiful island of La Réunion. During this time, the students are completely immersed in the French language and culture. As this is an exchange, students who elect to participate must host a student from La Réunion for 3-4 weeks during the Australian summer holidays. This wonderful exchange program is highly recommended.

Another program in which the College is a participant is the WAATI / Intercultura Exchange Program. This is a reciprocal program for a student of Italian at Iona and a student of English in Italy. It involves an 8 –10 week stay with an Iona family between June and August for the Italian student. An Iona student spends an equivalent amount of time in Italy between December and February. In both cases, students are billeted with a carefully selected family, attend school and participate in a general way in the life of the family.

The tour and exchange programs offered by the College enable students to gain linguistic benefits as well as heightened cultural awareness. Students are given the opportunity to apply in real situations the understandings developed from their language studies and develop a cultural tolerance and appreciation of the respective country and its people.

Exchange students love to share their cuisine and language with Iona students.

The Year 9 students of italian sample such delights as mortadella, lupini, giardiniera, salsiccia cacciatora, provolone cheese, andd more!

All our senses come into play when learning a foreign language!