Languages at Tambelin

Children are engaged in specialist-run classes in both Mandarin (after school hours) and French (in class time). Children learn any language most successfully during the early years of schooling, and the language classes offered at Tambelin are intended to introduce the students to the possibilities and opportunities of being multi-lingual.

Mandarin

Yujing Guo teaches Mandarin to an extra-curricular group of students once a week after school. Yujing's classes are student-centred – focussing on learning through fun and activities. To support the extension of students' skills, Yujing relates classes to a quality online learning resource that allow the students to revise and practice using engaging animations and songs. The children are introduced to pinyin as well as mandarin characters and their pictogram origins. Students are encouraged to manipulate known phrases to develop conversation skills rather than repetitive rote learning. Mandarin educators are very scarce in our region and we are extremely lucky to have a qualified teacher with such enthusiasm and skill. Yujing also teaches at Mullwaree high school in Goulburn, and her classes aim to prepare Tambelin students for a smooth transition to secondary level Mandarin learning opportunities.

French

The students have been enjoying a French adventure this year with French teacher Tracey Stinson. Each week they have some time learning about France and how to speak French. They have learnt basic introductions and counting in French so far, and are looking forward to being able to talk about animals, food and colours this term. The students have played French games, sung songs, written sentences and performed role-plays in French, as well as learning to type accents on the computer. They even enjoyed a traditional French breakfast, complete with croissants and hot chocolate, to celebrate the 14th of July (the French national day). So far the students have had lots of fun and can't wait for more: the playground is full of “bonjour” and “au revoir”!