Languages - Ngā Reo o Te Ao
Ko tāu reo, ko tāku reo,
Te tuakiri tangata.
Tīhei uriuri, tīhei nakonako,
Tīhei mauri ora!
Your voice and my voice
are expressions of identity.
May our descendants live on and our hopes be fulfilled.
Behold the breath of life!
The International Languages offered are French and Japanese. Students are able to study a language right up to Year 13 level (NCEA Level 3 and Scholarship). Learning a Language is an essential learning area of the NZ Curriculum and students are encouraged to keep the learning of a language as part of their school education. They gain linguistic skills and cultural understanding and tolerance necessary in a modern world which has an increasing international focus.
Students will be able to communicate about every day activities and express their feelings and opinions about issues. The course includes the use of music CDs, films, magazines, videos, DVDs, websites as well as textbooks and MRGS course books. Students become confident in all language skills: speaking, listening, reading, writing. Each year the school uses native speakers of French and Japanese to further help and encourage our students in becoming confident and independent in the language.
We are fortunate to be able to offer our students of languages participation in a large number of outings, competitions and trips including a biennial Homestay Tour to Normandy, France and also one to Nagoya in Japan. They are extremely successful and popular and provide life changing experiences.
Students of languages can embark on a rewarding, exciting and challenging pathway as they look to gain lifetime skills and knowledge and also NCEA credits for their NZQA record of learning.
From the New Zealand Curriculum Framework: "All students benefit from learning another language from the earliest practicable age. Such learning broadens students' general language abilities and brings their own language into sharper focus. It enriches them intellectually, socially, and culturally, offers an understanding of the way in which other people think and behave, and furthers international relations and trade."
Five French Finalists
Alliance Française French Speaking Competition 2009 - Auckland Region
Alisi Puloka, Roza Ridwan, Oliver Nacey, Cornelia Mu, Jordan Zi
After the Alliance Française French Speaking Competition was held at the University of Auckland on Monday 31st August, five Mount Roskill Grammar School pupils were called back for the finals on Wednesday 2 September. The first thing we did after arriving at St Cuthbert’s College was to squeeze out of Mr McAlpine’s car, stretch our legs, and have a photo taken.
Each pupil was given a random question to prepare in French, and we had 10 minutes to organise our thoughts and prepare our answer. The main aspect of the final was a conversation about the topic. Prizes include trophies, books and vouchers, but in Year 12 and Year 13, the top prizes can be trips to New Caledonia and France. It was really good to feel part of a much larger group of students studying French nationwide.
Auckland Regional Results:
Year 11:
- 1st Oliver Nacey (HC section)
- 8th Roza Ridwan
Year 12:
- 2nd Alisi Puloka (HC section)
- 6th Jordan Zi
Year 13:
All of the above pupils gained an “Excellent” certificate as well.
Other MRGS results were:
Year 11:
- “Très Bien” = Tasneef Hussain, Krithika Prahallad
- “Bien” = Audrey Tay, Jessica Wei
Year 13:
- “Bien” = Keegan Lopez, Cara Rebello
Jackie Chun (12 MLGN) got the first prize!
On Saturday 22nd of August, students studying Japanese from secondary schools all around Auckland participated in AUT’s Japanese speech competition. Forty- five secondary school students of varying levels of skill and talent competed for the top prize and they enthusiastically gave their speeches in Japanese. Competition was fierce.
Only one person could be number one and that person is none other than our Jackie Chun with his topic - “The Secrets of Success” and he will receive his prize later at the “Taste of Japan” festival, a free event on Saturday 19th of September.
In the end, the students were given a certificate of participation to thank them for their endeavours, so everyone came out a winner.
Japanese Zoo Trip August 2009
To celebrate International Language week, the Year 12 Japanese class set off for their trip to the zoo on 12 August 2009. We were each given a Japanese question sheet to fill in as we made our way around the zoo. To our disappointment the weather was not too good and "Pridelands" was closed for the day (no giraffes!). However, this did not stop us from having an enjoyable day.
We learnt more about the protection programme for kiwis and more about the habitat of meerkats.We also got to be up close to tigers, with only a thick glass barrier separating us from them. Most enjoyable was our experience inside the Japanese Garden. Built together with Fukuoka (a city in Japan), the garden is an exact representation of what an actual Japanese garden looks like.
At the end of the day, we dragged our tired feet back onto the school van with many memories and photos accompanying our trip back.
Lycée Jean XXIII
In February 2007, Mt Roskill Grammar School hosted our French Exchange School from Normandy in France, the Lycée Jean XXIII from Yvetot. The exchange was for two weeks in Term 1 and we hosted 21 pupils and 2 teachers. The students and schools involved are privileged to have these opportunities to discover other cultures and languages and to be able to build life-long friendships. During the two-week stay, the French pupils experienced life in a typical large Auckland school and were involved in many trips and family outings. These trips included a one day trip to TiriTiri Matangi Island and a 2 day Rotorua trip. Thanks go to the principals (Mr Greg Watson and Mr Alain Lefèbvre), senior management and boards of both schools who are dedicated to this exchange as well as to the France-New Zealand Friendship Fund which supported the tours.
In February/March 2009 we are again hosting Jean XXIII and are looking at adding other components to their time at MRGS. A number of teachers will run seminars for the group including NZ Film, NZ Art, NZ Fauna & Flora and NZ People & Places. The French School will be ably led by the same two teachers who were here in 2007, namely Mme. Françoise Marotel (English Teacher) and M. Frédéric Hyvert (Deputy Principal and Surveying Teacher). We look forward to their arrival on 18 February 2009 and are sure they will have a wonderful time in New Zealand. The next planned MRGS France Homestay Tour is for September 2010.
Cornelia and Pranav make celebrity status
2008 Alliance Française French Speaking Competition for the Auckland Region:
MRGS results were excellent with 3 students being recalled as finalists. They were Jordan Zi, Pranav Chandnani and Cornelia Mu. The competition is between students of French in all Auckland Secondary Schools. The 2008 final results were as follows:
Year 11:
- 2nd in Auckland Region – Pranav Chandnani
- “Très Bien” – Jordan Zi, Namita Rao, Madhurima Sen
Year 12:
- 2nd in Auckland Region – Cornelia Mu
- “Bien” – Keegan Lopez, Nandita Fernandes, Cara Rebello
Year 13 :
- "Très Bien" - Matthew Gibson, Caleb Saunders
- "Bien" - Jennifer Kirby
- "Assez Bien"- Tina Pan
On Friday 31st October both Cornelia Mu and Pranav Chandnani went to the Auckland offices of the Alliance Française to receive their special prizes.
Japanese Speech Contest: First Prize, Trip to Japan Report: Y 13 Ashley Tao
One week of rich cultural experience with unbelievable generous people is how I would like to describe my time in Fukuoka, Japan, as part of winning the Auckland – Fukuoka Sister City Prize in the Unitec Japanese Speech Competition.
Those Japanese-style buildings and historical sites were no ones just longer printed in books or displayed on television but something that was realistic and touchable. The tour to Hakata Michiya Folk Museum and Kushida Shrine allowed me to observe and “feel” the long, complex Japanese history. I also had the opportunity to attend a traditional festival named Hakata Gion Yamagasa in Japan; a festival that involves men of the same” nagare” carry an enormous decorated float in the race, fighting as a team with a sense of unity and pride. It was more than remarkable to see hundreds of men working and competing against each other in the spirit of celebrating their long rich culture. Those kind words and friendly smiles from my host family, and the Fukuoka City Council members eased my tension and made me feel extremely welcomed.
If experiencing the traditional Japanese culture is one highlight of the trip, attending Fukuoka Girl’s High School where I experienced the Japanese style of learning as well as other special activities would definitely be the other. Judo, flower arranging, tea ceremony and various sports activities: Such after school activities are common yet a vital component of education in Japan. I can still remember the exact taste of the Japanese green tea and the Japanese “Okashi” in a tea ceremony. The special rule of wearing slippers at school is another interesting yet different rule in Japan.
Although the one-week trip to Japan is over, I must say it made a huge difference to my life. I have met some of the nicest people in my life and experienced things I have never done before. Every minute of my stay in Fukuoka were precious moments that I will never forget.