Students wishing to study a language other than French or Japanese at John Monash Science School (JMSS) may be able to access lessons in their desired language through the Co-Curricular Program.
JMSS offers two formal language options to Year 10 students. Students wishing to pursue a language as part of their regular Year 10 study may choose either French or Japanese. Alongside the regular French and Japanese classroom activities and assessments, students are able to take part in state and national-level competitions and tests for which they receive a certificate of participation.
In this course, you will develop your speaking, listening, reading and writing skills in French to a standard that would allow progression into French VCE. Whilst deepening your understanding of grammar and vocabulary, you will also be exposed to French and francophone culture through film, literature and music. You will regularly use technology to improve your understanding, including regular online listening tasks. You will be expected to communicate in French at every opportunity, and this will develop your confidence not only in French but also in terms of your communication skills.
The course is recommended for students who have completed the Year 9 level of French in their previous school. Students have the opportunity to participate in external competitions and receive awards or certification in events such as the Alliance Francaise de Melbourne, ACER Language Competence, or even the DELF B1/B2. If you are passionate about communication, interested in having a global perspective and hoping to increase your fluency in a second language to a high Year 10 standard, then French is a great option for you.
Our Year 10 Japanese program is designed to offer a fast-track entry into VCE Japanese to students at various learning levels. A significant portion of lessons are spent on equipping students with essential skills for composing sophisticated Japanese essays and speeches. Students find including uses of particles, verb group identification, conjugation to verb stem / te-form / plain past form / plain negative form, adjective conjugation, uses of relative clauses and a range of culturally nuanced expressions. This makes it possible for students to learn together and support each other, regardless of their previous experience in studying Japanese.
The most exciting aspect of studying Japanese at JMSS is the opportunity to connect and collaborate with scientifically minded students in Japan. In January 2017, the JMSS Japanese group made their first visit to Ritsumeikan SHS in Kyoto, a school that keenly participates in and hosts several International Student Science Fairs. In 2020, JMSS families had the opportunity to host students visiting from Ritsumeikan SHS. Teachers at JMSS and Ritsumeikan SHS are working closely together to strengthen the relationship between the two schools and gradually build a network of students to share learning experiences and conduct joint investigation tasks.
