Japanese Language @ Mac.Rob
Y9 Movie Excursion
On August 14th, for the Melbourne International Film Festival, we Year 9 students who were learning Japanese were given the opportunity to watch the Japanese cinematic masterpiece: “The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of No Returns”, directed by Tomohisa Taguchi, at ACMI.
Following the journey of the two protagonists as they seek to achieve their dream and accept their loss which eventually helps them to find their place in the world, while also unfolding the love story between the two characters. Presenting the love, grief, loss and acceptance that exists within life.
While simultaneously presenting the captivating landscapes and traditional events in Japan, through breathtaking cinematography and visually stunning animation we were able to immerse ourselves in Japanese culture and deepen our appreciation for the richness of Japanese culture and traditions.
The combination of these elements were able to create an emotionally resonant and thoughtful anime film that was able to leave an indelible mark on our hearts and minds. With the film ending with a final kiss that sparked a whooping cheer from the audience.
The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of No Returns” definitely was a valuable experience for us, not only did it give us insight to Japanese culture but also left us with the important message of cherishing the present moment and to not dwell on the past.
Rachael H (9E)
Y10 Japanese Restaurant Excursion
“At the chic and traditional Dohtonbori restaurant, class 10LJP01 engaged in an interactive Japanese dining experience. The students immersed themselves in Japanese dining culture by cooking their okonomiyaki on a teppan in groups of 4-6. The students select from an assortment of toppings and protein, including Katsuobushi and other authentic sauces. Overall, the class had a marvellous and thrilling experience at the restaurant - exploring the beauty of Japanese cuisine.” - Tina V (10J)
“Like other Macrob language classes, 10LJP02 cohort had the enlightening opportunity to visit ‘Dohtonbori’ in District Docklands on a sunny day! In the restaurant we were greeted by friendly staff who instantly began preparing each style of okonomiyaki batter (Japanese savoury pancake): pork, corn/chicken and vegetable. Each individual student was able to fry their own okonomiyaki and top it with delicious sauces and sprinklings such as bonito flakes and mayo. I had pork and I admit I failed miserably at flipping the okonomiyaki, however it turned out to taste amazing and extremely flavourful. Thank you so much Mori sensei and accompanying teachers for organising this cherished event for our class.” - Abbey L (10A)
Everyone in 10LJP03 ordered okonomiyaki with the enticing options of pork belly, chicken corn cheese and vegetarian, cooked it ourselves on the teppan (some more successfully than others), and ate our creations. Some people even finished it off with a matcha soft serve! Overall, it was a wonderful experience spending time with our classmates while enjoying a delicious Japanese meal. Thank you to Mori Sensei, and all accompanying senseis who came along with us! - Naomi Y (10J)
JLTAV Japanese Junior Speech Competition
JLTAV Japanese Junior Speech Competition was held on 27th August at Hawthorn Arts Centre. We had four participants; Rutvi Doshi 9J in Individual Division, Lena Luu 10J and Meha Modi 10J in Pair Division and Reina Conway 9H in Open Secondary Division. Please congratulate Reina as she won the first prize of the division.
The following is their reflection of their experience:
“The Japanese Speech Competition was a fantastic experience and was a tremendous factor in improving my Japanese fluency. After taking part in the Japanese Speech competition, I definitely have a greater appreciation of Japanese culture. I now feel comfortable switching to Japanese when talking to my friends and watching anime in my free time. Overall, I truly enjoyed speaking in front of the hundreds of people at the Junior Speech Competition and I look forward to hopefully taking part again next year.” - Rutvi D (9J)
“JLTAV helped me challenge myself. I discovered time management and practicing is important. During the competition, the wait was scary. But saying the speech was exciting.” - Lena L (10J)
“みなさん、こんにちは。I had the pleasure of competing in the JLTAV competition with my stunning partner, Lena. It was a nerve-wracking experience - the audition, the drafting, the rehearsals - and yet it was so… fun! It was an opportunity for me to test my Japanese schools and discover a whole community of people who were just as passionate about this language!” - Meha M (10J)
“Taking part in the JLTAV speaking competition was a great experience. I learnt that in devoting myself to a language and spending hours refining my speech, I was able to create a memorable journey for myself. Seeing everyone present their speeches, even when Japanese was new to them, was inspiring; it was great to see the community get involved in Japanese culture. とても楽しかったです。” - Reina C (9H)