LOTE Week (5-9 August) wrapped up today, drawing to a close the many activities run during lunchtime throughout the week. The aim of LOTE Week is for students to see that studying languages can connect us to another culture and way of thinking and foster intercultural awareness and understanding.
The United Nations declared 2019 the International Year of Indigenous Languages which opens an opportunity for all Australians to celebrate and engage in a national conversation about our indigenous languages. Language is not just about communication. For any group, speaking their traditional language means maintaining strong cultural connection and having a sense of identity and belonging. To acknowledge the International Year of Indigenous Languages, our wonderful bilingual students read the lunchtime prayer. Our thanks to:
- Ciara Robinson (Year 12) Our Father in Italian
- Eliza McDonald (Year 12 ) Our Father in Maori (she sang the prayer).
- Jelinna Santiago (Year 11) Our Father in Tagalog (Filipino)
- Zara Fehring (Year 12) Prayer for peace in Japanese
Across the week students have learnt the fine art of Japanese origami, played an Italian card game called briscola and watched Japanese anime films and shortfilms in Italian. Yesterday the Gelati van was a big hit and today the highly-anticipated students versus staff soccer game pulled a rowdy crowd — the students ultimately come out winners with a 1 - 0 win.
In Terms 1, 2 and 3 our language students have also been working on the Paper Cranes for Peace project which involves making 1000 paper cranes which they will take with them to Hiroshima when they visit Japan in September.
Here is a reflection from Grace Staindl-Dymond (LOTE Prefect)
This year’s LOTE week was a great success. It was so heart-warming to see the whole school come together and celebrate the wide range of cultures and languages that we have at Mount Lilydale Mercy College. Throughout the week, we had a variety of students read the lunchtime in prayers in Italian, Fillipino, Japanese and in addition, a traditional Maori prayer sung by Year 12 student Eliza McDonald.
Thank you to all the staff and students who participated in LOTE week! It is so important that as a society we celebrate our differences when it comes to culture and language. It’s what makes us unique. Coming out of LOTE week, all I can ask is that everyone continues to remain curious about other cultures and languages — it is so crucial in working towards a world full of peace and respect, where our differences and uniqueness are celebrated by all.
