Spotlight on Learning a Second Language!

After living in China for 13 years, unlike my 3 now grown children, I am only able to speak a small amount of Mandarin and Cantonese. They are able to both speak and write fluently in Mandarin. My youngest son Pat, who spent most of his childhood overseas, is able to switch mid-sentence from Mandarin to Cantonese and back into English. Impressive, mostly, as I usually suspect from their cheeky smiles that some inserted conversations around the dinner table include poking fun at my husband and I.  

Nevertheless, learning a language pushes your brain to get familiar with new grammar and vocabulary rules. It allows you to actively build your memory, make connections between the variations in tonality and nuance, and use them in different contextual situations. Through understanding text and subtext in a different language, your understanding of your native language is further developed. In addition to the language itself, multilingual learners can take advantage of the full scope of accompanying neurological and social benefits - creating lateral thinkers, great employees, leaders in their communities, and true global citizens.  

At SCA, our students learn the language Indonesian, enjoying a 50 minute lesson each week. Below are some of the topics they have been learning about. 

Kindergarten students are learning colours, numbers, and animals as a follow up on the Kinder grade excursion to the Zoo. They are also learning to write their name and to say it – Nama saya ______. Years 1 and 2 are learning greetings for times of the day - Selamat pagi, Selamat siang, Selamat sore, Selamat malam. They are continuing to get to know more colours - Warna - and higher numbers - Nomor - through learning the number song using their fingers and singing Meng the Orangutan. 

Years 3 and 4 are learning describing words - Tentang Saya - and making a class jigsaw for display all about themselves - Saya suka (I like), Saya tidak suka (I don’t like) Saya favorit (My favourite) Foods, warna (colours), olahraga (sports), hobi (hobbies), keluarga (family). They are also learning about the Indonesian Archipelago (17,508 islands), through the use of maps, while learning the names of the main Indonesian landmasses.  

Year 5 are practising their oral language skills with a chatterbox, asking and answering questions in Indonesian. They are using time to practise for an oral presentation using sentence builders. They are also contributing to the Indonesian class jigsaw using new and known vocabulary. Year 6 are revising greetings and salutations; My Body (Badan Saya), Animals (Binatang). The children have made animal masks and are writing scripts in the form of a narrative with an incorporated moral and filming their stories using the language. The students are further integrating Indonesian culture through learning and wearing traditional clothing. Further, they practise the scenario of being an exchange student, arriving in Indonesia and introducing themselves to their new Indonesian class. 

Mrs Margo Smith, our Indonesian Teacher, prides herself on immersing the students in the Indonesian language and culture. The resources in the Indonesian learning space provide a culturally connective experience for the students to respect and enjoy. Through the language program, SCA offers students the ability to develop their skills in a fun and socio-biologically beneficial way – one which can be shared at your dinner table.