Opportunities to travel with School instil greater cultural understanding and broader perspectives and personal awareness. In The Blue Ribbon this week we hear from five students who travelled to France and Japan as part of St Catherine’s Global Program. 

French Exchange 2023: Student Reflections

My time in France allowed me to grasp an understanding of a new culture and develop my skills in the language, an experience filled with both highlights and challenges.  

The highlight of my trip was being able to experience a foreign co-ed school. I was able to experience an unfamiliar French culture and new academic environment. There, I was able interact with other French students and really broaden my perspective as I’ve been at St Catherine’s since kindergarten. Being able to engage in such a diverse environment has provided me with valuable intercultural skills.  

One challenge that I faced was gaining the confidence to speak French. While the idea of immersing myself in the French culture was exciting, I soon came to realise the significant challenge that would come as my proficiency in the language was not at a high level.  

In the first few weeks, there was hesitation and uncertainty in the conversations with my host family. The fear of making grammatical errors or using wrong words often held me back from expressing myself freely.  

However, as time passed, I began to realise that my family were incredibly supportive and understanding and it was okay to make mistakes. The more I spoke, the more my confidence grew and the more delighted my host family was at my progress.  

This progress is now present in class and in speaking practice with my peers. The French Exchange to Toulon was an amazing opportunity that I will be forever grateful I was able to experience. I highly encourage students in younger Year levels to consider taking part. 

Callista Galanopoulos, Year 11 

For me, the French Exchange wasn’t just about improving my French skills, it opened my eyes to the importance of learning a language and the skills of effective communication, independence, and self-discovery. It transcended beyond being a mere subject we studied at School, with tests and exams. It was about enhancing my connection to the world and the French language.  

The highlight of my trip was attending school at Cours Fénelon in Toulon. The school was co-ed and sat on the edge of the sea on the coast of southern France two hours from Nice. They offered such a wide range of subjects: English, Maths, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, European Studies, Economics, History, and Geography – it was incredible. They taught four languages, and most students learnt them all!  

They truly appreciated the art of languages and communication. Linguistically, school was so beneficial, engaging with what the teachers said, and writing down words I had never heard. By the end of the trip, I had a full book of new words and phrases. It was also a great experience forcing me to be far more independent than in Melbourne, particularly adapting to a new culture with a never met before family in a foreign country, who spoke a different language.  

It definitely wasn’t all smooth sailing, but that’s all part of the experience. I gained valuable insights into different family dynamics, and cultural nuances, and discovered my resilience in unfamiliar settings.  

My French Exchange in Toulon was an opportunity I will never forget. It was a once in a lifetime experience that I am so proud that I embraced. I totally recommend everyone to learn a language and go on Exchange! 

Alice Molnar, Year 12 

I think the French Exchange was not only valuable for my language skills but also to develop my independence and confidence in a foreign situation.  

Whilst the entire experience was incredible, my personal highlight of the trip was undoubtedly attending Cours Fénelon, our French Sister School for the first two weeks. I was able to try new subjects and be exposed to a foreign school system. I found this incredibly interesting, in particular the French classes, where they were studying poetry. On arrival, I found it difficult to process all the dialogue and conversations occurring around me, however it was rewarding to experience my progress in understanding and communication by the end of the four-week program.  

Whether it was visiting Chamonix and Lake Geneva, or attending the local Christmas markets, the French Exchange was an unforgettable experience that I would recommend to any student of Languages. I am looking forward to my exchange sister’s arrival in Melbourne later in the year. 

Sienna Lonetti, Year 12 

Japan Study Tour 2023: Student Reflections

On December 10, 2023, 13 students from Years 10 to 11 went on a Study Tour and exchange to Japan. We first stayed in Tokyo, where we saw the busy, crowded and city-lifestyle of Japan and its people. We witnessed how the city is so advanced, from the organised and always on-time train system, to the bright lights at night. Within Tokyo, we explored Asakusa, Shibuya, Harajuku, and Akihabara. 

In Harajuku, which is quintessentially famous for contemporary and cutting-edge fashion, we visited the famous Meiji Shrine. Entering the place with its large gates and tall trees, we all experienced a dissonance as we walked through the shrine garden. I think it was so interesting to see such a beautiful shrine placed right in the middle of Tokyo city, making us all aware of how culturally rich Japan’s cities are with the blend of traditional and modern.  

After Tokyo, we went by shinkansen (Japanese bullet train) to Nagano. Upon arrival, we immediately felt the difference between the bustling and crowded Tokyo to the ambient and calm Nagano. The tall snowy mountain vista, the weather that was colder by a few degrees, and the scenery outside our tour bus was simply unreal. The wheat fields, the mountains and the sky overhead created an atmosphere that seemed to only ever be able to be witnessed in movies. It immediately became clear why Japanese art is exemplified by peace and tranquility. In Tokyo, we explored the modern lifestyle of Japan, but in Nagano we experienced a deeper part of Japanese culture.  

After travelling around Japan for a week and a half, we participated in the three-day homestay exchange with our host sisters that we as a group, had all been anticipating. At first, we were all somewhat nervous to meet our host families, but they were all so kind, warm and friendly. At the school, we participated in a variety of traditional activities such as a tea ceremony, daruma painting and club activities that included a range of sports from traditional kendo to the gold award-winning baton twirling. Walking in their hallways and seeing their uniform, we felt like we had been transported into an anime.  

Overall, Japan was a great experience. The friends we met, the culture and scenery, places we went to, and of course, the food we all ate, everything was new, exciting, and immersive. We’re incredibly grateful to have had the fortune to go on such an amazing trip and we owe it all to our senseis for organising and planning an amazing itinerary. 

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Okumura sensei and Yokouchi sensei, our two Japanese teachers for organising the 2023 Japan Study Tour and joining us in this amazing trip, as well as Mrs Brady for accompanying us in our journey.

Jiarun (Karen) Ai and Jixuan (Jennifer) Gao