Hola, Konnichiwa, Nǐ Hǎo, Bonjour, Kia Ora and greetings from the Junior Language Ambassadors!
Westlake Girls is rich with cultures from a myriad of different countries. With just one walk around the campus at breaktimes, you can hear lively conversations in a range of languages. Language is one of the only things in this world that can act as a barrier the same as it can be a gateway without taking on any physical form. It seems as though it’s the most sacred and important thing we have. But how important is language to Westlake Girls High School? In readiness for International Languages Week held in Week 7 of Term 2, the Language Ambassadors sent out questionnaires about our languages to both the students and the staff, and the results are in! ¡Vamos!
Among the students and staff that submitted entries, 60% of the staff’ and 50% of the students’ first language was English. Half of the staff can hold a conversation in another language and a third of them are currently learning a new language. Over two thirds of the Westlake staff and 75% of the Westlake students polled can speak 2 or more languages. Sugoi!
The most popular languages that our students are learning are Spanish, Japanese, French, English, Te reo Māori, and Mandarin. Ring a bell? Those are all the languages we offer to learn here at Westlake! Mandarin sets the pace most likely due to it being the most spoken language at home for our students second to English. Yǒu yìsi!
When asked what language they would want to learn if they could do it instantly, the staff had a tie, with French, Spanish, and Te reo Māori being the top contenders. Italian and Japanese came in runners up. Someone even wanted to be able to instantly speak…baby-talk? Now that would be useful! The students’ top answer to that question was French with no debate. The staff were also separately questioned about what their favourite language was, to which the result was an overwhelming response of the French language! Oh là là! Westlake adore le français!
90% of the staff agreed that language learning was important. Their wise words of wisdom were that language learning comes much easier while you’re young, and that it earns you new perspectives and appreciation of cultures and diversity in the world around you. You should take the opportunity to immerse yourself. He reo anō, he ao anō!
Clearly, language and culture get the appreciation they deserve here at Westlake Girls High School. Let’s celebrate that fact during International Languages Week! We have activities spanning the week such as trivia quizzes, a pin-the-map event, and a scavenger hunt. On Friday 5 June, there will be the ‘Culture Catwalk’, where students are encouraged to dress up in their cultural attire for the day and show it off with pride in the Event Centre Foyer. This takes place during lunchtime, with free samples of delicious cultural dishes to be distributed outside.
We Ambassadors loved hearing about the languages that unite our school. We hope you did, as well! Gracias, Merci, Arigatō, Xiè Xiè, Ngā mihi, and thank you!
Written by Junior Language Ambassador, Chloe Birzin
