By JOLENE OGLE
THERE is much ado about France at Cooroy State School as students take part in the online Language Perfect world championship.
The competition, which finishes today, is the world’s largest online language competition that sees more than 1000 schools compete for the title of world champions by answering language questions.
Cooroy State School French teacher Oj Rugins is confident his students will beat their best placing of 11th in 2012.
Mr Rugins said an innovative language learning technique called the Accelerative Integrated Method (AIM) – a gesture-based approach to learning – is helping the students flourish in their French lessons.
“(The method) combines a special sign language with story-telling, the use of pared-down language and language manipulation activities in a French-only context,” Mr Rugins said.
“As such, it appeals to pretty well all students. The majority of which go on to develop a level of fluency which was previously only possible in schools with immersion programs.”
Cooroy State School principal Des Deighton said the in-class French lessons were proving a great hit with students.
“Mr Rugins’ French lessons are full of music, drama and conversations where once you step into the room, no English is spoken,” he said.
“All children are thoroughly engaged in the lessons.”
Mr Rugins said a special excursion to French-inspired cafe, Maison de Provence, Cooroy, last week was the perfect venue for the students to practise their French.
Dressed in traditional French clothes, a troupe of students performed a roving French version of Three Little Pigs as well as a selection of traditional and not-so-traditional French songs for unsuspecting diners.
