By Ms Michele Sharp, Head of Languages

Language assistants are a fabulous resource for the languages department as they contextualise learning for students and support teachers in developing teaching materials in authentic language.

Their primary role is to enhance speaking activities in the classroom by providing access to native speakers. The language assistants live with Radford families during their stay, allowing them to improve their English and learn about everyday life in Australia. We are very grateful for the support of the students and their families who have volunteered to host Emma this year. Thanks to their kindness, Emma has experienced so much of what Canberra has to offer already!

The French Assistant program has been running at Radford since 2010 and we currently source assistants via a sister-school relationship. Emma came highly recommended and the students and teachers have loved having her in lessons. Please read the reflection below on her first term at Radford.

Miss Emma Plat

Hello everyone! I’m Emma, the French Assistant for Terms 3 and 4 this year. I come from Orange, a city in the south of France near Avignon, in the beautiful region of Provence.

One day, I read an article about the previous French assistant in the Radford College Bulletin, and I instantly knew it would be an ideal position for me! I had already travelled to Australia on my own last year, visiting the Gold Coast, Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays, and I completely fell in love with the country, its welcoming people and the breathtaking landscapes it has to offer. I really wanted to come back to Australia, but this time to volunteer to learn more about the Australian school system and experience new teaching methodologies.

Becoming an assistant at Radford College has been the perfect opportunity, as I have always wanted to be a teacher, especially a French teacher in an English-speaking country. While I have worked as an English assistant in France, this is my very first time attending French classes as a French Language Assistant abroad – and the experience feels very different.

In class, I support the two lovely French teachers with students from Years 7 to 12. I really enjoy sharing about my culture, comparing daily life in France and Australia and talking about the charming region I am from. My role is to guide and support students through their tasks and to help them speak French as much as possible. I enjoy working with them as they are motivated, curious and very kind to me. I also love chatting with them and answering their questions about my life in France.

I am available every Wednesday after school in the Homework Hub, so if you would like some extra help or simply want to practise your French, it would be a pleasure to meet you there!

It’s now been almost two months since I arrived in Canberra, and I can already see how different school life is compared to French schools. The campus is huge and the students have so many opportunities in sport, languages and music. The school organises so many concerts and plays – all performed by the students. I particularly enjoy attending assembly and house group time, which are completely new experiences for me, as we don’t have them in our schools. I really admire how devoted the Principal, teachers and staff are to student growth and success, and I love how supportive and encouraging the school environment is.

I am currently staying with a host family, which has been a wonderful way to discover the Australian way of life, culture, nature and animals, as well as to practise my English. Every day, I am amazed by the colourful birds that are so common here but cannot be found in France.

Before the term began, I spent a few days in Sydney and, since then, I have visited so many places with my host family, both in and around Canberra, as well as the stunning Blue Mountains. During the upcoming holidays, I will be travelling to Melbourne and Tasmania with Momoka, the Japanese Assistant, and we are very much looking forward to it.

Finally, I would like to thank everyone at Radford for their warm welcome, but also my host family for their kindness and generosity, which are really making my stay such an amazing experience.