Last week, students in Years 7 and 8 took part in our annual Language Immersion Day, a much-loved highlight of the IGS Languages program. The day offered students the chance to deepen their cultural understanding, practise their language skills in authentic settings, and experience a taste of life in the countries they are studying. Across Japanese, Italian, French and German, students enjoyed a rich program of films, food, excursions and hands-on cultural activities designed to bring language learning to life.
Japanese Immersion Day
On Japanese Immersion Day, students watched The First Slam Dunk, a popular anime film exploring friendship, basketball and the spirit of bukatsu – Japan’s school-based sports clubs where older and younger students work together and form strong bonds. As Year 8 has been learning about hobbies, sports and bukatsu, the film offered a meaningful insight into how culture shapes language and daily life in Japanese high schools.
Students then visited the Japan Foundation, where they explored a wide range of Japanese-language resources, from picture books and manga to novels and cultural texts. A quick stop at Daiso – one of Japan’s well-known variety stores – allowed students to enjoy browsing Japanese products before heading to Kura in Haymarket for an authentic Japanese lunch. Here, they put their language skills to use, practising phrases and manners from the Year 7 unit Itadakimasu while interacting with Japanese-speaking staff who warmly welcomed them.
Returning to IGS, students ended the day with a refreshing ramune, a popular Japanese soft drink often enjoyed during summer festivals.
Italian Immersion Day
The Italian Immersion Day gave Years 7 and 8 students the opportunity to fully engage with the language and the intercultural skills they have been developing throughout the year. Students began the day with a walk to Palace Cinemas at Central Park to see 10 giorni con il papà, an Italian comedy that had everyone laughing.
No immersion day is complete without authentic Italian cuisine. After the film, students continued to Pizza e Vino in Glebe, where they enjoyed a delicious lunch of pizza, pasta and gelato. They enthusiastically put into practice their knowledge of Italian food vocabulary and ordering phrases while interacting with staff. A highlight of the afternoon was a special demonstration from the trattoria’s pizzaiolo, who showed students how to make an authentic Italian pizza.
È stata una giornata indimenticabile — an unforgettable day!
German Immersion Day
Year 7 and 8 German students enjoyed an adventurous and active immersion experience, beginning with a scenic hike from the Spit to Manly. Surrounded by stunning views and Australian bushland, students used the walk to discuss the environment and their day – all in German.
After the hike, students visited the restaurant Munich in Manly, an authentic German-style beer garden, where they enjoyed traditional German dishes and had the opportunity to practise ordering and conversational language skills in a relaxed cultural setting.
Language Immersion Day once again highlighted the joy of learning languages at IGS, bringing classroom concepts to life through real experiences and meaningful cultural connections. Thank you to our dedicated Languages department for creating rich and engaging opportunities for our students.
