A Year of Cultural Exchange and Enrichment
At Merici College, our Languages Department is fortunate to be guided by a dedicated team of teachers who bring passion, expertise, and a global outlook to the classroom. Our 2025 teaching team was Mr. Joseph Mickleburgh, Mr. Giuseppe Battaglia, Mrs. Rocio Yactayo-Lovett, Mr. Jason Kohlman, Ms. Dora Chen, Ms. Linda Deng, Ms. Carlia Zedde and Mr. Matthew Reynolds. We also welcomed Ms. Gaelle Pajot, teacher of French and Spanish and our teaching assistants in the Italian learning space, Ms. Paola Gualtieri and Ms. Guendalina Foschi. Together, this talented team works collaboratively to ensure that language learning at Merici is engaging, meaningful, and deeply connected to intercultural understanding.
As an IB school, Merici College is privileged to offer languages as a compulsory subject. Guided by the IB philosophy, we believe that learning a language empowers young people to engage with the world, think critically and appreciate diverse perspectives, all while developing a rich and transferable set of skills.
2025 has been an exceptionally full and rewarding one for the Languages Department, marked by a wide range of programs and events that celebrated both language learning and cultural exchange.
A particular highlight was the visit from our Italian sister schools, Il Liceo Bagatta and Il Liceo Fermi, located in the Lake Garda region of Northern Italy. From 29 August to 5 September, we were delighted to host 3 teachers and 27 students, including 6 boys, whose presence generated great excitement among our Merici community. The exchange provided an invaluable opportunity for our Italian guests to experience Australian school life, and they spoke warmly of the welcoming atmosphere at Merici, particularly the relaxed and supportive classroom environment.
To further enrich their stay, we organised excursions to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, the National Museum of Australia, and the Australian War Memorial. The feedback from staff and students confirmed that this was a truly memorable exchange and we look forward to continuing this special partnership, with our next trip to Italy scheduled for 2027.
Another key event of the year was the annual Hispanic Day, hosted by Canberra Girls Grammar School and Lake Ginninderra College. Our Senior and Year 10 Spanish students actively participated in workshops and presentations run by Spanish-speaking embassies, gaining valuable cultural insights and strengthening their language skills.
In addition, our Year 8 Chinese students enjoyed a unique opportunity to visit St. Thomas Aquinas Primary School, where they read stories and sang songs in Chinese with the primary school students. This initiative not only enhanced their own language learning but also created a meaningful bridge between our schools.
I wish to sincerely thank the Languages staff for their professionalism, commitment, and enthusiasm in creating so many enriching opportunities for our students in 2025. Their dedication continues to inspire a deep appreciation of language and culture in our community.
We are excited to continue this journey in 2026 with planned overseas trips to Spain, France, and Singapore—further opportunities for our students to immerse themselves in authentic language learning and intercultural understanding.
Mrs. Tina Rodriguez
Languages Coordinator
