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Japanese culture focus of fun at Monash Community Family Cooperative

11 July 2007

Children from Monash Community Family Co-operative (MCFC) kindergarten program recently enjoyed two Japanese "immersion sessions" with teachers from Huntingdale Primary Bilingual School.

Thiraj (centre) and Quill (right) were just some of the students who had fun learning about Japanese culture in the Monash Community Family Cooperative kindergarten program.

"This is in keeping with our kindergarten's commitment to making language and culture an active part of the program," preschool teacher Leanne Cooper said.

Kylie Farmer and Tomoko Oikawa teach in the Japanese bilingual course at Huntingdale Primary and were invited to do introductory Japanese classes with children at the centre.

"Classes were conducted entirely in Japanese and the children responded well. They enjoyed singing songs, listening to stories and doing origami," Ms Cooper said.

"The children also participated in traditional Japanese games such as Fukuwarai -- a little like Pin the Tail on the Donkey, and Kendama -- a wooden toy which requires great co-ordination.

"It gave them a feel for the successful immersion program which operates at Huntingdale, and a fun insight into Japanese language and culture."

Through MCFC's kindergarten program, children have had the opportunity to hear stories and sing songs in French, Hindi, Mandarin, Vietnamese and Bangla, with activities conducted by the centre's multicultural staff.

"Many of the children at the centre have English as a second language so this is taken into account when planning the program. Maintaining a child's first language is very important during the formative years," Ms Cooper said.

Parents interested in enrolling in Monash Community Family Co-operative's program can phone 9544 7054.