TES Connect 2025 Winter

Creative Learning

One of the key inquiry questions, “How can we identi fy a culture through a festival or celebration?”, inspired the design of this collaborative project. All classes were mixed across the three languages, encouraging stu dents to support one another, explain activities, and communicate using the target language whenever pos sible.

French: Discovering Pétanque, a French Tradition

In French, students were introduced to the traditional game of pétanque. Our H3 French students (both Lan guage B and Ab Initio) took on the role of coaches, pre senting the game and explaining its rules and cultural values. Classrooms were transformed into lively bou lodromes as students competed in friendly matches of pétanque boules. Many were surprised to learn that pétanque is also played here in Taipei at Tianmu Sports Park, where boulodromes welcome local players. It was an excellent opportunity for students to connect a French cultural tradition to their own local community.

Through this activity, students discovered the distinct sounds and pronunciation patterns of the German lan guage in a fun and engaging way. As with the other ac tivities, collaboration and curiosity were at the heart of the learning experience. This intercultural event captured the essence of Lan guage Acquisition at BSHS; students explore, connect, and learn from one another through meaningful, hands-on experiences. By playing, dancing, and singing together, they strengthen both their linguistic skills and their appreciation of the cultural richness behind each language. Looking ahead, we plan to continue this end-of-year celebration, with even greater involvement from older students. It will be another exciting opportunity to see how our learners rise to the challenge of communicat ing across languages, embracing new cultures, and cele brating the joy of learning at BSHS.

Spanish: Dancing to the Rhythm of Bachata

In Spanish, teachers introduced students to popular South American dances. Using interactive whiteboards to display choreography and play music, students learned the steps of Bachata and experienced the joy of Latin dance firsthand. Teachers also discussed the importance of music, rhythm, and social gatherings in Latin American cul tures, highlighting differences between several popu lar regional dances. The energy and enthusiasm in the classroom were contagious.

German: Singing German Songs

In German, Mr Klaus Bluetner, our German Language Acquisition teacher and an active musician in Taipei, brought music to the classroom with his ukulele. With the help of his German students, he taught the group how to sing traditional German songs, including some well-known Christmas tunes.

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