Trafalgar High School students recently participated in a full day of activities and education as part of the school's LOTE Indonesian program.
Students in the school's year eight language program enjoyed a number of different experiences in Indonesian culture presented by the school's Indonesian language program and educational provider Bagus Kan.
Bagus Kan is an educational LOTE incursion provider who since 2001 has specialised in providing students across Victoria with a wide range of Indonesian educational and cultural experiences. Indonesian at Trafalgar High School is compulsory in years seven and eight and is available as an elective through to VCE as the school's main LOTE offering. The school has two dedicated Indonesian teachers.
Students enjoyed riding around on the school's "Bataks" - little bike taxis - that are traditionally used as transport in parts of Indonesia.
The students also enjoyed games of Sepak Takrow - an Indonesian sport resembling volleyball except where feet are used rather than hands. They also took part in "Bakiak races" -where groups of students put on tandem "clogs" in teams and have to work together to coordinate movements.
Throughout the day students were able to participate in a traditional Indonesian musical orchestra and play Indonesian drums. They also took part in traditional dance, cooking, shadow puppeteering and mask making activities.
Welfare manager Wombat Lyons said the day was designed to help students gain a broader understanding of the culture behind the language they were learning. "While the Indonesian LOTE program teaches more than just language, the students enjoyed experiencing some different activities," he said.