Connecting Language, Culture, and Food

November 28, 2024

Recently, our French and Italian students had the chance to dive into the heart of cultural traditions through hands-on cooking experiences. With aprons on and spatulas in hand, they combined culinary adventures with language practice, creating delicious dishes that brought French and Italian cultures to life.

Bringing French Flavours to the Table

In French classes, students mastered the art of making crêpes and Croque monsieur. As they spread butter (étalez le beurre) and toast bread (faites griller le pain), they practised key vocabulary while learning about the cultural significance of these iconic dishes.

The Croque monsieur sparked lively conversations about its role as a quintessential French comfort food – a quick, satisfying meal cherished for its simplicity. Making crêpes introduced students to a dish that is more than just a snack – it is a central part of French traditions.

Exploring Italian Traditions

The Italian class focused on bruschetta and il tronchetto (Christmas log). Following instructions like “Tostate il pane e aggiungete il pomodoro” (toast the bread and add tomatoes) and “Decorate il tronchetto con crema al cioccolato” (decorate the log with chocolate icing), students immersed themselves in the language while creating two beloved Italian dishes.

This introduced students to a classic Italian Christmas tradition, while the bruschetta highlighted the beauty of simple, fresh ingredients – a cornerstone of Italian cuisine. These dishes were the perfect way to showcase how language, food, and culture come together.

A Celebration of Culture

The highlight of the experience was tasting their creations! Sharing these dishes brought students closer to the cultures they were studying and gave them a deeper appreciation for the diversity of French and Italian culinary traditions. It was a delicious reminder that learning a language is about more than just words. It is about understanding the people, stories, and traditions behind them.

From the students

In Year 7 Italian this term, we learned about the foods that Italians eat for breakfast and lunch. We also learned the vocabulary about our favourite foods and how we keep fit through the correct diet. Making toasties were fun (il pane to state al Formaggio e al prosciutto). We had learned this vocabulary in class, and we were proud when we could name all the ingredients that we used. Maggie, Year 7 Italian

Making crêpes allowed me to better understand French traditions. I was able to fully immerse myself in the culture by cooking a local French delicacy. This year in French, we learned about the different French festivals, meals and regional dishes. Embracing these opportunities allowed me to better appreciate French food and culture. Sarann, Year 9 French

Being able to use the alfresco area and being responsible for your own toasty was fun. We chatted while our toasties were cooking and enjoyed the cooking lesson outside. We also played Christmas games, and the best part of all was eating our pane tostato al formaggio e al prosciutto with our friends. Grazie Prof Lo Presti. Maggie, Year 7 Italian

My favourite part of the cooking experience was eating the crêpes as I really wanted to taste them with the different toppings. Sarann, Year 9 French

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Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.