Durie Hill School and Whanganui High School work together for Fridays full of French

Annushka Forrest writes some French phrases on the whiteboard for Durie Hill School students to learn. Photo / Stuart Munro

A dozen sets of eyes stare attentively at 15-year-old Whanganui High School student Annushka Forrest, standing at the front of their classroom.

"I'll say a line and then you say it back to me," Annushka says.

"Tu as un animal chez toi?"

The children repeat the line, meaning "Do you have an animal at home?"

"Oui, j'ai un chat chez moi," Annushka follows up. "Yes, I have a cat at home."

It is the fourth and final French lesson for Durie Hill School students, who accepted an offer from Whanganui High School French teacher Diana Ghinda to take part.

Week by week, Annushka has been visiting the school on a Friday for a half-hour slot teaching the alphabet, numbers, greetings and finally, animals.

"It's been a lot of fun watching their faces light up when they learn something new and it's helping to build my confidence in speaking French," Annushka says.

"In order to teach something, you have to know the material completely, especially with little kids who get restless so easily."

Annushka studied a little French at Whanganui Intermediate School before picking it up again in year nine.

"I've always dreamed of going to France and I know the benefits of learning a language. You learn skills that help you in other subjects, like note-taking for example.

"You have to take notes quickly during listening, you have to listen to French and take notes in English in a short span of time."

Annushka wants to be a fashion designer one day, but teaching French would be a good backup.

Ghinda hopes other schools will be interested in having her students visit to teach French in the coming weeks and Annushka is keen to carry on, too.

"My younger sister goes to Churton. She's so keen, she wants me to go and teach there.

"I would love to continue doing this."