Victorian School of Languages

International Yoga Day Celebrations at VSL Dandenong

VSL Dandenong proudly celebrated the 12th International Yoga Day with our Kannada and Hindi classes, bringing students, teachers and our community together through the spirit of yoga and wellbeing.

A heartfelt thank you to the Vasudeva Kriya Yoga team for conducting an engaging and inspiring yoga session. We also extend our sincere appreciation to our dedicated Hindi and Kannada teachers – Mr Thethi, Ms Agarwal, Ms Gupta, Ms Surawala, Ms Mittal, Mr Mahesh, Ms Jahnavi, Mr Bala and Ms Khanna – for their outstanding contribution and commitment in making this event a great success.

VSL Supervisors Mr Alan Feher and Ms Shally Khanna thanked the Vasudeva Kriya Yoga team, teachers and students for their enthusiastic participation and support.

It was a wonderful wellbeing session that celebrated connection, mindfulness and the many benefits of yoga.

Romanian Blouse Celebration at VSL Dandenong

On 20 June 2026, our Romanian classes at VSL Dandenong came together to celebrate the annual Romanian Blouse Celebration, a beautiful occasion honouring traditional Romanian dress, culture and heritage.

Students were joined by their parents and grandparents as they participated in a range of activities, including a parade of traditional Romanian blouses and folk costumes, presentations about Romanian traditions, an exhibition of carefully hand-sewn and woven garments and objects, creative workshops, and many joyful moments throughout the day.

We were delighted to see our students embracing their traditions with enthusiasm, including learning the traditional hora dance. Living far from their homeland, these celebrations play an important role in helping Romanian families strengthen their connection to their culture and identity.

A sincere thank you to our families for allowing us to share and continue these important traditions with their children, and to the Consulate of Romania in Melbourne for being part of our celebration once again.

Our VSL communities continue to come together for National Reconciliation Week.

Across our centres, students have been reflecting on the importance of reconciliation, respect and recognising the histories, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Our Box Hill Burmese students created a beautiful Reconciliation Week poster in Burmese, bringing their language and cultural identity into this important national conversation.

We also celebrate the wonderful participation of our Area North students, who engaged thoughtfully in Reconciliation Week activities and shared in the spirit of learning, connection and respect.

Thank you to our students and teachers for embracing this opportunity to learn from one another and contribute to a more inclusive future.

🇵🇹 A wonderful celebration of language, culture and community at the Taste of Portugal Festival 2026!

The Victorian School of Languages was proud to once again take part in this vibrant annual event at Queen Victoria Market, celebrating the rich traditions of Portuguese-speaking communities from Portugal, Brazil and Timor-Leste.

Our Portuguese students proudly showcased their creativity through the Portuguese Artworks Competition, participated in the Official National Day Ceremony, and celebrated the achievements of 12 students who received their official Instituto Camões examination certificates.

We were honoured to welcome distinguished guests including Councillor Rafael Camillo from the City of Melbourne, Mrs Silvia Renda, Chairperson of the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria, Mr Nuno Godinho, Honorary Portuguese Consul, and Ms Susana Pinto, Coordinator for the Portuguese Language Program in Australia.

A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated Portuguese teachers, volunteers and families whose ongoing support helps our language community thrive.

Parabéns to all our students and thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s festival such a memorable celebration of Portuguese language, culture and heritage!

Refugee Week - 14 June to 20 June 2026

Refugee Week is an annual celebration to recognise and showcase the contributions of refugees in enriching our communities, workplaces, schools and cultural life.

This year we are celebrating the 40th Refugee Week, a celebration born in Australia and now observed around the world. This year’s theme is ‘A Million Stories’. We are honouring Australia's milestone of having welcomed one million refugees since 1947.

This is about more than a number though. One person’s journey influences the lives of many others: children, grandchildren, and future generations who leave their unique mark on our shared story.

At the VSL, we recognise that members of our school community may have refugee experiences, either personally or through their family histories. During Refugee Week, we celebrate the courage, resilience and cultural richness they bring to our school community and reflect on the importance of welcome, inclusion and belonging.

The annual Hindi Niketan VCE Presentation 2026, held at the Consulate General of India in Melbourne, celebrated the achievements of more than 90 Victorian School of Languages students from across Victoria studying VCE Hindi.

Students were recognised for their hard work with awards, certificates and prizes, and showcased vibrant cultural performances including Kathak dance coordinated by Ms Shally Khanna, highlighting the strong connection between language and culture.

Representing VSL, Ms Kerry Law spoke about the importance of language learning in building cultural understanding, community connection and global citizenship, and acknowledged the long-standing Australia–India relationship.

The Consul General of India, Melbourne, Mr Anish Ranjan, commended VSL teachers and the wider community for supporting Hindi language education and student success.

A proud celebration of achievement, culture and connection.

National Reconciliation Week 2026

During National Reconciliation Week, students and staff across the Victorian School of Languages took part in activities that encouraged reflection, learning and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, cultures and histories.

These wonderful works were created by the Korean Faculty at our Blackburn Centre. We are pleased to share their creativity and participation in this important week.

Modern Greek Immersion Day Brings Language and Culture to Life

Students from Years 2–9 at South Oakleigh VSL recently took part in a vibrant Modern Greek Language Immersion Day delivered by the Modern Greek Teachers Association of Victoria (MGTAV).

From storytelling and drama to traditional dance, puppet shows, vase making and cultural activities, students enjoyed a hands-on experience that brought Greek language and culture to life.

A wonderful celebration of language learning, creativity and cultural connection. Well done to everyone involved in making the day such a success!

This week, the Victorian School of Languages recognises National Reconciliation Week and this year’s theme, All In - a call for all Australians to commit to reconciliation and take action to make meaningful change.

The VSL community is committed to deepening our understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures, and to walking together respectfully in the spirit of reconciliation to help build a more inclusive Australia.

Year 11 Persian students explore culture and identity through creative posters

Year 11 Persian students at VSL Dandenong recently showcased their learning through a series of posters completed as part of their holiday homework for Persian Unit 1.

The task focused on the theme of sustainability, with students exploring how culture and language can be sustained from a community perspective. Through their research, students examined the rich cultural identities of Persian-speaking nations and gained a deeper understanding of Persian civilisation across Afghanistan, Iran and Tajikistan.

Each student approached the task from a different perspective, presenting topics that highlighted unique aspects of cultural identity, heritage and tradition within Persian-speaking communities.

The project provided students with an opportunity to strengthen their language skills while also deepening their appreciation for the diversity and shared connections across Persian-speaking cultures.

Sayed Quraishi, Year 11 Persian Teacher, VSL Dandenong