and it has never been dull. It has included exchanges, cooking demonstrations from French chefs, Akaroa field trips, inter- school speaking competitions and quiz nights, filmmaking, perfecting our crêpe making, pétanque competitions, and interhouse French waiters racing around the Quad in International Week. There have also been two major earthquakes, a year of aftershocks and rattling bookcases, months in a Portacabin, three lockdowns, three e-learning systems, remote learning, and teaching and learning through masks. However, a highlight remains the International Languages Chapel Service.” She has revisited France many times to ensure her language skills stay current and undertaken two intensive programmes, including one in Paris. “Only a few New Zealanders are chosen to attend the month-long
course for teachers of French at the Centre International d’Etudes Pedagogiques (CIELP), so it was a professional highlight for me,” she explains. Referencing a well-known quote – If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart – Susan believes that learning a language can enrich the boys’ lives socially, as well as enhance their future prospects. “Being able to go with the boys on a journey from ‘hello, my name is’, to ‘these are my thoughts about climate change’ in a relatively short time is very satisfying. To see how their linguistic skills develop is both exciting and rewarding. It is a laudable thing that they can discuss societal issues and articulate their opinions in a foreign language at a senior level.”
During her time at College, a sabbatical in 2016 was another career highlight. “I had the privilege of continuing my research into College’s connection – through the war- time experiences of Old Boy Leslie Averill – in Le Quesnoy, Northern France in 1918. My thanks to the Averill family for sharing their family history as I developed classroom resources and to the Board of Governors for supporting professional learning.” As an educator, Susan is always open to greater learning. Having retired from her HOD role in 2022, Susan plans to again become a student, undertaking a Master’s degree at the University of Canterbury. Susan plans to study languages and history at university, pointing out that “the Master’s is unfinished business”. She also continues to share her heritage lessons, particularly her passion for the Rose Historic Chapel, originally part of the site of her old school. A member of the Rose Historic Chapel Trust for 26 years, Susan is now chair, archivist, promoter, and event organiser and remains committed to “finding opportunities to make the heritage chapel relevant to the wider community”. Of her years at College, she says “it has been very intense but very satisfying”. “You give of your soul to College and that’s how it should be – but it’s infinitely rewarding. Je ne regrette rien .”
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