‘Speak Greek in March’ campaign sees GCM students visit Melbourne Zoo

On Saturday, March 31, the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) City’s school unit successfully organised an educational excursion to the Melbourne Zoo as part of the “Speak Greek in March” campaign.

This campaign aims to promote the Greek language by encouraging children to use it daily and beyond the confines of the classroom, strengthening their connection to their cultural heritage.

Accompanied by their teachers, the students had the opportunity to see animals up close, including giraffes, lions, tigers, orangutans, and baboons, while also learning their names in Greek. They also visited the butterfly garden and enjoyed the unique experience of dancing with the penguins.

As part of the excursion, students participated in interactive games focused on identifying natural objects and animals. Divided into groups, they searched for the animals assigned to them and discovered fascinating facts about nature while communicating with each other in Greek.

The small group structure fostered teamwork, communication, critical thinking, and language skills, turning learning into a fun and meaningful experience closely linked to students’ everyday lives.

This excursion, with its educational and recreational character, marks the beginning of a series of visits to the zoo for the remaining school units of the Greek Community of Melbourne.

The ongoing goal remains the promotion of the Greek language and culture by offering children the opportunity to experience and use the language in everyday situations in an enjoyable and creative way.