The hot, dry bushland of Walmer is a very long way from Canada’s French Quebec famed for its icy winter carnival.
But you don’t have to chat to local French language tutor, Emma Dubuc, for long to see she loves the Aussie bushland she now calls home.
Originally from Quebec City where French was her first language, Emma is a tutor for Castlemaine Community House’s French language offerings that range from raw beginners and intermediate to a new advanced program.
Learning this romantic tongue is just one of the diverse array of general and special interest options included in the new 2019 term one program released for the Castlemaine Community House and Maldon Neighbourhood Centre.
For Emma – who also tutors local secondary school VCE students in how to master French – teaching the language is something she loves.
“I’m having so much fun it’s prompted me to do a Masters of Teaching through La Trobe University,” she says.
This will be the third year that Emma has tutored French as part of the Castlemaine Community House program and she says demand is strong.
“It’s a good way to meet people, have fun and keep the brain active.
“It is challenging. But we just have such a ball. We laugh. I try to make the classes fun.
“There are a lot of people in Castlemaine who can speak French or who have learnt it,” says Emma who is also a keen rock climber.
The classes offered through Castlemaine Community House run for 10 weeks and, besides the language itself, also include aspects of French culture such as the cuisine.
Other options on the new term program range from a permaculture design course, art, and yoga to social walks, snake and spider bite first aid, woodwork and tai chi – to name a few.
The new term program guide includes popular previous offerings plus a few entirely new offerings, says Kerrily Jennings, community development coordinator with Castlemaine Community House.
“Our sourdough bread making is new and the advanced French course is new,” Kerrily says.
“We’ve also got a Writing for Wellness course that’s in strong demand. The tutor has got a strong following and there’s also our new Stories by Me course for kids, that no-one else is doing in this area, and that’s by the same tutor.
“We’re also starting a new e-news letter to let people know what’s coming up.”
