Each year an exclusive group of talented students who achieve outstanding results in their chosen VCE subjects receive a letter from the Government of Victoria informing them that they have been recognised with the prestigious Premier’s VCE Award.
This year’s ceremony was held on July 27 at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre in the presence of more than 1000 guests. Among the 300 students in attendance who excelled in 88 different subjects, 22 were students of a foreign language at VSL - Victoria School of Languages. One of them, Joshua Walker, received recognition for his achievements at VCE in Italian.
When he started high school, Joshua had to choose two languages - one European and one Asian. Initially, he opted for French and Chinese, but upon realising that he had a knack for languages, he decided to add Italian, a language dear to him due to his grandparents’ Calabrian origins.
“Because my school didn’t offer Italian, I had to look for an outside institution where I could take classes,” he explained.
“I found this little place in Airport West, where the founder and teacher, Giusi Galbo, taught me by speaking in Italian only. It was a tough at first, but it helped me a lot.
“A few years later, she recommended I take courses at VSL so I could take the VCE exam.”
The choice paid off, as Joshua achieved the second highest grade in the entire state of Victoria, with an incredible 49/50. As a result, he had the honour of collecting the award personally from Education Minister Natalie Hutchins on stage.
The achievement made him “very proud,” and was a great joy to his grandmother as well.
“I’m trying to get in touch with a very good VSL teacher of mine, Rosa Vitelli, who told me one day that if I kept this up, I would win the Premier’s VCE Award,” he shared, smiling.
“I’d like to let her know that she was right.”
Over time, Joshua has improved his Italian in many ways. Recently, to practice conversation, he has started to use an app that allows him to speak with his Italian peers. It’s been helpful, because according to him everything starts with speaking.
For now, Joshua has shelved the formal study of Italian, but starting next year he hopes that will change.
While he dreams of returning to Italy, perhaps to study or for work experience, he helps younger children learn Italian at the same language school where it all began for him.
