Chinese
Note: this course is not suitable for Chinese background or first language speakers.
Year 7
This is a beginners’ course for students with little to no prior learning of Chinese language in non-Chinese speaking regions. The course introduces beginners to the essential knowledge and skills in the Chinese language, using Pinyin and approximate 100 Hanzi characters on topics taught. By the end of this course, students will have covered daily greetings, classroom instructions, dates and time, relating personal and family information, and developing an understanding of Chinese speaking communities through culturally related activities.
Year 8
This course develops students’ macro skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing in the Chinese language (Mandarin). Pinyin application will continue, with a focus on the development of Hanzi writing skills. By the end of this course, students are expected to read and write simple sentences relating to family and friends, occupations and daily routine, transportation, clothing and basic personal description. Students will further their understanding of the language and culture through culturally related activities and games.
French
Year 7
This is a course for beginners which aims to enable students to communicate effectively in French by placing considerable focus on speaking and listening skills. Students develop an understanding of the language required to speak about themselves, ask questions, write short texts and describe other people.
Year 8
Students deepen their knowledge of linguistic structures and the course continues to develop students’ skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. Content areas covered include: finding your way around town, eating and drinking, friendships, the media and pocket money. Students are expected to be able to write short passages in greater depth and expand their range of vocabulary.
Japanese
Year 7
This is a beginners’ course that caters for students with minimal or no prior learning of Japanese. This course requires students to respond to and produce spoken Japanese, read and write Hiragana and some Kanji. Topics include greetings, classroom commands, personal information, family and nationalities. Assessment tasks and classwork are equally important in evaluating student performance. Students are required to extract information from a variety of listening sources and develop skills that require them to write short passages in Japanese.
Year 8
Students continue to consolidate the Hiragana script and are formally taught Katakana. Students continuing Japanese during Year 8 will be introduced to topics that extend beyond their personal world such as leisure and school activities, calendars, transport and places of interest, and they will learn a greater number of Kanji (characters derived from the Chinese writing system) and the two Japanese syllabaries, Hiragana and Katakana. It is essential that students learn to read and write using all three systems.