Chinese: Background Language Learner F–10 Sequence / Levels 5 and 6 / Understanding / Role of language and culture
Content description
Explore particular cultural meanings conveyed in everyday interactions across languages
Elaborations
exploring origins of 成语 and 歇后语 encountered in texts such as 朝三暮四，姜太公钓鱼, and using fixed phrases to share or convey a cultural idea in own writing, for example, 塞翁失马，笨鸟先飞
exploring how the languages that people know can impact on the way they communicate in other languages, for example, the use and frequency of ‘thank you’ and 谢谢 is a sign of westernisation, whereas in Chinese it is not used as often as overuse indicates distance between participants in interactions
exploring how cultural concepts of family and the importance of one’s sense of connection to others influence use of language, for example, in the greeting 阿姨好！ (‘Hello, Aunty!’), where ‘aunty’ may be a colleague of their mother’s and a total stranger to the child
