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• VCGRCE017

  Convey interpretations of information and ideas about ancient Greek society and culture, in oral, written and digital forms, using Classical Greek as appropriate

  Elaborations

  • discussing how cultural attitudes are conveyed in Classical Greek texts, such as attitudes to slaves or women, cleanliness, food, for example, conducting a role-play, forum on salient issues, ‘Q & A’ session
  • investigating legal rights and obligations of citizens, social classes or property rights, for example, building a digital representation of social strata
  • researching ancient Greek urban planning and architecture through the study of an archaeological site, and presenting findings, for example, by creating a virtual tour of the Agora or the Acropolis of Athens, with written or oral text in English or simple sentences in Classical Greek
  • examining architectural remains of ancient Greece, such as places of entertainment and worship, and discussing what they reveal about the values and attitudes of ancient Greeks
  • gathering and collating information about ancient Greek art, including sculpture, jewellery and painting, for example, producing and presenting an online exhibition catalogue
  • researching references in Classical Greek texts to historical or mythological characters, such as Themistocles or Achilles
  • exploring Classical Greek inscriptions to elicit and present information about ancient Greek society, for example, vases, funerary stelae, ostraka, and creating own examples in English or Classical Greek

  VCGRCE017 | Languages | Classical Greek | Levels 9 and 10 | Engaging with texts | Accessing the ancient Greek world through Classical Greek texts

• VCGRCE006

  Compare different translations and interpretations of Classical Greek texts, and identify features of successful translations

  Elaborations

  • identifying the characteristics of a successful translation, such as grammatical accuracy
  • examining translations to determine how effectively Classical Greek is conveyed in English idiom, such as the use of participles
  • comparing and discussing the merits of different translations of the same text, identifying differences and recognising that they may be equally valid
  • giving and justifying opinions about the effectiveness of own and others’ translations
  • identifying and discussing effective strategies to create appropriate translations, such as skimming through the text and identifying familiar words and phrases, contextualising new vocabulary, and using these strategies to review and polish own translations

  VCGRCE006 | Languages | Classical Greek | Levels 7 and 8 | Engaging with texts | Translating

• VCGRCE019

  Read aloud, recite or perform Classical Greek texts to entertain others, using strategies such as phrasing and voice inflection to convey meaning and emotion

  Elaborations

  • reading aloud passages or extracts from different genres of Classical Greek literature, such as Socratic dialogue, oratory, historiography, drama or poetry, with appropriate expression, phrasing, stress and tone to convey meaning
  • reciting or presenting extracts from Classical Greek texts to the class or school community, using expression and movement to illustrate meaning and to entertain, for example, excerpts from Homer’s Iliad, Pindar’s victory odes
  • performing extracts from Classical Greek plays for the appreciation of an audience, for example, from Sophocles’ Antigone or Euripides’ Medea

  VCGRCE019 | Languages | Classical Greek | Levels 9 and 10 | Engaging with texts | Responding to texts

• VCGRCE018

  Respond to Classical Greek texts by analysing themes, values and literary features, such as plot development and characterisation, and sharing and justifying opinions

  Elaborations

  • reading texts in Classical Greek and responding to questions in English to demonstrate understanding of content, context, purpose and technique
  • discussing how language is used to reveal character, values and key messages in texts such as narratives, dialogues, plays, poems, letters or speeches, for example, Pericles’ funeral oration
  • discussing epic plots and characters, such as the depiction of Croesus in Herodotus’ Histories, Dicaeopolis in Aristophanes’ Acharnians, for example, debating significant events and the author’s purpose
  • analysing plot development in texts such as plays and stories, discussing features, for example, use of comic episode, plot twist, climax, resolution
  • interpreting how particular stylistic effects are created, such as emphasis, doubt, irony or supposition, for example, through the use of particles πῶς γὰρ οὔ; καὶ γάρ, ἆρα οὐ/ἆρα μή
  • analysing how writers use language features to achieve particular aesthetic, humorous or persuasive purposes and effects, such as hyperbole, for example, μύριοι, or irony, for example, Socratic dialogue or dramatic irony
  • evaluating the effectiveness of texts, by considering the use of techniques, for example, simile, metaphor, personification or pathos, for particular purposes, such as to entertain or persuade

  VCGRCE018 | Languages | Classical Greek | Levels 9 and 10 | Engaging with texts | Responding to texts

• VCGRCE002

  Convey information and ideas about the daily life and attitudes of the ancient Greeks, in oral, written and digital forms, using Classical Greek as appropriate

  Elaborations

  • gathering, collating and presenting information about daily routine in the ancient Greek world, such as in posters or digital displays about family life, education, food, hygiene, exercise, with annotations in English or words and simple phrases in Classical Greek
  • reading stories about the daily lives of ancient Greeks, and recreating their everyday experiences, for example, through role-play or an imaginative animated cartoon
  • comparing details from different sources about where Greek people lived, such as in urban centres or rural settlements, for example, through dioramas or drawings with labels in English or Classical Greek, and discussing what they reveal about different lifestyles in the Classical period
  • researching the purpose and function of spaces in an ancient Greek home, for example, the ἀνδρών and γυναικών rooms, for an oral or digital presentation, using labels in English and Classical Greek
  • examining artefacts from the classical Greek period, such as those from ancient Athens, and discussing what they reveal about the everyday lives of ancient Greek people
  • collating and sharing information online about ancient Greek inventions, engineering and infrastructure, for example, the Antikythera Mechanism, the Hippodamian urban grid plan, Archimedes’ screw
  • researching the attitudes of ancient Greeks revealed in their myths and legends, and acting out stories, such as the labours of Heracles, to convey these attitudes
  • gathering and creating a class bank of information from texts about ancient Greek religious beliefs and practices, for example, Olympian deities, local festivals (Dionysia in Athens) and panhellenic festivals (Pythian Games at Delphi)
  • reading accounts of historical events, such as Aeschylus’ eyewitness account of the Battle of Salamis, and presenting information in new ways, for example, as a news report

  VCGRCE002 | Languages | Classical Greek | Levels 7 and 8 | Engaging with texts | Accessing the ancient Greek world through Classical Greek texts

• VCGRCE020

  Translate a range of texts that incorporate complex sentence structures and extensive vocabulary from Classical Greek into Standard English, representing the style and purpose of the texts

  Elaborations

  • reading holistically to deduce the context and content of Classical Greek texts, by identifying key words and phrases
  • applying expanded knowledge of vocabulary, grammar and problem-solving skills to translate compound sentences and complex sentences with nested clauses
  • conveying shades of meaning of a range of subtle vocabulary, for example, inferring the different connotations of a word in a particular context, such as δίκη
  • inferring the meaning of new words and expressions, using knowledge of the text type and the author’s purpose and technique, for example, ὁ λόγος (word, speech, argument, reasoning, story, computation)
  • expanding the variety of English translations for verb tenses or moods, for example, to express aspect in a command, παύου (general/ongoing) compared to παῦσαι (once)
  • deducing the meaning of new words, by drawing on prior knowledge, derivatives and connections with familiar words, for example, σαρκοφάγος, κακοδαίμων
  • recreating mood, tone and dramatic impact in English translations by selecting appropriate vocabulary, comparing and contrasting potential choices, for example, τύχη (chance, luck, fortune), συμφορά (event, circumstance, mishap, misfortune)
  • refining translations by exploring print and online Classical Greek and English dictionaries and thesauruses to consider a variety of meanings and synonyms
  • conveying emphasis and tone, such as indignation, anger or suspense, embedded in Classical Greek word order, for example, χρυσόν τε καὶ ἄργυρον φέρει ὁ Ὀδυσσεύς ἐν τῷ ἀσκῷ
  • translating complex sentence structures, such as subordinate clauses and indirect speech, for example, causal, purpose, result, indirect questions, commands, conditionals
  • rendering the precise meaning of tenses in Classical Greek into idiomatic English, for example, ἐλάμβανον/ἔλαβον
  • conveying the meaning of idiomatic expressions and culturally specific terms, for example, ἀρετή, δαίμων/δαιμόνιον/εὐδαιμονία, τα πρόβατα θόρυβον ποιεῖ, γλαύκ’Ἀθήναζε/γλαύκας εἰς Ἀθήνας, by choosing appropriate English terms and expressions
  • constructing and editing translations collaboratively with peers, using a range of ICT
  • correcting own translations to increase accuracy and better reflect register, tone and relationships
  • translating, independently or in collaboration with peers, unseen texts with compound or complex sentences, drawing on familiarity with the style and language of texts already studied

  VCGRCE020 | Languages | Classical Greek | Levels 9 and 10 | Engaging with texts | Translating

• VCGRCU008

  Understand concepts of accidence and syntax used in simple and compound sentences in Classical Greek, including parts of speech, case, gender, number, person, declension and conjugation, agreement and tense, mood, voice, participles and infinitives

  Elaborations

  • recognising that Greek verbs have variable endings that indicate person and number, for example, φέρω, φέρουσιν
  • conjugating -ω verbs in the present, future, imperfect and aorist tenses, active and middle, for example, λύω/λύομαι
  • conjugating contract verbs –εω, –αω in the present, future imperfect and aorist tenses, active and middle, for example, φιλῶ/φιλοῦμαι, τιμῶ/τιμῶμαι
  • using the imperative in the present and aorist tenses, active and middle, for example, σπεῦδε/σπεῦσον
  • using the infinitive and participles, active and middle, in the present, future and aorist tenses, for example, παύειν/παύων, παύσειν/παύσων, παῦσαι/παύσας
  • using the irregular verb ‘to be’ in the present, future and imperfect tenses, for example, εἰμἰ/ἔσομαι/ἦν
  • using the definite article to identify the number, gender and case of nouns, for example, αἱ ὁδοί, τούς δικαστάς
  • recognising that the definite article, nouns, pronouns and adjectives inflect to show number and case, for example, ὁ ἡμέτερος πατήρ, τὰ μικρὰ ἄροτρα
  • identifying the forms and functions of the nominative, vocative, accusative, genitive and dative cases of the definite article, nouns and pronouns, for example, τῶν πολιτῶν πολλοί (partitive genitive), τῇ ὑστεραίᾳ (dative of time when)
  • identifying the three declensions of nouns and adjectives, including variants:
    • first declension: ἡ κρήνη, ἡ οἰκία, ἡ θάλαττα, ὁ δεσπότης, ὁ νεανίας
    • second declension: ὁ ἀγρός, ἡ νῆσος, τὸ δένδρον
    • third declension: ὁ φύλαξ, τὸ ὂνομα, ὁ ἀνήρ, ἡ τριήρης, ἡ πόλις, ὁ βασιλεύς, τὸ τεῖχος
  • identifying forms of common irregular nouns, for example, ἠ ναῦς, ὀ βοῦς
  • identifying forms of common irregular adjectives, for example, μέγας/μεγάλη/μέγα, πολύς/πολλή/πολύ, πᾶς/πᾶσα/πᾶν
  • recognising agreement between adjectives and nouns in number, gender and case, for example, ἠ μακρὰ ὁδός, τοῦ ἀληθοῦς λόγου
  • recognising the comparative and superlative degrees of regular adjectives, for example, ἀνδρεῖος, ἀνδρειότερος, ἀνδρειότατος
  • identifying cardinal numbers εἷς/μία/ἕν to χίλοι/αι/α and μὐριοι/αι/α and ordinal numbers πρῶτος/η/ον to χιλιοστός, μυριοστός
  • identifying the forms and application of personal, interrogative, indefinite, demonstrative and relative pronouns, for example, ἐγώ/σύ, ἡμεῖς/ὑμεῖς, τίς/τί, τις/τι, οὗτος/αὕτη/τοῦτο, ὅς/ἥ/ὅ
  • distinguishing between prepositional phrases using the accusative, genitive and dative cases, for example, πρὸς τὴν πόλιν, πρὸς τῶν θεῶν, πρὸς τῇ νηί
  • forming positive, comparative and superlative adverbs from adjectives, for example, ἀληθῶς/ἀληθέστερον/ἀληθέστατα
  • analysing the functions of words in sentences from their inflected forms, such as subject + verb + complement, subject + verb + direct object, preposition + noun, for example, τὸ ἄνθος καλὸν ἐστίν. ὁ γεωργὸς τὸν κλῆρον σκάπτει. ὁ στρατὸς πορεύεται πρὸς τὰ τῆς πόλεως τείχη
  • recognising how word order may be different in Classical Greek, such as the use of the attributive and predicative position of the adjective to vary meaning, for example, ἡ καλὴ κόρη and καλὴ ἡ κόρη
  • recognising that adverbs, adverbial phrases and prepositional phrases can give important details about what is happening in a sentence, for example, νῦν, πρὸς τῇ θύρᾳ
  • learning strategies for building on prior knowledge and learning new grammar, for example, mnemonic devices, paradigms, drill exercises, online learning tools

  VCGRCU008 | Languages | Classical Greek | Levels 7 and 8 | Understanding | Systems of language

• VCGRCU007

  Understand the phonological and orthographic systems of Classical Greek, including the restored pronunciation and the written alphabet

  Elaborations

  • learning the Greek alphabet in lower and upper case, including final sigma, matching script to sound, for example, δ = d, γ = g, θ = th
  • recognising the use of the upper case in Classical Greek to distinguish proper nouns
  • mimicking or copying restored pronunciation of Classical Greek words, individually or with peers
  • writing simple sentences in Classical Greek to consolidate knowledge of script
  • recognising and representing diphthongs, double consonants and aspirated consonants, for example, αι, γγ, ψ, ξ, θ, χ, φ
  • recognising and using diacritical marks to show aspiration and iota subscript, for example, ἡ ὁδός, τῇ ὁδῷ
  • learning the standard system of transliteration of Greek into English letters, for example, δ = d, χ = ch, αι = ae
  • recognising that punctuation in Classical Greek can be different from English, for example, the use of the semicolon as the question mark in Classical Greek

  VCGRCU007 | Languages | Classical Greek | Levels 7 and 8 | Understanding | Systems of language

• VCGRCU023

  Understand concepts of accidence and syntax used in complex sentences in Classical Greek, including subordinate clauses, pronoun forms, mood, voice, and conventions of complex sentence structure

  Elaborations

  • using the indefinite adjective τις with nouns to supply the meaning of the indefinite article in English, for example, κακόν τι πάσχει, νῆσόν τινα
  • conjugating -ω verbs in perfect and pluperfect tenses, active and middle, indicative, imperative and infinitive forms, for example, εἴρηκα/εἴρημαι, ἑόρακα/ἑώραμαι
  • conjugating -ω verbs in the passive voice in all applicable tenses including first and second aorist and future, for example, ἐλύθην/λυθήσομαι, ἐφάνην/φανήσομαι
  • conjugating contract verbs in all tenses and voices, including verbs in –οω, for example, δηλῶ, ἐλευθερῶ
  • conjugating -μι verbs, including δίδωμι, τίθημι, ἵστημι, ἵημι, δείκνυμι, φημί
  • conjugating common irregular verbs, for example, oἶδα, ἒοικα
  • forming the comparative and superlative degrees of common irregular adjectives, for example:
    • ἀγαθός/ἀμείνων/ἄριστος, ἀγαθός/βελτίων/βέλτιστος, ἀγαθός/κρείττων/κράτιστος
    • κακός/κακίων/κάκιστος, κακός/χείρων/χείριστος
    • καλός/καλλίων/κάλλιστος
    • μέγας/μείζων/μέγιστος
    • πολύς/πλείων/πλεῖστος
  • identifying the use of participles with the genitive absolute and the accusative absolute, for example, ἡμέρας γενομένης, ἔδοξεν ταῖς κόραις πρὸς τὸν κρήνην βαίνειν and δέον τὴν πόλιν ἀμύνεσθαι, οἱ ἄνδρες τὰ ὅπλα ἔφερον
  • recognising the forms and uses of the subjunctive mood, for example, ταχέως ἵωμεν (exhortation), τί ποιῶμεν; (deliberation), μὴ δέξησθε τὰ δῶρα (prohibition), οἱ στρατιῶται φεύγουσιν ἵνα μὴ ὑπὸ τῶν πολεμίων ληφθῶσιν (purpose clause), φοβοῦμαι μὴ ὁ δεσπότης οὐκ ἐθέλῃ παῦσαι τὸν πόνον (clause of fearing)
  • recognising the forms and uses of the optative mood, for example, εἴθε τὴν πατρίδα σῴζοιμεν (wish), βουλοίμεθα ἄν τοῦ ἀοιδοῦ ἀκούειν (potential optative)
  • understanding the structure and use of indirect statements with ὅτι, the infinitive or the participle, for example, ὁ ἄγγελος εἶπεν ὅτι οἱ πολέμιοι ἤδη προσχωροῦσιν/ὁ πάτηρ ἔφη ἀνάγκην εἶναι οἴκαδε ἐπανιέναι/οἱ παῖδες εἶδον λύκον μέγαν πρὸς τὴν οἰκίαν προσιόντα
  • understanding the structure and use of conditional clauses, for example, ἐὰν τῷ δημαγωγῷ πιστεύῃς, μῶρος εἶ/ἐὰν τὸν δοῦλον καλέσῃς, βραδέως ἀφίξεται/εἰ ὁ παῖς τοῦτο ἐποίησεν, ἐδέξατο ἄν τον ἔπαινον
  • understanding the structure and use of indefinite clauses, for example, ὅστις ἄν ἔξω τῶν τῆς πόλεως ὁρῶν εὑρεθῇ, ἐν κινδύνῳ μεγάλῳ ἔσται/ἐπειδὰν γένηται ἡ πανήγυρις, πάντες οἱ Ἀθηναῖοι εἰς τὴν ἀγορὰν σπεύδουσιν
  • identifying the articular infinitive, for example, ἀγαθὸς εἰς τὸ λέγειν τε καὶ πράττειν
  • identifying the verbal adjective in –τέος, for example, οὐ λεκτέοι εἰσὶν οἱ λόγοι
  • identifying verbs that take supplementary participles, for example, ἔτυχον παροῦσαι αἱ γυναῖκες/οἱ Ἀθηναῖοι ἐφαίνοντο οὐ βουλόμενοι ἀγορεύειν
  • understanding the sequence of tenses and moods in complex sentences (primary and secondary sequences), for example, λέγει ὅτι εἰ ὁ ἀνὴρ τοῦτο εἶπεν, ἐψεύδετο/εἶπεν ὅτι εἰ ὁ ἀνὴρ τοῦτο εἴποι, ψεύδοιτο ἄν
  • recognising creative variations in Classical Greek word order to focus on action, or to create suspense by delaying a key word, phrase or clause
  • elaborating strategies for building on prior knowledge and learning new grammar, for example, mnemonic devices, paradigms, drill exercises, online learning tools

  VCGRCU023 | Languages | Classical Greek | Levels 9 and 10 | Understanding | Systems of language

• VCGRCU030

  Reflect on self as a language learner, explaining how the study of Classical Greek influences own communicative behaviours, ways of thinking and viewing the world

  Elaborations

  • exploring own sense of identity, challenging own and others’ assumptions about family and civic responsibilities, traditions, values and attitudes
  • drawing on knowledge of ancient society to examine and interpret own world, including aspects such as ancestry, values, traditions, social status, family and national pride
  • reflecting, such as in discussions, blogs and journals, on experiences in the course of learning Classical Greek and their impact on perceptions of own cultural experience and ways of communicating
  • identifying challenges and achievements associated with learning Classical Greek, for example, learning to ‘read between the lines’ to identify thought implicit in the use of language
  • reinterpreting own experience of learning Classical Greek, listening to others’ perspectives and comparing these with own experience
  • discussing how learning Classical Greek impacts on own ways of thinking and viewing the world

  VCGRCU030 | Languages | Classical Greek | Levels 9 and 10 | Understanding | Reflecting

• VCGRCU022

  Understand and apply the principles of pronunciation for the reading of Classical Greek texts

  Elaborations

  • developing fluency in recognising sound and spelling changes, for example, those that occur when stops (β/π/φ, τ/δ/θ/ζ, κ/γ/χ) are followed by sigma, as in σπεύδω/ἔσπευσα, πέμπω/ἔπεμψα, διώκω/ἐδίωξα
  • using diacritical marks for accentuation, to distinguish between words with the same spelling, for example, interrogative and indefinite adverbs and pronouns, such as τις and τίς, or verbs, such as πονεῖ and πόνει
  • recognising the component parts of compound words involving transfer of aspirates, for example, κατά + ἵστημι = καθίστημι
  • recognising non-Attic versions of common words, for example, θάλασσα (θάλαττα), πονέω (πονῶ), ἐς (εἰς), μάτηρ (μήτηρ)
  • understanding the function of crasis and elision when reading aloud, for example, κἀγαθοί = καὶ ἀγαθοί, τἄλλα = τὰ ἄλλα
  • noting that iota subscript is given in the upper case when reading Classical Greek inscriptions

  VCGRCU022 | Languages | Classical Greek | Levels 9 and 10 | Understanding | Systems of language

• VCGRCU011

  Understand that Greek spread with the expansion of the ancient Greek world, and developed over time, influencing English and other languages

  Elaborations

  • recognising that Greek is a member of the Indo-European family of languages, related to other ancient languages, such as Latin, Sanskrit and Old Persian
  • recognising that Greek has been spoken in various forms uninterruptedly from the 3rd millennium BCE to the present day and has been documented in writing since about 1450 BCE
  • recognising that Classical Greek is a specific form of the language, evolved from earlier forms such as Mycenaean Greek and the Archaic Greek used in the epics of Homer
  • identifying Classical Greek as the Attic/Ionic dialect of the language spoken in the 5th and 4th centuries BCE in Athens, many Aegean islands and the coast of Asia Minor
  • recognising that Classical Greek was the form of the language used by significant ancient Greek authors, such as Thucydides, Sophocles, Plato, Lysias
  • locating on a map the places where Greek was spoken in antiquity around the Mediterranean basin from Spain to the coast of Turkey and across the Black Sea
  • investigating how the geography of mainland Greece influenced the development of independent city-states such as Athens, Sparta, Corinth and Thebes
  • exploring the spread of Greek colonies across the Mediterranean and Black Sea coastlines, such as Syracuse (Sicily), Naples (Italy), Marseilles (France), Cyrene (Libya), Miletus (Turkey), Emporion (Spain)
  • identifying and using Classical Greek derivatives to expand own English vocabulary, for example, sceptic, cynic, antithesis
  • recognising connections between the spelling of Classical Greek and English words and applying understanding to improve own spelling in English, for example, psychology, rhythm, seismology
  • identifying expressions in Classical Greek that are commonly used in English, for example, hoi polloi, eureka
  • identifying words of Classical Greek origin that are used as school subjects, for example, mathematics, history, geography, music, drama, biology, chemistry, physics, philosophy, psychology, economics
  • identifying and collecting word families in which the same Classical Greek root is used with different prefixes or suffixes, for example, calligraphy, biography, biology, technology, paralysis, analysis, Palaeolithic, palaeontology
  • applying knowledge of Classical Greek to understand words and expressions in Modern Greek, such as signs in shops and public places, for example ΚΙΝΔΥΝΟΣ, ΠΡΟΣΟΧΗ, ΙΧΘΥΟΠΩΛΕΙΟΝ, ΦΑΡΜΑΚΕΙΟΝ, έν τάξει, κλειστόν
  • identifying similarities between Classical Greek and other Indo-European languages by comparing cognate words, such as ἕξ: sex (Latin), sechs (German), six; πατήρ: pater (Latin), Vater (German), father

  VCGRCU011 | Languages | Classical Greek | Levels 7 and 8 | Understanding | The powerful influence of language and culture

• VCGRCU015

  Reflect on self as a language learner, considering how learning Classical Greek influences ways of learning and enhances understanding of own heritage, values and culture

  Elaborations

  • exploring own sense of identity, considering own and others’ assumptions about family, language(s) spoken, traditions, values and attitudes
  • considering how learning about the ancient world offers different ways of interpreting the modern world and representing experience
  • keeping a journal of experiences (humorous, satisfying or challenging) associated with learning and using Classical Greek, noting personal reactions and reflections over time
  • considering how learning Classical Greek has impacted on own approaches to learning across subjects, such as setting realistic timeframes, computational thinking
  • reflecting on the experience of learning Classical Greek, considering how it might add a further dimension to own sense of identity
  • reflecting and reporting on how learning Classical Greek gives insights into the relationship between language and culture in general, and how own way of thinking about language, culture and identity may change through the experience

  VCGRCU015 | Languages | Classical Greek | Levels 7 and 8 | Understanding | Reflecting

• VCGRCU010

  Identify the structure and features of a range of texts in Classical Greek, such as narratives and short plays

  Elaborations

  • identifying elements of different types of text, for example, stories, dialogues and speeches, and explaining the relationship between the language and structure used and the purpose of the text
  • distinguishing and comparing features of a story and a play, such as narrative voice, characterisation, impact of direct speech
  • making connections and comparisons between a new text and familiar texts of the same type
  • using metalanguage to explain the effect of particular language features in texts on intended audiences, for example, the use of euphemisms in an attempt to substitute a mild expression for one considered improper, such as ἀριστερός (better) for ‘left’, Εὐμενίδες (the kindly ones) for the Furies, Εὔξεινος Πόντος (hospitable sea) for the Black Sea

  VCGRCU010 | Languages | Classical Greek | Levels 7 and 8 | Understanding | Systems of language

• VCGRCU026

  Understand that Greek became the dominant language of the ancient Mediterranean world and facilitated the spread of Greek civilisation and culture, and that Classical Greek continues to enrich English through specialist vocabulary and abstract concepts embodied in the language

  Elaborations

  • recognising that, from the Hellenistic period onwards, Koine Greek developed from Classical Greek to become the lingua franca of Eastern Mediterranean lands and the language of the New Testament
  • discussing the spread of Greek influence across the Mediterranean and Black Sea, including the use of Greek as the common language for government, trade, commerce, education and law
  • investigating how the Greek language allowed the spread of innovative Greek ideas in the areas of science, medicine, mathematics, historiography, geography and philosophy, for example, μαθηματικά, γεωγραφία, ἱστορία, φιλοσοφία
  • recognising that there were many dialects of Greek spoken in antiquity, such as Doric, Aeolic, Arcado–Cypriot
  • exploring famous centres of Greek learning and culture such as Alexandria, Antioch and Ephesus
  • recognising the spread of Greek ideas in the Roman world, shown by the use of borrowed Greek vocabulary in Latin to denote such concepts as stadium, palaestra, rhetor theatrum, comedia, stoica, philosophia
  • exploring abstract concepts derived from Classical Greek, such as philanthropy, idol, autonomy, paradox, aesthetics, nostalgia, agony
  • exploring and discussing the meaning of Classical Greek sayings used in literature, such as μηδὲν ἄγαν, γνῶθι σαυτόν, μολὼν λαβέ
  • recognising words in English that are a hybrid of Classical Greek and Latin, for example, metalanguage, quantum physics, teleconference, television, automobile
  • discussing Classical Greek derivatives that are used in fields such as business and education, for example, macroeconomics, monopoly, pedagogy, syllabus
  • examining the Classical Greek roots of English words in subjects across the school curriculum, such as theorem, metaphor, photosynthesis, chlorine, atom, planet, geophysical, ecosystem, orchestra, music, scene, dialogue, chorus, athletics
  • identifying Classical Greek roots in English scientific, technical and medical terminology, for example, catalyst, aerodynamic, pathogen, bacteria, atherosclerosis, acne, asthma, chromatography, symmetry, thermometer, seismic
  • exploring how Classical Greek is used to coin terms for new technology and new discoveries in science and medicine in the modern world, such as gigabyte, nanotechnology, antioxidant, polymer, genotype, triglyceride
  • applying knowledge of Classical Greek to form plurals of borrowed English words, for example, criterion/criteria, phenomenon/phenomena, crisis/crises, thesis/theses, stigma/stigmata
  • discussing the enduring use of Classical Greek in religious contexts, for example, κύριε ἐλέησον, Χριστὀς, ἐκκλησία, βάπτισμα, συναγωγή, κλῆρος, ἄγγελος, πρεσβύτερος, ὕμνος, βίβλος, εὐαγγέλιον

  VCGRCU026 | Languages | Classical Greek | Levels 9 and 10 | Understanding | The powerful influence of language and culture

• VCGRCU014

  Reflect on own and others’ reactions to and assumptions about the language and culture of ancient Greek society, considering similarities and differences to own language and culture

  Elaborations

  • considering own and others’ cultural assumptions about home and leisure and how these may have been different in the ancient Greek context
  • reviewing and responding to aspects of cultural practices in Classical Greek texts and ancient Greek artefacts, and discussing the reactions of peers to these
  • developing an understanding of life in ancient Athens or Sparta, and reflecting on similarities and differences to own lifestyle in multicultural Australia
  • describing own life at home and school and making comparisons with that of young people in ancient Greece
  • discussing how young people in ancient Greece may have viewed the lives of young people in the modern world

  VCGRCU014 | Languages | Classical Greek | Levels 7 and 8 | Understanding | Reflecting

• VCGRCU009

  Acquire and build vocabulary by using roots, derivatives and word lists, and use dictionaries to select appropriate meanings of Classical Greek words

  Elaborations

  • developing own and class lists of vocabulary related to texts and topics, such as daily life in ancient Greece, for example, δοῦλος/δεσπότης, γυμνάσιον/παλαίστρα
  • creating a class bank of words frequently found in Classical Greek, for example, μῦθος/ἥρως/θηρίον, ναῦς/ναύτης/ναύκληρος/ναυμαχίαν, πλοῦς/ἱστίον/ἐρέτης/λιμήν, and common expressions used in everyday activities, for example, χαίρετε, τὶ πράττεις; ἐλθὲ δεῦρο, φεῦ, οἴμοι, εὖγε, εὖ ποιεῖς, σὺν ἀλλήλοις
  • practising vocabulary knowledge, for example, by using electronic resources
  • using print and electronic dictionaries to locate the appropriate meanings of words
  • understanding that one Classical Greek word may correspond to several different English words, and selecting the most appropriate meaning of a word in its context
  • developing strategies for vocabulary building by applying knowledge of roots and derivatives, for example, ἄγγελος (angel/archangel/evangelist), περί (periscope/perimeter/periphery), μόνος/η/ον (monotony, monologue, monopoly)
  • building vocabulary by recognising Classical Greek words commonly used in English, for example, idea, aroma, drama, synthesis, analysis, antithesis, hyperbole

  VCGRCU009 | Languages | Classical Greek | Levels 7 and 8 | Understanding | Systems of language

• VCGRCU027

  Discuss how the ancient Greek world has influenced the modern world, in its social, political and legal structures; philosophy; literature; arts; and medical and scientific practices

  Elaborations

  • discussing the ancient origins of modern political and legal structures and concepts, such as jury service, elections, trials
  • exploring modern social issues, such as class, the role of women and civil rights, and making comparisons with the Classical Greek period
  • researching the influence of leading Greek intellectuals, such as Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, on modern Western philosophy
  • discussing influences of Classical Greek literature on modern novels, poetry, drama and film, such as World War I poetry, David Malouf’s Ransom, Anouilh’s Antigone, A Dream of Passion (Medea)
  • recognising the importance of literary genres such as epic, tragedy, comedy, epigram, ode, history, myth
  • viewing artworks to investigate the incorporation of classical techniques and themes by later artists, for example, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Bernini
  • investigating ancient practices in medicine and science still relevant in the modern world, such as the theories of Hippocrates, Democritus, Pythagoras, Archimedes, Eratosthenes, Aristarchus

  VCGRCU027 | Languages | Classical Greek | Levels 9 and 10 | Understanding | The powerful influence of language and culture

• VCGRCU028

  Identify how cultural values, attitudes and beliefs of the ancient Greeks are embedded in their language

  Elaborations

  • discussing ancient Greek values that are embedded in terms such as such as σοφία and ξενία and considering their significance in the modern world
  • understanding how language and cultural practices are interconnected, for example, by explaining religious origins or connotations associated with words and expressions such as ἱερόν/τέμενος/ἡρῷον/ἄβατον/μυστήρια/εὐσέβεια
  • investigating the use of dialects to denote differences in ethnicity and social status in ancient Greece, for example, Aristophanes’ use of Doric to ridicule a Spartan character
  • exploring the formal language that ancient Greeks used for greetings, or responding to the challenges of public life, such as ἔρρωσθε καὶ ἐδαιμονεῖτε, ἀσπάζομαι, ὦ ἄνδρες Ἀθηναῖοι, ὦ δικασταί, and making comparisons with own language use in formal contexts
  • reflecting on how language, texts and artefacts provide a means of understanding the social and cultural practices of ancient Greeks and how they conceptualised their world

  VCGRCU028 | Languages | Classical Greek | Levels 9 and 10 | Understanding | Role of language and culture

• VCGRCU013

  Recognise that the language of the ancient Greeks provides insights into their daily lives, ideas, feelings and attitudes

  Elaborations

  • investigating connections between language and significant cultural attitudes, for example, discussing how the terms ἐκκλησία, βουλή, πρυτάνεις, ψήφισμα and the expressions τὶς ἀγορεύειν βούλεται and ἔδοξε τῇ βουλῇ καὶ τῷ δήμῳ relate to the concept of citizenship in ancient Athens
  • understanding the factors, such as language, religion and culture, that unified the Ἕλληνες (Greeks) and set them apart from the βάρβαροι (non-Greeks)
  • exploring and discussing language use that reflects the social structure of the πόλις of Athens, encompassing both city and countryside, for example, citizen classes, metics, slaves, women
  • exploring and discussing references in texts to social structure in Sparta, including the Spartans, perioikoi and helots
  • comparing and contrasting references in texts to family life, social practices and education in Athens and Sparta
  • understanding the importance of religion in ancient Greek society, and its links to festivals and ceremonies, for example, by examining references in texts to worship of the Olympian gods and local heroes, the panhellenic festivals of the Olympic and Pythian Games, or the dramatic performances of the Dionysia in Athens
  • comparing language that reflects the status of men, youths, women and girls in domestic affairs and public life in ancient Athens and Sparta, such as the significance of the terms ἀνδρεία, κύριος, κηδεμών, παρθένος
  • exploring the colloquial language that ancient Greeks used for greetings, or answering questions about daily life, such as χαῖρε/χαίρετε, πῶς ἔχεις/ἔχετε; τὶ ἔστιν;

  VCGRCU013 | Languages | Classical Greek | Levels 7 and 8 | Understanding | Role of language and culture