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• VCZHU243

  Analyse the use of language across genders and generations, within and across language communities

  Elaborations

  • collecting a range of famous colloquial sayings from many different cultures and comparing their use
  • explaining how culture impacts on their own communication, for example: Did they take offence that the host didn’t offer food at the party? Why might some Chinese find that offensive?
  • knowing that communicative practices might be perceived differently in different cultures, for example, in accepting a compliment in Chinese, saying 谢谢 might make one look 自大
  • considering the role of English in the world, for example, examining the popularity of Chinese and English in second language programs and why individuals and nations believe proficiency in these two languages is important

  VCZHU243 | Languages | Chinese | First Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Understanding | The role of language and culture

• VCZHU222

  Recognise how gender, social class and age impact on language use in formal and informal contexts

  Elaborations

  • observing interactions between speakers and identifying examples of how language is adapted as the roles and positions of participants are established, for example, moving to more formal language once one participant is identified as a person of authority
  • reading texts such as 《人民日报》, and identifying words and phrases that are used to convey authority or objectivity, such as how to name students with different achievements (for example, 尖子生，中间生，临界生 优秀学生, 普通学生,后进的有潜力学生) in a report on school education
  • discussing the transferability of expressions and words across different settings, for example, following the debate on the use of internet language in education and in the media (for example, the use of 网络语言 in student’s 写作)
  • comparing the same meaning conveyed in speech and writing, (for example, in speech (你不可以进去) and on a sign (闲人免进)) and discussing why the language may vary, including aspects such as interactivity and authority

  VCZHU222 | Languages | Chinese | Background Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Understanding | Language variation and change

• VCZHU106

  Discern differences in patterns of sound and tone in extended Chinese speech when listening to speakers of different age, gender, and regional background

  Elaborations

  • listening to interactions between unfamiliar voices at different speeds or levels of clarity to develop auditory and comprehension skills, and discriminating between sounds heard in oral discourse, including the range of vowel and consonant combinations, for example, ‘qin’ versus ‘qing’ and ‘chi’ versus ‘qi’
  • examining the diverse meanings of words that share similar sounds, for example, the many meanings of the sound ‘shi’ and how to differentiate between 同音词 and 近音词 in different contexts (同意 and 统一)
  • comparing examples of regional variation in pronunciation (for example, the Beijing use of 儿 and the southern pronunciation of ‘shi’ and ‘si’), and noticing and describing differences in accent and tone when listening to Chinese speakers from diverse regions

  VCZHU106 | Languages | Chinese | Second Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Understanding | Systems of language

• VCZHU031

  Identify the likely contexts and features of informal and formal conversations involving known participants of different ages, genders and social positions

  Elaborations

  • comparing conversations between peers/friends with conversations between teachers/authorities, for example, 你/您； 坐吧！/请坐！
  • viewing and listening to the opening of conversations in a range of situations, and finding key words participants use, noticing how these chunks of language can change depending on the situatio
  • finding examples of the openings of informal and formal conversations in Chinese films, soap operas and children’s cartoons, and practising using these openings in conversation with teachers and friends

  VCZHU031 | Languages | Chinese | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 3 and 4 | Understanding | Language variation and change

• VCZHU190

  Explain how gender, social class and age affect language use in formal and informal contexts

  Elaborations

  • exploring different levels of formality involving a range pf settings and participants
  • viewing a variety of blogs and comparing language use in order to hypothesise about the age and gender of the authors
  • comparing informal interactions such as live interviews with studio discussions about an issue on news and current affairs programs
  • considering the impact of using formal language in establishing one’s authority or to display knowledge on a topic
  • reading extracts of 古典小说, such as 《水浒传》, and noticing how language use differs from contemporary speech, for example, 史进道： 小人大胆， 敢问官人高姓大名？ 那人道：洒家是经略府提辖， 姓鲁， 讳个达字。 敢问阿哥，你姓什么？
  • converting informal spoken language into formal register to suit particular purposes, and experimenting with terms such as 明文规定 and 众所周知

  VCZHU190 | Languages | Chinese | Background Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Understanding | Language variation and change

• VCZHU074

  Explain differences in intonation, rhythm and sounds when listening to speakers of different ages, genders and social positions

  Elaborations

  • exploring changes in neutral tone and identifying patterns to aid their own pronunciation and flow of expression, for example, the use of neutral tone for the second syllable when it repeats or does not contribute to the meaning of the first syllable (妈妈、孩子)
  • experimenting with tone changes and reflecting on the impact on fluency when speaking, for example: Can I speak more quickly? Do my words sound less forced and more natural?
  • exploring the role of emphasis, stress and rhythm in expressing subtle meanings in interactions

  VCZHU074 | Languages | Chinese | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Understanding | Systems of language

• VCZHC169

  Reflect on own intercultural experiences, and contrast ways in which people of different generations, genders and linguistic backgrounds use language and respond to different experiences

  Elaborations

  • recognising own tendency to generalise or stereotype during interactions (for example, 地域歧视), being sensitive to the possibility of causing offence to others in interaction, and considering questions to ask about the other person’s cultural background, for example, 你父母是大陆人吗？, 你父母的老家在中国甚么地方？
  • participating in cultural events, and reflecting on cultural similarities and differences, and on how cultural practices change in a different context, for example, 我们家不过中秋节，因为大家都觉得不太重要。母亲节那天我们全家去爷爷奶奶家一起吃饭
  • being aware of how own ideas may be perceived by others based on language choice, including code-switching, for example, 我妈妈不喜欢我说汉语时夹着英语，但是我和朋友经常这样说，她也经常这样说。有的时候姥姥听不懂，我就会想想全部用汉语该怎么说

  VCZHC169 | Languages | Chinese | Background Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Communicating | Reflecting

• VCZHU048

  Explore the ways in which everyday language use reflects culture-specific ideas, such as the influence of age, gender and social position on language choices

  Elaborations

  • exploring cultural values conveyed in expressions relating to celebrations, for example, by asking: ‘In the colloquial phrase 合家团圆, what is 团圆? Why wish people 团圆？ Does this have the same meaning in Australian culture? What’s the relationship between the language use and the Chinese values in this phrase?’
  • applying appropriate choices of pronouns and labels when referring to others in interactions, for example 您/你； 小张/张晓琴

  VCZHU048 | Languages | Chinese | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 5 and 6 | Understanding | The role of language and culture

• VCZHU208

  Discuss ways in which language choices indicate aspects of social position (such as class, gender and ethnicity) and inhibit or encourage others’ involvement or sense of belonging

  Elaborations

  • exploring how known languages influence their communicative preferences, such as how the values of one culture may be reflected when communicating in another, for example, differences in the use and frequency of ‘thank you’ and 谢谢 which is simply a sign of gratitude in English, whereas in Chinese overuse of this 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 Chinese
  • exploring the origins of 成语 and 歇后语 encountered in texts such as 朝三暮四，姜太公钓鱼, and using set phrases to share or convey a cultural idea in own writing, for example, 塞翁失马，笨鸟先飞

  VCZHU208 | Languages | Chinese | Background Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Understanding | Role of language and culture

• VCZHU176

  Explain how communicative practices are influenced by engagement with different languages and cultures

  Elaborations

  • exploring uses and meanings of word categories (such as colours, celebrations, animals) across languages and cultures, for example, the assumption in Australia that a cake with candles must be a birthday cake; the use of colours to reflect mood
  • analyse culture-specific values in Chinese (such as face, harmony, group identity), and explore how these are applied in own language use, for example expressing modesty and respect through the expression 多多指教
  • identifying words used with specific assumptions, for example, gender (英俊 is used to describe males), significance (会见 versus 见面), formality (光临 versus 来到)

  VCZHU176 | Languages | Chinese | Background Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Understanding | Role of language and culture

• VCZHC228

  Use and analyse a range of sources written in simplified and traditional script to identify relevant information, and use this information to create purposeful public information texts

  Elaborations

  • accessing diverse sources such as blogs and social media, newspaper articles and educational texts, and discussing the relevance and credibility of information conveyed, for example, comparing information presented in blogs with newspaper articles
  • recognising multiple perspectives on an issue and identifying the factors that may influence a particular perspective (for example, nationality, religion, gender, ethnicity) to determine the perspective or credibility of sources
  • evaluating how different authors use language to achieve a particular effect, considering how values and personal views are implied in word choices, for example, 屡败屡战 (emphasis on the determination to overcome a failure) versus 屡战屡败 (emphasis on the fact of many instances of failure)
  • accessing information related to understanding their own experiences as Chinese students in Australia by searching both Australian and overseas digital media, such as 百度百科，雅虎等网站 to develop advice and supports for new students arriving at their school
  • accessing and organising information on educational and social topics, using techniques such as paraphrasing, summarising and quoting, and expressing own perspective on the information obtained, for example, 有些人认为…， 另一些人则认为…， 综上所述…

  VCZHC228 | Languages | Chinese | First Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Communicating | Informing

• VCZHU224

  Explain how languages shape the communicative practices of individuals and groups and identify ways to enhance understanding across cultures

  Elaborations

  • considering ways in which being a bilingual speaker of Chinese and English could impact on and enhance their future life and career
  • examining how language is used to marginalise groups in society, such as how labels are used to simplify identification of groups and influence how such groups are perceived by others, for example, 蚁族、80后/90后
  • considering their own perceptions of the Chinese-speaking world and identifying the influences on their perceptions, for example, trips to China when younger; stories from grandparents
  • exploring how concepts such as modesty, individual responsibility and respect for authority influence communication styles, and how they may be interpreted by English speakers as lack of confidence, engagement or initiative
  • exploring what assumptions are inherent in one language and how the same cultural assumptions may not exist in another language, for example, analysing how the terms for ‘getting married’ differ for women (嫁出去) and men (娶妻) and the gender-neutral 结婚

  VCZHU224 | Languages | Chinese | Background Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Understanding | Role of language and culture

• VCZHU063

  Explain how the Chinese language adapts to social and technological changes

  Elaborations

  • enquiring into the use of internet language, including numerical representations of words (for example, 55555 = 呜呜他在哭) as a means of private communication among youth
  • exploring the use of mobile phones and the internet to replace old ways of communication, for example, texting or emailing New Year greetings instead of going to 拜年 in person
  • comparing features of correspondence and the circumstances in which some forms of correspondence are preferred, for example, why 贺节短信 is popular as a way to save time and money
  • exploring the ways in which new words and phrases are incorporated into everyday communication in Chinese, for example, how English expressions of emotion (去 happy 吧) are used in chat forums and text messaging, and how Pinyin abbreviations are used to replace characters (L P = 老婆)
  • examining how the adaptation of words reflects and encourages cultural change, for example, gender equality is reflected in the use of 妳 to address females and 他们 to include both men and women

  VCZHU063 | Languages | Chinese | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Understanding | Language variation and change

• VCZHC215

  Translate a range of simple Chinese texts and identify how some concepts can be mediated readily between Chinese and English and some cannot

  Elaborations

  • exploring ways to interpret and explain key concepts and cultural practices identified in Chinese interactions (for example, 面子) and experimenting with how to give 面子 in interaction with others
  • considering the uses of different measurement words in Chinese (for example, 小勺 and 茶匙；斤 and 克) when comparing Chinese translations of English recipes
  • comparing alternative translations to identify concepts of ‘normality’ in their own linguistic and cultural context, for example, using the term 软饮料 (instead of 无酒精饮料) assumes the reader/audience has some understanding of English to understand meaning of 软
  • comparing 褒义词，贬义词 and 中性词 and the contexts they are used in, for example, the differences between 聪明 and 滑头
  • identifying words used with specific assumptions, for example, gender (英俊 is used to describe males), significance (会见 versus 见面), formality (光临 versus 来到)
  • considering ways to convey culture-specific terms in English (for example, 中药和食疗, 上火，大补)

  VCZHC215 | Languages | Chinese | Background Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Communicating | Translating

• VCZHU111

  Explore the role of tradition in contemporary language use and how languages change over time

  Elaborations

  • exploring the use of classical language such as 成语 and how this refines the style of writing when comparing 口语 and 书面语, for example, 她很漂亮 and 她貌美如花
  • reading texts consisting of 名人名言 (for example, 孔子说…), and discussing the cultural meaning of the quote and how it is relevant to contemporary language use, including why it is still quoted widely in modern writing, for example, 三人行必有吾师
  • exploring the nature of common idioms (成语), identifying their meanings and recognising how they can be used to add a sense of style to everyday communication, for example, 年年有余、人山人海
  • examining how globalisation is impacting on Chinese values and language use, for example, how responses to praise are shifting to reflect a western concept of gratitude (谢谢) rather than the modesty of the past (哪里哪里)
  • exploring the ways in which English words and phrases are incorporated into everyday communication in Chinese in digital media, for example, English expressions of emotion used in chat forums and text messaging (去 happy 吧), and Pinyin abbreviations replacing characters ( L P = 老婆)
  • investigating the use of internet language, including numerical representations of words (55555 = 呜呜他在哭) as a means of private communication among youth
  • examining how the adaptation of words reflects and encourages change, for example, gender equality is reflected in the use of 妳 to acknowledge females and 他 to include both men and women

  VCZHU111 | Languages | Chinese | Second Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Understanding | Language variation and change