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• Languages | Chinese: Structure

  Sequences of learning

  The Chinese curriculum takes account of different entry points into language learning across F–10, which reflects current practice in language teaching.

  There are two possible learning sequences:

  • F–10 sequence for students who begin to learn the language in primary...

  Overview material | Chinese

• VCZHC149

  Respond to popular stories and characters from Chinese folklore, sharing opinions on aspects of the storyline, characters and themes

  Elaborations

  • exploring various forms of Chinese popular culture in audio or visual media, including 流行歌曲、电影、电视剧、娱乐新闻, appreciating stylistic devices used in popular song lyrics, such as 重复, and comparing them to English songs
  • comparing popular performance across cultures and generations, evaluating performances with attention to the aesthetic values and the influence of Western and Asian popular culture, and comparing the content and language, for example, 我妈妈最喜欢的中文歌是…这首歌唱的是…我最喜欢的中文歌是… …内容和我妈妈喜欢的歌不一样
  • recognising the influence of traditional culture on modern popular entertainment, for example, considering the use of traditional instruments in popular songs, the composition of modern songs from well-known traditional poems such as 《水调歌头•中秋》, and the representation of traditional symbolic meanings such as 孝顺 (filial piety), 礼让 (out of courtesy or thoughtfulness) in modern performances
  • reading children’s literature, including fables and traditional stories; exploring values and morality tales such as the concept of 寓意 in 动画片，小人书; and comparing values and morals conveyed through texts across cultures, such as 凿壁偷光，塞翁失马 （你能找到英语中类似的说法吗？你觉得澳大利亚人理解这个故事的寓意吗？）
  • reading extracts from culturally significant children’s literature, discussing their personal responses to the characters and storyline, and writing a journal to relate the story to personal experience or express empathy for characters involved

  VCZHC149 | Languages | Chinese | Background Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 5 and 6 | Communicating | Creating

• VCZHC033

  Initiate interactions with peers and known adults to plan and organise social activities

  Elaborations

  • experimenting with language choices to convey emotions and attitudes such as excitement and interest when events or ideas are suggested, including making arrangements, welcoming, congratulating, complimenting and praising
  • exchanging information and opinions in class discussion, responding to questions such as 你喜欢运动吗？, and expressing agreement and disagreement with others’ opinions (for example, 对，我也很喜欢运动); making sure that other participants are included in interaction, for example, 我去过法国，你呢？
  • participating in role-plays relating to shopping scenarios, and specifying quantity or type of item when selecting from options, for example, 三斤苹果，一包糖
  • completing transactions by confirming prices (for example, 多少钱？五块八) and exchanging money, recognising Chinese currency
  • preparing performances celebrating important events in the Chinese calendar to present at school assemblies to raise community understanding of aspects of Chinese culture, such as a taiji performance, a lion dance, or a Spring Festival song such as 《恭喜恭喜》
  • assisting in organising and hosting visitors from a sister school or guest speakers to raise school community awareness of the importance of learning Chinese
  • seeking permission from the teacher or peers to participate in activities or to be excused, for example, 我可以去喝水吗？
  • responding to the teacher’s questions with actions or answers (for example, answering the question 懂了吗？), and requesting or borrowing items from others using appropriate language such as 我想看看你的书，好吗？

  VCZHC033 | Languages | Chinese | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 5 and 6 | Communicating | Socialising

• VCZHC065

  Exchange and elaborate on suggestions and opinions in spoken interactions related to planning and negotiating activities and events, adjusting spoken language for familiar and unfamiliar participants, purposes and contexts

  Elaborations

  • participating in discussions and expressing personal opinions on issues relevant to contemporary youth (such as 教育，环境，科技，文化), displaying levels of politeness or assertiveness as appropriate to context, for example, 我希望 versus 我要; 你最好 / 你应该 versus 你一定要
  • inviting others to voice opinions and eliciting alternative positions by asking questions such as 你怎么看？你觉得呢？你同意吗？, and responding to verbal and non-verbal cues (including silence) from participants
  • acknowledging others’ ideas, views and opinions when expressing agreement or disagreement (for example, 好的、我同意), and challenging others’ opinions using rhetorical questions or concessionary or emphatic phrases, for example, 你说的有道理，可是…；你怎么可以说…?；你说的不对
  • commenting on transaction experiences and acknowledging the work of others, for example, 谢谢你的帮助，但是如果你…就更好了
  • planning group events such as an excursion to Chinatown and persuading others to get involved and contribute in different ways, for example, 我们去中国城可以吃到中国的小吃，你不是很喜欢吃早茶的吗？你来决定我们去哪个饭店吧

  VCZHC065 | Languages | Chinese | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Communicating | Socialising

• VCZHC148

  Plan and present key points of information to familiar audiences

  Elaborations

  • developing informed opinions to share with others, giving examples (for example, 澳大利亚人说很多语言，比如英语，汉语，法语等等) and comparing information, for example, 中国人口比澳大利亚的多)(我觉得我们应该帮爸爸妈妈做家务
  • working in teams to prepare and present an oral presentation, supported by digital media, related to own school or community or on topics of interest, for example, endangered animals, popular singers in Asia
  • preparing and creating a video clip to share with peers overseas introducing aspects of local culture, including interesting places, history, famous people, and lifestyle, for example, 墨尔本的电车
  • producing a digital display containing text and images to present a personal perspective on life in Australian schools to share with peers overseas
  • creating poster displays using graphics, photographs and illustrations to document and convey ideas related to topics of interest, for example, their country of origin, family tree or favourite sports team
  • collaborating with others to prepare a report for a school or community newsletter about Chinese language learning experiences or activities at day school and community school

  VCZHC148 | Languages | Chinese | Background Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 5 and 6 | Communicating | Informing

• VCZHC085

  Express opinions about imagined characters and events seen and heard in contemporary media and performances, and create own portrayals of characters using gesture, action, stress, and modelled phrases

  Elaborations

  • watching segments of texts in Chinese, such as popular music videos from various sources of media, and expressing personal opinions, for example, 我觉得…很有意思
  • performing Chinese songs and experimenting with rhythm, voice, emotion and gesture to convey the intended sentiment and meaning of songs and rhymes and enhance performance
  • comparing stories and characters in both Chinese and Australian popular media, and exploring themes and topics that interest young people from different cultural backgrounds, such as 澳大利亚的年轻人也很喜欢看动作片。成龙很有名
  • creating short plays or skits and taking on roles in imagined scenarios such as visiting or hosting a Chinese friend, a shopping experience or a fashion show
  • assuming the role of a young Chinese person in the performance of a play about, for example, celebrating Chinese New Year
  • creating and performing a rap about learning Chinese, experimenting with voice, gesture and action to convey different emotions and attitudes, including use of word stress to alter the way meaning is expressed and interpreted, for example, exploring the implications of expressing 不要 with varying degrees of volume and emphasis

  VCZHC085 | Languages | Chinese | Second Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Communicating | Creating

• VCZHC177

  Interact and socialise with a range of participants, recognising alternative positions, ideas and perspectives relating to experience and lifestyle

  Elaborations

  • exploring concepts related to topical and contemporary issues, including ethnicity and identity, popular culture, technology, social justice, environment, education and future pathways, through interaction with peers and other Chinese speakers, for example, 我听说现在中国的年轻人很喜欢看韩剧，是这样吗？你也喜欢看韩剧吗？
  • inviting others to contribute to discussions and provide feedback on own ideas (for example, 你不觉得…吗？ 难道…?), and asking questions, acknowledging strengths in others’ arguments and providing evidence to contradict, challenge or rebut alternative views
  • collaborating to reach agreement by asserting, restating, conceding or negotiating in an appropriate manner (for example, 就算是…; 尽管如此…), recapping the main ideas discussed, suggesting a suitable compromise or solution, and explaining the reasons behind the final suggestion
  • discussing how to utilise resources and opportunities outside of the classroom to develop Chinese proficiency, for example, Chinese community school, using Chinese more often with family members and friends, or watching Chinese television
  • listening to guest speakers such as ambassadors for Asian literacy or other inspirational young people who are engaged with Chinese language learning, and discussing their experiences and achievements

  VCZHC177 | Languages | Chinese | Background Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Communicating | Socialising

• VCZHC178

  Negotiate actions and contribute ideas, opinions and suggestions in interactions related to shared tasks and problem-solving, managing different views

  Elaborations

  • participate in online discussions and other exchanges to raise awareness of topical issues, for example, 作文大赛《谈谈健康饮食》
  • using social media to communicate with peers in a range of locations in order to inform them about social initiatives in Australia, such as 清扫澳洲日, 地球一小时, and inviting contributions of others to initiate similar events in their regions
  • volunteering their time in a project that supports other members of the local community (for example, organising a concert to perform at an aged-care facility; providing tutoring in English for older members of the Chinese-speaking community), discussing experiences and persuading peers and others to contribute
  • collaborating to make decisions about fashion, purchases, visual appeal, celebrity endorsement and product reliability to determine value for money in relation to own purchases and shopping habits (for example, 虽然这件衣服是名牌，但是质量不太好)
  • investigating services provided to the local community, including social welfare and support services, and considering ways to assist such organisations in promoting and delivering their services
  • designing a campaign to promote and persuade people to join a community organisation, for example, creating slogans such as 加入澳洲华人青年会，你会认识更多的朋友！

  VCZHC178 | Languages | Chinese | Background Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Communicating | Socialising

• VCZHC135

  Identify common spoken Chinese expressions and discuss examples of actions, words and phrases that do not readily translate into English

  Elaborations

  • differentiating between word-by-word meaning and intended meaning when translating from Chinese into English, for example, the word-by-word translation of 我喜欢一个人看书 is ‘I like one person to read’, but it means ‘I like to read alone’
  • designing bilingual signs (characters/Pinyin/English) to post on key buildings and rooms around the school that convey short messages such as descriptions of the place or the rules in that place
  • recognising the role that gesture plays in oral interaction, including emblematic (hand) gestures, gesturing for emphasis and inclusivity, and taboos within Chinese communication, such as pointing directly at someone
  • identifying Chinese symbols in print and digital texts (for example, the longevity symbol), and developing ways to convey the culturally attached value when expressing the meaning of these symbols in English
  • comparing own translation of short texts (such as brand names, signs, slogans and billboard advertisements) to others’, and evaluating the effectiveness of own translation
  • developing strategies for using bilingual (Chinese–English and English–Chinese) dictionaries in both print and digital forms to assist with translation
  • explaining in English features of gestures used in Chinese, for example, hand gestures for numbers
  • comparing versions of a common text across languages and identifying issues in conveying meaning, for example, how to render 小心轻放 into English

  VCZHC135 | Languages | Chinese | Background Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 3 and 4 | Communicating | Translating

• VCZHC087

  Translate simple texts from Chinese to English and vice versa, identifying words and phrases in Chinese that do not readily translate into English, using contextual cues, action and gesture to assist translation

  Elaborations

  • translating English texts into Chinese, focusing on overall meaning, and identifying how best to interpret key words, for example, the use of 是 after first-, second- and third-person pronouns; numbers with measure words; possessives with 的; plurals
  • identifying Chinese symbols in print and digital texts (for example, the longevity symbol), and developing ways to include the culturally attached value when expressing the meaning of these symbols in English
  • learning how to look up unfamiliar characters and words in bilingual dictionaries, and experimenting with different online dictionaries and translation tools to investigate how specific meanings are rendered into English
  • translating public texts in Chinese (for example, signs in shops and restaurants) into English and explaining their possible meaning and purpose, for example, translating the sign 休息中 on an unlit shop window to mean ‘closed’ instead of its literal translation, ‘resting’
  • using etiquette phrases within appropriate contexts and discussing whether the translation of 对不起 is the same across contexts, for example comparing its meaning in 对不起，让一让 and 对不起，我错了

  VCZHC087 | Languages | Chinese | Second Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Communicating | Translating

• VCZHC114

  Collaborate with others in group activities and contribute to learning activities

  Elaborations

  • making suggestions when working together and allocating jobs for members of group, for example, 我们一起唱吧；我们唱，你跳舞
  • following the teacher’s instructions and responding to questions with reasons (for example, 我不高兴, 因为我累了), using language appropriate to class context (for example, 老师，我写完了) and making requests in an appropriate manner, for example, 老师，我可以喝水吗？
  • including others and recognising participants in group work, for example, Lisa 是我的好朋友; 我们组有…
  • making cards for special cultural events such as Chinese New Year or personal events such as birthdays, copying short good wishes from modelled text, for example, 生日快乐
  • recognising and copying characters relating to various events described in books, and noticing the formation of characters and spacing
  • collecting examples of common Chinese characters found in familiar settings such as signs and labels, for example, 八 (8), 面 (noodles), 春 (spring)
  • creating drawings to support written communication in cards, posters and visual displays

  VCZHC114 | Languages | Chinese | Background Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Foundation to Level 2 | Communicating | Socialising

• VCZHC147

  Locate and compare factual information from different sources about different communities and lifestyles

  Elaborations

  • viewing TV programs, documentaries or interviews with young people such as 《智慧树》, discussing the participants’ experiences and comparing with own life experiences
  • investigating aspects of life of Chinese communities overseas, for example, web-chatting with relatives overseas to find out more about own family origins, history or circumstances
  • identifying and selecting visual sources (for example, 优酷, and comparing and contrasting different perspectives on issues, such as how children in different locations in China describe their school experience
  • following an instructional video in order to complete an action collaboratively, for example, watching 如何画中国画, or preparing for a cultural celebration by following video procedures on how to 包粽子 for 端午节
  • representing information in a new format, for example, watching a TV cooking show then converting each step into a written recipe with essential information including ingredients and quantities, and amount of time required
  • selecting appropriate resources to research a topic of interest such as a major place, person or event in Chinese history, and identifying key information to share with others
  • researching a topic by analysing what information is needed, employing Chinese search engines to access a range of sources of information online, and choosing the most suitable sources, for example, 这个网站看上去像正规网站吗？ 这个网站是官网吗?

  VCZHC147 | Languages | Chinese | Background Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 5 and 6 | Communicating | Informing

• VCZHC098

  Correspond with peers and teacher, exchanging ideas, negotiating decisions and inviting others to participate in collective action

  Elaborations

  • corresponding with others via social networking sites, exchanging personal information and requesting information, for example, 你是哪国人？你喜欢学习汉语吗？
  • sharing information about life in diverse environments, expressing ideas with elaborated details to enhance meaning and engage readers, for example, 今天太冷了，只有零下五度，还下雪，只能在家呆着
  • sharing opinions about school or family life, including 我的学校，我的老师，我的好朋友， 我的一家人, and linking ideas to explain and support a particular position or view, for example, 我的姐姐不但喜欢音乐，而且也很喜欢体育, 我除了踢足球以外，还打板球。我觉得运动很有意思
  • reading promotional material on topics such as healthy eating, and creating similar texts in Chinese to convey the meaning to Chinese readers, for example, 每天吃五份蔬菜，两份水果
  • identifying unacceptable behaviours at school and devising a set of posters or signs in Chinese to remind people of school expectations, for example, 爱护花草，请安静， 可回收物/不可回收物，关闭手机

  VCZHC098 | Languages | Chinese | Second Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Communicating | Socialising

• VCZHC199

  Translate short texts and identify words and phrases in Chinese that do not readily translate into English

  Elaborations

  • reading bilingual texts such as advertisements and signs, and exploring the effectiveness of and reasons for particular translations
  • reading children’s stories in bilingual form and identifying which ideas in Chinese and English may or may not translate directly
  • observing interactions between speakers of Chinese and describing the interaction in English, including features of prosody as well as language
  • observing an interaction between a teacher and students in China and contrasting the patterns of interaction displayed with their own experience in Australia
  • explaining culture-specific concepts such as humility (谦虚) to people from different cultural backgrounds, providing examples of when and how 谦虚 should be shown and how it is understood by participants in an interaction, for example, when accepting/denying praise
  • identifying times when it is useful to employ words or phrases not normally used in English, for example, applying Chinese speech patterns when speaking about family members in English to a Chinese person, such as saying ‘my brother’s son’ instead of ‘my nephew’
  • identifying cultural differences in how meanings are conveyed by comparing texts in Chinese and English, for example, public announcements, TV advertisements, information brochures, public notices and signs

  VCZHC199 | Languages | Chinese | Background Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Communicating | Translating

• VCZHC083

  Locate and share with known audiences factual information about people, places and events from a range of oral texts

  Elaborations

  • listening to or viewing public information texts such as weather forecasts and announcements, and identifying specific information and key words, for example, 点, 度,米, 公里,元/块
  • viewing audiovisual texts such as a cooking program and answering questions from classmates about the key steps and main ingredients, for example, ‘蚂蚁上树’没有蚂蚁。树是粉丝，蚂蚁是猪肉
  • obtaining the gist or specific information in spoken texts by focusing on familiar, predictable items in a flow of words, as well as features of voice, gesture and word choice, for example recognising the emotion and degree of enthusiasm or dislike expressed (for example, 我一点儿也不喜欢… compared to 我不喜欢…)
  • representing gathered information by restating key phrases and explaining reasons for actions and feelings, for example, 她很高兴, 因为…
  • preparing short presentations of data collected from various sources, including texts in English on familiar people, places and events (for example, 澳大利亚的总理, 澳洲旅游景点，我是澳大利亚人), and creating supporting visual images such as a timeline

  VCZHC083 | Languages | Chinese | Second Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Communicating | Informing

• VCZHC039

  Interpret and translate simple texts used for everyday purposes, identifying actions, words and phrases that do not readily translate into English

  Elaborations

  • identifying how best to interpret key words when translating English texts into Chinese, for example, the use of 是 after first-, second- and third-person pronouns; numbers with measure words; possessives with 的; plurals
  • viewing spoken interactions in Chinese between peers or in texts (for example, viewing a segment of a movie), and interpreting the meaning of the dialogue as well as comparing and discussing culturally determined manners or behaviour displayed in the interaction
  • differentiating between word-by-word meaning and intended meaning when translating from Chinese into English, for example, the word-by-word translation of 我喜欢一个人看书 is ‘I like one person to read’, but it means ‘I like to read alone’
  • comparing own translation of short texts (such as brand names, signs, slogans and billboard advertisements) to others’, and evaluating the effectiveness of own translation
  • recognising the role that gesture plays in oral interaction, including emblematic (hand) gestures, gesturing for emphasis and encouragement, and taboos within Chinese communication, such as pointing directly at someone
  • identifying Chinese symbols in print and digital texts (for example, the longevity symbol), and developing ways to convey the culturally attached value when expressing the meaning of these symbols in English

  VCZHC039 | Languages | Chinese | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 5 and 6 | Communicating | Translating

• VCZHU205

  Identify how information and ideas are organised in a range of genres, and compare the textual features of narratives in Chinese and English to determine features which are distinctive to Chinese

  Elaborations

  • comparing the expression of ideas in diverse traditional and contemporary literary texts, for example, exploring the different ways in which the story of 孙悟空 is told in a cartoon, story or TV show
  • recognising and applying features of diverse text types, for example, comparing features of narrative, recount, report and procedure
  • comparing the ways in which similar ideas and concepts are presented in diverse genres, discussing the impact of genre choice on text structure and language use (for example, in persuasive and evaluative texts) and examining how language choices achieve the desired effect
  • exploring the traditional structure of persuasive texts in Chinese (for example, 总起-分述-总结) and discussing its effectiveness
  • reading samples of formal texts such as news articles, official letters and informative reports, and identifying how language use compares to their own everyday speech
  • analysing and explaining the organisation and development of ideas or an argument in a range of genres, including textual features such as paragraphing

  VCZHU205 | Languages | Chinese | Background Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Understanding | Systems of language

• 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

• VCZHU093

  Identify the characteristics of familiar text types, noting particular textual features distinctive to Chinese

  Elaborations

  • exploring features and conventions of Chinese texts, including lack of word spacing and punctuation, and variability in text direction, and comparing texts in traditional characters with texts in simplified characters
  • describing the major features of familiar text types in Chinese (for example, narratives), and experimenting with analysing Chinese texts, for example, recognising the ‘problem’ and the ‘resolution’ in a narrative
  • comparing textual features and language used in different types of written communication within and across languages, for example: How does the formatting of a letter and an email differ in English? Why are there such differences? How does the formatting of a letter in English compare to Chinese formatting?
  • discussing how the organisation of information reflects concepts of hierarchy and authority, for example, the placement of the date in personal correspondence; how the address is organised on a letter (小区名，楼号，楼, for example, 龙江小区蓝天园15栋2单元504室)
  • comparing textual and linguistic features in diverse forms of written Chinese texts, such as letters, emails and text messages, and exploring the use of visual symbols such as emoticons in digital correspondence
  • experimenting with features of text presentation in Chinese, for example, text direction, word spacing, punctuation, and overall paragraph format when using squared paper

  VCZHU093 | Languages | Chinese | Second Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Understanding | Systems of language

• VCZHU044

  Form sentences to express details such as the time, place and manner of an action and to sequence ideas

  Elaborations

  • developing knowledge of metalinguistic terminology, discussing, for example: What is the plural form? How do we know it’s plural when reading in English? Can we tell when we read a Chinese word?
  • recognising that in Chinese, verbs convey tense without verb conjugation, for example, explaining why 有 can mean ‘have’, ‘had’ and ‘will have’
  • comparing the use of tenses in English and Chinese, for example, how future tense is often expressed through time phrases in Chinese (我明天去北京，下个星期去上海)
  • identifying the use of adverbial phrases, and extending understanding of sentence structure using subject–time–place–manner–verb–object, for example, 我星期一上学。我在墨尔本上学。我走路上学
  • examining the clauses of a sentence in Chinese and noticing how they are linked coherently, for example, 他叫王晓明，(他) 是我的朋友 (i.e. no subject/pronoun)
  • applying processes of discourse development, including joining (也、 和), contrasting (但是) and sequencing (就) information
  • using alternative language to clarify intended meaning, for example, saying 我不胖不瘦 when they don’t know the phrase 中等身材

  VCZHU044 | Languages | Chinese | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 5 and 6 | Understanding | Systems of language