Search results

Result list

• VCZHC002

  Interact with simple written texts in familiar contexts to contribute to class discussions

  Elaborations

  • collecting examples of common Chinese characters found in familiar settings such as signs and labels, for example, 八 (8),面 (‘noodles’), 春 (‘spring’)
  • discussing the differences between the Roman alphabet and characters, for example, compare the sound and shape of each
  • labelling images of family from a provided list of characters, for example, 妈妈，爸爸，哥哥，妹妹
  • recognising and copying high-frequency characters relating to family and number, and noticing the formation and spacing of characters
  • recognising the differences in describing family members in Chinese and English, for example, ‘brothers’ can be 哥哥 or 弟弟 in Chinese
  • labelling and illustrating a class photo wall of a shared event or visit

  VCZHC002 | Languages | Chinese | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Foundation to Level 2 | Communicating | Socialising

• VCZHC253

  Reflect on the language choices they make when expressing their points of view to others and connect these choices to their identities in Chinese and Australian communities

  Elaborations

  • discussing available choices in how they present their own identity to others and identifying times when they choose to express one aspect of their identity over another
  • reflecting on how their language choices, including the use of English, Chinese, a dialect or accent, are indications of their sense of identity within a particular context
  • considering the differences in their own sense of identity in Australia and when they ‘return home’ (回国) in terms of changes in social contexts and in their relationships with other participants in interactions
  • describing examples of when changes in identity are more evident, such as when they are compared to friends ‘back home’
  • identifying meanings implied in facial expressions, gestures, interjections and exclamations, for example, 哎 can be used to express surprise or dissatisfaction
  • reflecting on how one’s own world view is conveyed through language choices, for example, ‘naming’ China 华夏、九州、神州大地、中原 which reflects their understanding of their history, geography, ethnicity and place in the world

  VCZHC253 | Languages | Chinese | First Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Communicating | Reflecting

• VCZHU028

  Use nouns, adjectives and simple sentences to record observations

  Elaborations

  • exploring basic sentence structure in Chinese, consisting of subject–verb–object, and learning to analyse sentences in both Chinese and English, for example, ‘What’s the subject in the sentence “My mum drives a car”? How about in the Chinese sentence 我看书? Do sentences work the same way in Chinese and English?’
  • recognising grammatical features and how their use differs in Chinese and English, for example, the lack of articles in Chinese; that adjectives can be used as verbs; limited use of the verb ‘to be’ (是)
  • following patterns of word order and sentence structure and using negation when creating sentences to express own meanings, for example, replacing the subject pronoun in 我喜欢绿色 to create the sentence 我妈妈不喜欢绿色

  VCZHU028 | Languages | Chinese | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 3 and 4 | Understanding | Systems of language

• VCZHU240

  Explore assumptions and challenges for language use in new environments, identifying and comparing ways in which sensitive topics are introduced and discussed across languages, for example, comparing the Chinese custom of asking direct questions about age, income and other personal matters with...

  Elaborations

  • recognising clichés, examining cases of ‘breaking’ a cliché and the impact it might have, such as 脑筋建转弯 questions
  • identifying how language use can be varied for different participants in different contexts, for example, the use of slang and abbreviations between teenagers
  • using classical terms and expressions including 成语、歇后语、俗语 appropriate to context, such as using 亭亭玉立 to describe young girls
  • discussing ‘taboo’ terms across languages, and using terms suitable for the context, such as different words for 死 (‘to die’), for example, 驾崩 (皇帝)、 仙逝 （长辈 ) 、去世（一般人) 、香消玉殒 (女性)

  VCZHU240 | Languages | Chinese | First Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Understanding | Language variation and change

• VCZHC193

  Interact with peers and familiar adults, exchanging opinions and feelings and establishing friendships

  Elaborations

  • exchanging greetings with peers and familiar adults, choosing the appropriate greeting to suit age or position (for example, 您好，老师好) or time of day, for example, 你早，晚安
  • responding to invitations to participate in personal celebrations, including accepting and declining in appropriate ways, for example, 谢谢你的邀请，祝你生日快乐。但是我星期日要…对不起，不能参加你的聚会。希望你玩得高兴
  • sharing personal ideas and opinions on experiences such as home life and routine, school and education, diet and food, travel and leisure, climate and weather, expressing opinions and preferences, and stating reasons to elaborate the message, for example, 我不太喜欢…、我觉得…因为
  • exchanging information and opinions in class dialogue, responding to questions (for example, 你喜欢运动吗？), expressing agreement or disagreement with others’ opinions (for example, 对，我也很喜欢运动。) and ensuring that other participants are included in interaction, for example, 我去过法国，你呢？
  • comparing own experiences to the lives of young people in other Chinese-speaking communities, for example, 我觉得 7:30上学太早。 我不坐地铁上学，我坐公共汽车上学
  • using set phrases to greet, thank, apologise, and ask permission from peers and teacher, for example, 我可以上厕所吗？；谢谢；对不起
  • following teacher’s instructions such as 站起来 or 我们看书 and restating teacher’s instructions to peers when needed (for example, 老师说我们...再…); responding to teacher’s questions with actions or answers, for example, 懂了吗？
  • responding to teacher’s praise (for example, 非常好， 太棒了) or suggestions, for example, 明天做，今天休息
  • participating in a shared blog and exchanging personal information such as name, age, school, year level and nationality with readers from a sister school, for example, 你好，我叫 Ann, 我是澳大利亚的学生
  • responding to correspondence, such as letters from pen pals, including by answering questions, clarifying meaning (for example, 你说你想来澳大利亚， 是吗？), seeking further information (for example, 你想一月来吗？) and addressing requests, for example, 澳大利亚一月是夏天，很热
  • maintaining contact with classmates and recording events in everyday life by keeping a weekly or daily online journal or blog, recording highlights of school or home life and leisure activity (for example, 今天我的足球队又输了，真没劲！ ) or a holiday experience, for example, 袋鼠岛游记
  • composing messages in an appropriate format for text messages, emails and letters, and using appropriate terms of address, for example, 敬爱的王老师 (for a formal letter) or 嘿，小王，最近好吗 (for a casual letter or message)

  VCZHC193 | Languages | Chinese | Background Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Communicating | Socialising

• VCZHU011

  Recognise Chinese characters as a form of writing and Pinyin as the spelled-out sounds of spoken Chinese

  Elaborations

  • differentiating Chinese characters from other forms of written expression, for example, the Roman alphabet, visual images (drawing)
  • recognising that each character has meaning, and exploring the connection between meaning and form, for example, pictographs such as 人 (‘person’), 日 (‘sun’)
  • examining which initials and finals can be guessed from English, for example, ‘mama’ as opposed to ‘gege’
  • copying or tracing characters with attention to stroke order and direction
  • identifying syllables that make up Chinese words, such as 小/老/鼠 (xiǎo/lǎo/shǔ), and understanding that words such as 熊猫 (xióng māo) have two syllables, with each syllable having a meaning
  • making connections between words sharing a common syllable/morpheme, for example, 小狗、小猫、小朋友
  • building new words by combining familiar meanings such as 红+苹果

  VCZHU011 | Languages | Chinese | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Foundation to Level 2 | Understanding | Systems of language

• VCZHU092

  Identify and use the characteristics of Chinese word order and explain the use of Chinese-specific grammatical features

  Elaborations

  • analysing the variety of verb types found in Chinese — for example, adjectival verbs (高、大) and modal verbs (会、可以) — and the placement and use of adverbs, for example, 都 to indicate inclusion; 就 to indicate sequence
  • identifying the placement of time and place phrases; the use of conjunctions (for example, 和 to add information; 还是/或者 to offer or indicate choices); and the role of measure words, for example, 个、只
  • exploring 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 (zero subject/pronoun)
  • explaining the concept of ‘tense’ across languages, for example, asking: What tense is used in English to share ideas about a future activity? Can you exemplify how future tense is used in English? How is future tense expressed in Chinese? (我明天去北京，下个星期去上海)
  • applying processes of discourse development by joining, contrasting and sequencing using 也、和、但是、就, and exploring the use of cohesive devices and ways of extending, sequencing and elaborating ideas, for example, through the use of connectives, conjunctions and subject pronouns

  VCZHU092 | Languages | Chinese | Second Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Understanding | Systems of language

• VCZHU076

  Analyse and examine how effective authors control sentence structure and use language to engage their audience

  Elaborations

  • comparing the use of words that rely on interpretation of context to convey the intended meaning (such as 让、给), for example, listening to and reading several extracts from texts which use the same word in a different way
  • expressing conditions (for example, 如果…就); expressing cause and effect (for example, 为了…); and expressing the condition, quality or result of an action, for example, 坐得下、 说得对、 做完、买到
  • justifying opinions and building logical arguments by expressing additional information and providing reasons (for example, using 不但…而且…；除了…以外；另外), and introducing contrasting views to others using elements such as cohesive devices, for example, 不是…而是…；不过；虽然…但是…
  • exploring the ways in which language can be manipulated to make ideas more objective, for example, removal of personal pronouns and opinions
  • examining the use of noun phrases in Chinese and experimenting with omitting nouns (zero subjects) in their own communication
  • experimenting with the use of 成语 and famous sayings to substantiate ideas in Chinese
  • experimenting with 的 as a subject modifier to express ideas that would contain relative clauses in English, for example, 我昨天买的书不太贵

  VCZHU076 | Languages | Chinese | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Understanding | Systems of language

• VCZHC055

  Translate texts for different audiences varying the language to explain key points for these different audiences

  Elaborations

  • identifying the challenges of translating some concepts (for example, ‘descendant of dragon’, 龙的传人), and developing strategies to overcome these challenges, for example: What is lost in translation? Why can’t we just translate word for word? Why does context matter?
  • translating short phrases or texts, noting culture-specific words and phrases and discussing alternatives, equivalence or non-equivalence
  • discussing reasons for producing different versions of texts for different audiences
  • describing the impact of subtle differences in language use and the way meanings are implied rather than explicitly stated, for example, the use of 吧 to indirectly reject or refuse others in 我能来看看你吗？ --- 不太好吧？
  • avoiding literal (word-for-word) translations when trying to convey the intended meaning, for example, mediating a response to a compliment such as 你的衣服真漂亮。 ---- 哪有啊?
  • reading bilingual signs in places such as restaurants, shops, pools, schools, hospitals and construction sites (for example, 出口 — ‘exit’, 入口 — ‘entrance’), determining the effectiveness of the English translations and analysing possible reasons for such interpretations
  • comparing word choices for warnings across languages, and discussing ways language is used to convey rules, expectations and permission, for example, comparing 闲人免进 to ‘Staff Only’
  • exploring a range of dictionaries, including online translation tools, and considering how these tools help or hinder in Chinese learning

  VCZHC055 | Languages | Chinese | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Communicating | Translating