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• VCDEU017

  Understand that language use is shaped by and reflects the values, ideas and norms of a community

  Elaborations

  • investigating connections between language and significant cultural values or practices in Australia and German-speaking countries, for example, individual rights, shared social responsibility, respect for the environment, Reconciliation, anti-racism, ‘fair go’
  • developing language to analyse and explain the nature of the relationship between language and culture, using terms such as ‘meaning’, ‘perspective’, ‘values’, ‘assumptions’ and ‘difference’
  • examining examples of cultural representation in language, symbols and behaviour, such as die Märchenstraβe, (lack of) speed limits on the Autobahn, national flags, and the ‘visibility’ of the European Union through placement of its logo (for example, on car numberplates)
  • recognising that there are different and/or multiple expressions that communicate ideas across cultures, for example, when describing Brot or school excursions (Klassenfahrt, Wandertag)
  • exploring how origin, geography and religion are directly connected to lifestyle, daily practices and language use, for example, Recycling, Kaffee und Kuchen, Wandern, religious/public holidays, choice of Fremdsprachen offered in schools
  • participating in guided discussion on the nature and role of ‘culture’ and its relationship with language, with reference to German, English and other known languages

  VCDEU017 | Languages | German | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Understanding | Role of language and culture

• VCDEU016

  Recognise that German and English are related languages and that German is an important European and global language

  Elaborations

  • noticing that German and English share many words, for example, Computer, Bus, Taxi and Auto, and understanding that this is a result of historical events as well as the dynamic nature of languages
  • recognising that English and other languages have borrowed German words, for example, Hamburger, kaputt, Kindergarten, Glockenspiel and Mischmasch, and comparing how these words are pronounced by German and English speakers
  • understanding that English grammar used to be more similar to German grammar but that English has changed, for example, recognising the link between the Middle English ‘What thinkest thou?’ and Was denkst du?
  • recognising that the German language continuously borrows and adapts words and expressions from other languages, including English, for example, das Internet, die App, häppi, joggen, shoppen, simsen/texten, Stopp! and Sorry!
  • recognising that German is an official language of the ‘DACHL’ countries (Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein) as well as in Belgium, Luxembourg and South Tyrol

  VCDEU016 | Languages | German | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Understanding | Language variation and change

• Languages | German: Learning in German

  German language learning

  German is an official language of Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, Belgium, Luxembourg and in South Tyrol in Italy. It is also used as an official regional or auxiliary language in a number of other countries in Europe, and in Namibia in Africa. As one of...

  Overview material | German

• VCDEC001

  Socialise and interact with teacher and peers to exchange greetings, good wishes, and factual information about self, family, home, school and interests, and express likes, dislikes and preferences

  Elaborations

  • exchanging simple greetings, thanks and good wishes using formulaic expressions, adjusting language to suit the situation, for example, Guten Morgen! Guten Abend! Auf Wiedersehen! Tschüss! Danke! Alles Gute zum Geburtstag! Frohe Ostern! Guten Appetit!
  • introducing and describing self, others and possessions, for example, Ich heiße … und du? Das ist …, sie ist nett.; Ich bin … Jahre alt und meine Augen sind braun.; Ich wohne in … .; Ich komme aus … .; Das ist mein Vater/meine Freundin/mein Handy.
  • interacting in class activities and (electronic) games such as Leute-Lotto and Stadt, Land, Fluss, for example, Du bist dran!; Ich gewinne! Du mogelst!
  • expressing likes, dislikes and preferences, for example, Ich mag Rot; Meine Lieblingsband heißt … .; Ich lese gern.; Ich esse gern Pizza, aber ich esse lieber Nudeln.
  • expressing how they are feeling, for example, Es geht mir nicht gut. Ich bin krank.; Ich bin glücklich.
  • exchanging information about daily routine, for example, Wie kommst du zur Schule? Ich komme/fahre mit dem Bus/Auto.; Wann stehst du auf? Um sechs Uhr.
  • sharing and comparing information about own and classmates’ interests with German-speaking teenagers, such as in an e-pal project or via social media, considering local sports seasons, co-curricular activities, length of school day, and national and regional preferences

  VCDEC001 | Languages | German | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Communicating | Socialising

• VCDEC137

  Interact using descriptive and expressive language to share information about daily life, relate experiences and express feelings

  Elaborations

  • exchanging information with peers and adults (online, in writing or face-to-face) about daily routines and leisure activities, using modelled language associated with time, sequence and location, for example, Ich stehe um 7.30 Uhr auf. Dann frühstücke ich. Ich schwimme und surfe oft.
  • expressing feelings (Wie geht’s? Es geht mir nicht gut. Ich bin krank.) using adjectives (aufgeregt, glücklich, nervös, sauer, traurig)
  • using communication strategies such as active listening skills, turn-taking cues, and requests for clarification or more detail to support interaction, for example, Und du, was meinst du? Stimmt das? Warum?
  • describing key friends or family members, using simple descriptive and expressive modelled language, for example, Das ist mein Bruder. Er ist sehr sportlich und intelligent. Er spielt sehr gern Fuβball und liest gern Comics. Ich liebe meinen Bruder.
  • recounting social and cultural experiences with family and friends, for example, Wir haben eine Reise nach Neuseeland gemacht. Unser Campingplatz war direkt am See und wir sind jeden Tag geschwommen.
  • apologising and expressing concern or sympathy to friends and family members, for example, Tut mir Leid. Schade! Du Arme(r)!

  VCDEC137 | Languages | German | F–10 Sequence | Levels 5 and 6 | Communicating | Socialising

• VCDEC010

  Engage with German speakers and texts, noticing how interactions involve culture as well as language

  Elaborations

  • reflecting on choices made when using German to interact with others, considering the relationship between language, culture and behaviour, for example, the use of family names with titles (Guten Tag, Frau Stein) and formal/informal register (du/ihr/Sie), and comparing these with English and other known languages
  • observing interactions between German speakers in different contexts, noticing and recording elements that reflect cultural attitudes or behaviours, such as language associated with politeness or emotion (bitte schön; Entschuldigung; Wie schön!; Du bist gemein!), gift-giving customs, or ways of showing collective appreciation or approval, for example, applauding by rapping on surface
  • participating in cultural experiences, such as eating at a German/Swiss/Austrian restaurant or café in Australia or watching a German music performance, soccer match or skiing competition, and reflecting on cultural similarities and differences that are manifested through language
  • reflecting on how some personal or community ideas and actions in the Australian context may be perceived by German speakers, for example, being able to go camping all year round, or taking into account the vastness of Australia when planning a holiday, and discussing possible implications
  • comparing the use and cultural significance of gestures and body language in German and other languages and selecting those that can be easily incorporated into own interactions when communicating in German, for example, shaking hands as a common greeting, not putting hands in pockets while talking with someone (as this may be considered rude), and maintaining eye contact

  VCDEC010 | Languages | German | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Communicating | Reflecting

• VCDEC141

  Convey information and opinions in different formats to suit specific audiences and purposes, selecting appropriate print and multimodal elements

  Elaborations

  • analysing and presenting the results of a class survey, for example, by creating a poster or digital presentation using graphs showing what foods students buy and/or would like to be able to buy at the school canteen (27 Schüler kaufen Süßigkeiten. 34 Schüler wollen andere Getränke.)
  • writing a blog entry for a youth website discussing an aspect of social behaviour, for example, Partys
  • creating a website for a contact group of German-speaking students, posting information on own interests and experiences, for example, Ferien, Freunde, Freizeit, Schule, Medien, and highlighting elements which may be unfamiliar to the intended audience using sound, visuals or graphics
  • creating a factual self-profile using Voki or VoiceThread for a group of young German speakers
  • recording, comparing and representing statistics related to German-speaking countries and Australia, for example, population and physical size, daily temperatures, number and type of dwellings, pet ownership, most popular leisure activities

  VCDEC141 | Languages | German | F–10 Sequence | Levels 5 and 6 | Communicating | Informing

• VCDEC026

  Create bilingual texts such as captions, glossaries or footnotes to interpret cultural and linguistic aspects of texts

  Elaborations

  • providing bilingual captions for images of scenes from Australia and German-speaking countries to explain cultural aspects, for example, bush, forest, mountain, beach or city images
  • creating websites or printed guides for international students intending to attend Australian schools, highlighting key terms and expressions associated with traditions, curricula, schedules or routines, and including footnotes as necessary
  • providing vocabulary lists and annotated cultural explanations for German-speaking visitors to events such as Australian sports days, swimming carnivals or family barbecues, explaining terms such as ‘BYO (food/chair)’
  • creating English captions, commentaries or subtitles for German multimodal texts to explain cultural and linguistic aspects

  VCDEC026 | Languages | German | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Communicating | Translating

• VCDEC145

  Create a range of bilingual texts such as notices, announcements, photo stories, dialogues and instructions for language learning and the school community

  Elaborations

  • creating and using bilingual resources for language learning, such as glossaries or personal German–English and English–German print and digital word lists and dictionaries with examples and explanations of parts of speech and language use
  • creating bilingual texts for the school community, such as a virtual tour for a school website, or a translation of the school canteen menu into German
  • creating bilingual/multilingual texts for specific audiences, for example, a Big Book or game for young learners of German, or invitations, posters, programs or menus for a class event, performance or celebration, such as a Deutschabend or Maskenfest

  VCDEC145 | Languages | German | F–10 Sequence | Levels 5 and 6 | Communicating | Translating

• VCDEC018

  Initiate and maintain interactions with peers and adults by seeking and offering ideas, opinions and feelings as well as information related to relationships, school experience, community and future plans

  Elaborations

  • participating in conversations using strategies to sustain interactions, such as asking for repetition, clarification and confirmation, for example, Wiederholen Sie die Frage, bitte! Was bedeutet das? Meinen Sie… ?
  • discussing and giving opinions on aspects of school life, such as timetables, subjects, teachers and uniforms, for example, Wann haben wir montags Deutsch?; Ich finde Mathe interessant, aber meine Mathelehrerin ist sehr streng. Und du, findest du Mathe auch interessant?
  • exchanging personal information and views in digital communications with peers about their school, family and friends, for example, Ich finde meine Schule sehr gut, obwohl… ; Ich komme gut mit meinem Bruder aus, weil … .
  • describing own Wohnort and commenting on advantages and disadvantages of living there, such as whether there are sporting or shopping facilities nearby, for example, Ich wohne gern auf dem Land. Es gibt in der Nähe einen Fluss und einen Fußballplatz. Leider haben wir kein Kino. Gibt es einen Supermarkt, wo du wohnst?
  • recounting events and describing activities and personal experiences from the past, for example, Gestern Abend hat Bayern-Műnchen gegen Mainz gewonnen. Hast du das Spiel gesehen?; Wir sind in den Ferien zum Strand gefahren.
  • comparing own characteristics, weaknesses and strengths with those of others, and describing the ideal friend, for example, Ich bin fleiβig, unabhängig und abenteuerlustig. Leider bin ich aber auch stur und unordentlich.; Ein guter Freund muss treu und ehrlich sein.
  • posing and responding to questions, such as about future plans and aspirations, for example, Was wirst du in den Ferien machen? Wir werden zu Hause bleiben.; Was sind deine Zukunftspläne? Nach der 12. Klasse werde ich vielleicht Betriebswirtschaft studieren. Und du, was hast du vor?

  VCDEC018 | Languages | German | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Communicating | Socialising

• VCDEU033

  Understand that language has power and changes over time as a result of contact with other languages and with influences such as globalisation and new technologies and knowledge

  Elaborations

  • considering how language marks values and attitudes such as respect and equality, and includes and excludes, for example, the use of titles or first names (Herr Doktor Schmidt, Herr Schmidt, Georg), different words for the same entity (foreigner/immigrant/refugee), the gendered nature of professional titles (der Lehrer, die Lehrerin; das Kindermädchen), and access to community information fornon-English speakers
  • noting that although German grammar has not changed as much as English over the centuries, it did relatively recently undergo changes in spelling and punctuation in the official Rechtschreibreform, requiring, for example, β to be used only after long vowel sounds or diphthongs (Fuβball, Spaβ, weiβ), and ss to be used after short vowels (dass, Klasse)
  • investigating and reporting on evidence of current and historical influences of German language and culture in the local and broader Australian community, for example, German/Austrian/Swiss place names (Heidelberg, Hahndorf, Leichhardt, Grindelwald), food (cafés, restaurants, bakeries, market stalls), festivals and celebrations (German Film Festival, Swiss Festival, Weihnachtsmarkt), and organisations (Goethe-Institut, SBS German Radio, clubs, churches, companies)
  • considering the concept of ‘ecology’ in relation to German and other languages; that is, the interaction of the language with constantly changing environments due to globalisation, technology, and language shifts and exchange

  VCDEU033 | Languages | German | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Understanding | Language variation and change

• VCDEU012

  Recognise and use key features of the German sound system, including pronunciation, rhythm, stress and intonation, and identify main similarities and differences between the phonological and orthographic systems of English and German

  Elaborations

  • noticing and imitating German sounds, and developing awareness of letter–sound relationships, including distinctive sounds such as those represented by the letters ch, r, th, u and z; consonant blends and clusters such as sch; short and long vowel sounds and diphthongs such as au, ei, eu and ie; the impact of the Umlaut on a, o and u; and ß
  • applying German capitalisation rules to nouns and noticing that the capitalisation of the formal ‘you’ form Sie distinguishes it from sie (she/they)
  • understanding that β can only be used in lower case, otherwise SS, and that ä, ö and ü can be written as ae, oe and ue respectively, for example, in upper case signs or word puzzles such as crosswords
  • understanding the meaning and use of full stops and commas in German ordinal or decimal numbers, for example, die 8. Klasse; 9,50 Euro; 15.30 Uhr
  • learning to pronounce the German alphabet by singing das Alphabetlied, and using the German alphabet for spelling out names and other words
  • practising pronunciation of particular sounds and rhythms by saying tongue twisters, rhymes and short poems
  • recognising differences in intonation and rhythm between statements, questions and commands

  VCDEU012 | Languages | German | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Understanding | Systems of language

• VCDEU148

  Explain and apply basic rules for German pronunciation, intonation, spelling and punctuation

  Elaborations

  • applying basic pronunciation rules, such as the two different pronunciations of ch
  • applying different intonation for statements, questions, exclamations and instructions
  • understanding that β can only be used in lower case, otherwise SS, and that ä, ö and ü can be written as ae, oe and ue respectively, for example, in upper case signs or word puzzles such as crosswords
  • applying phonic and grammatical knowledge to spell and write unfamiliar words containing, for example, ch, j, w and z, and diphthongs such as au, ei, eu and ie
  • noticing distinctive punctuation features of personal correspondence in German, such as Hallo Annette!/Lieber Klaus, followed respectively by upper or lower case for the beginning of the first sentence
  • understanding and applying punctuation rules (full stops, question marks, exclamation marks, commas, quotation marks) in German, including the meaning and use of full stops and commas in ordinal and decimal numbers (die 3. Klasse and 9,50 Euro), and capitalisation rules

  VCDEU148 | Languages | German | F–10 Sequence | Levels 5 and 6 | Understanding | Systems of language

• VCDEC004

  Identify topic, gist and specific points of information in a range of simple spoken and written texts relating to own world and that of other teenagers

  Elaborations

  • identifying key details, expressions and information in conversations and announcements, and using obtained information in new ways, for example, listening to an interview with a German teenager about family and completing a family tree
  • reading and viewing a range of simple texts (promotional brochures, signs, websites and cards) to obtain and compile information about places, lifestyles and events, for example, information related to homes, schools, leisure activities, climate and geography
  • locating, classifying and summarising data such as results of class surveys or information from notices, timetables and announcements, and presenting findings to others, for example, in a digital visual presentation, poster or wall chart
  • gathering information about people, time and activities in German-speaking contexts, and using the information, for example, to create a profile or timetable/timeline to show a sequence of activities/events
  • compiling a list of questions and interviewing a German speaker, such as a visiting exchange student, about family, home, interests and abilities, and presenting the responses in Steckbrief format

  VCDEC004 | Languages | German | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Communicating | Informing

• VCDEC022

  Present information and opinions in different modes and familiar text types appropriate to audience, context and purpose, applying conventions of text types

  Elaborations

  • presenting information in a range of persuasive and informative texts, such as advertisements, websites and magazine articles, using visual images and/or sound effects to enhance meaning for different target audiences
  • explaining a procedure or practice, using simple language and supporting graphics, materials and gestures, for example, how to play a game or sport, a cooking show segment, or fashion tips
  • creating a web page for young German-speaking travellers looking for work in Australia, indicating different regional employment possibilities and providing key points of information about each region, for example, Farmarbeit in Queensland, Kindermädchen im Outback, Küchenhilfe an der Südküste
  • conveying information, opinions and ideas by aligning choice of language and text structure to topics and themes, for example, using emotive images and captions to highlight issues such as Jugendarbeitslosigkeit, or rap rhythms and slogans to provoke reactions or to entertain

  VCDEC022 | Languages | German | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Communicating | Informing

• VCDEC124

  Present information in modelled spoken and written texts relating to personal, social and natural worlds

  Elaborations

  • introducing family members and friends, identifying relationships and cultural backgrounds (Das ist mein Opa. Er kommt aus China.), using simple descriptive language and supporting resources to enhance meaning
  • collecting information about one another’s likes, dislikes or interests, using checklists, surveys or question cues to present a class profile, chart or database, for example, Lieblingstiere, Lieblingssport, Lieblingsserie, Lieblingsmusik
  • selecting information gained from print, visual or digital texts to design a class book or digital display, for example, details of animals and their habitats and/or food from a zoo website or a children’s documentary film about wild animals (Der Affe wohnt im Dschungel)

  VCDEC124 | Languages | German | F–10 Sequence | Levels 3 and 4 | Communicating | Informing

• VCDEC009

  Create and maintain individual and shared bilingual texts and resources such as signs, word lists, posters, games and photo stories

  Elaborations

  • creating and using bilingual resources for language learning, such as glossaries or personal German–English and English–German print and digital word lists and dictionaries with examples and explanations of language use and parts of speech
  • creating bilingual texts for specific audiences, for example, a Big Book or game for young learners of German, invitations to a class event or posters for a performance, noticing how meaning needs to be tailored to audience and cultural perspectives
  • creating bilingual signs and notices for the school and local community, such as Bücherei – Library, Sporthalle – Gymnasium
  • designing and maintaining a bilingual website with a partner school or contact group of English learners in a German-speaking community, making choices about when to use German or English depending on the context, topic and nature of the interaction

  VCDEC009 | Languages | German | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Communicating | Translating

• VCDEU149

  Develop and apply knowledge of German grammatical elements such as verb tenses, modal verbs and case, combining them with an increasing range of nouns, adjectives and adverbs to construct sentences

  Elaborations

  • referring to a person, place or object using the nominative and accusative definite and indefinite articles, for example, Das Mädchen hat einen Hockeyschläger. Der Film hat ein Happy End.
  • noticing how articles and pronouns change after certain verbs (Ich danke dir.) and after particular prepositions associated with location, for example, Wir sind in der Stadt. Die Party ist bei Stefan im Garten.
  • understanding and describing current, recurring and future actions, including by using common separable verbs such as aufstehen, ausgehen, aussehen, fernsehen, mitkommen and mitnehmen
  • understanding the concept of regular and irregular verbs and noticing that this is a feature of both German and English (and other languages, such as French, Italian and Spanish)
  • understanding and expressing obligation and permission using the modal verbs müssen and dürfen, such as in descriptions of school rules, for example, Wir dürfen in der Klasse nicht texten. Wir müssen eine Uniform tragen.
  • comparing the meaning of the modal verbs wollen, sollen, mögen and können with their English equivalents
  • making comparisons using simple structures such as Ich mag Erdbeeren lieber als Kiwis. Radfahren ist besser als Autofahren.
  • giving instructions to one or more peers, for example, Trink(t) mehr Wasser!
  • understanding and speaking about past events by adapting modelled sentences in the present perfect tense and using knowledge of common verbs in the simple past tense, for example, Ich habe heute meine Hausaufgaben nicht gemacht. Wir sind nach Bali geflogen. Früher konnte ich Klavier spielen.
  • noticing that some verbs can be combined with a separable or inseparable prefix which alters the meaning of the base verb, for example, Er kommt um 17.15 Uhr. Kommst du mit? Ich bekomme $50 zum Geburtstag.
  • describing frequency using adverbs and adverbial expressions such as oft, manchmal, jeden Tag, ab und zu and nie
  • understanding the meaning of the conjunctions dass and weil
  • understanding questions using warum and responding with a simple sentence, for example, Warum bist du müde? Ich habe heute Fuβball gespielt.
  • referring to a date, including the year, for an event such as a birth date, for example, Meine Oma ist am elften April 1956 geboren.
  • understanding and locating events in time, including the use of the 24-hour clock, prepositions such as nach and vor, and formulaic expressions such as früher, später, am Wochenende, in den Ferien
  • referring to quantities of people and things (including Meter, Kilometer; Quadratmeter, Quadratkilometer for length/height/distance and area) using cardinal numbers up to 10 000 including decimals, common fractions and negative numbers, for example, 85,5 Prozent haben ein Handy. Die Tagestemperatur liegt bei minus 8 Grad. Ich habe eine Halbschwester.
  • building metalanguage to comment on grammar and vocabulary (for example, Substantive/Nomen, Verben, Ordinalzahlen, Präpositionen, Fragewörter, groβ/klein schreiben), comparing with equivalent English terms

  VCDEU149 | Languages | German | F–10 Sequence | Levels 5 and 6 | Understanding | Systems of language

• VCDEC138

  Participate in guided tasks such as planning and organising events and completing transactions

  Elaborations

  • organising and conducting collaborative activities, for example, a Deutsch macht fit session for a younger class, or designing badges or bilingual posters on healthy eating or recycling (Trinkt lieber Wasser!; Recycelt eure Dosen!)
  • participating in real or simulated transactions such as buying food, for example, Ich nehme ein Käsebrötchen. Was kostet ein Eis? Das macht 6,50 Euro.
  • participating in sourcing goods and services, such as budgeting for virtual shopping expeditions, consulting online catalogues and websites, comparing prices and value, and discussing intended purchases, for example, Dieses Handy ist zu teuer. Der Hut passt dir gut.
  • exchanging and comparing currencies, for example, converting Euro or Schweizer Franken into Australian dollars

  VCDEC138 | Languages | German | F–10 Sequence | Levels 5 and 6 | Communicating | Socialising