Students recognise tones as an important element of Chinese speech and learn how the sounds of Chinese can be encoded in Pinyin, using Roman letters that often convey different sounds than those which students are accustomed to in English. They learn to recognise basic character forms that represent familiar objects and ideas and convey significant cultural meanings.
For background language students the focus is on making connections between their oracy and literacy. Students use Chinese for most class activities and will be immersed in the sounds and sights of Chinese.
By the end of Level 2, students use spoken Chinese to initiate interactions in a range of familiar contexts. They participate in simple exchanges to obtain and convey information and experiences relating to their personal world. They use learnt vocabulary, sounds, characters and culturally specific actions and gestures to convey meaning. They exchange greetings, introduce themselves and each other, and express thanks and apologies, for example, 我的中文名字叫小强, 你叫什么? They interact with and create simple predictable imaginative and informative texts such as 我的狗很大，它的尾巴很长, using familiar characters and sounds. They use images, actions and gesture to show that they understand the meaning of words when speaking, listening, reading, viewing and writing.
Students recognise the four tones and their function in Chinese. They are aware that there is a metalanguage to describe the distinct writing and speech systems in Chinese. They compare English and Chinese consonant and vowel sounds. They copy and trace characters and can identify key components in familiar characters. They recognise how their Chinese identity influences some of their language choices when interacting with familiar adults and peers.
Students use oral language to build their capacity to describe and explore topics and concepts in Chinese. Students use Chinese to share everyday experiences with each other. They develop literacy skills through a range of reading and writing activities. Pinyin is used as a tool to develop students’ pronunciation and to assist their understanding of the nature of the spoken language. Students...
Students use oral language to build their capacity to describe and explore topics and concepts in Chinese. Students use Chinese to share everyday experiences with each other. They develop literacy skills through a range of reading and writing activities. Pinyin is used as a tool to develop students’ pronunciation and to assist their understanding of the nature of the spoken language. Students begin to develop orthographic and morphological awareness by exploring the relationship between characters and morphemes.
Students engage with Chinese language through speaking, listening, reading, viewing and writing. They understand more words than they can say or write, and use this knowledge to attempt to say and spell unfamiliar words. Students use Chinese to participate in action-related talk and to complete tasks, connecting their background oracy with their literacy.
By the end of Levels 4, students use spoken and written Chinese to initiate interactions. They participate in short exchanges, for example, 你晚饭吃什么？，我学汉语和英语,站起来， 大家听老师说. They organise and convey factual information and share experiences in formal and informal situations, making appropriate choices of characters, words and pronunciation. They use demonstratives such as 这、那、那些 with measure words and verbs to indicate agreement （对，好的）and preferences (要、想、喜欢). They respond to and create short imaginative, informative and persuasive texts for familiar audiences and identified purposes. Students select from known speech patterns to meet routine, procedural and informal conversational needs.
Students understand that Pinyin represents spoken language, and can map Pinyin against their own speech. They understand the contexts in which tones are expressed and those in which they are not. They recognise features of the Chinese writing system, including the range of strokes and their sequences in character writing; and the relationship between components and sound and meaning. Students develop skills in structuring their ideas in sentences, including correct sequencing of time and place. They describe features of Chinese language and culture, and compare how ideas are conveyed across languages and cultures.
Students learn to analyse new characters encountered in texts, with a focus on mapping these character forms to their known spoken language. Students make comparisons between societies, social structures and belief systems and explore how these are conveyed through language. They discover and discuss diversity in cultural identity and experience. Students explore the Chinese past. Written language...
Students learn to analyse new characters encountered in texts, with a focus on mapping these character forms to their known spoken language. Students make comparisons between societies, social structures and belief systems and explore how these are conveyed through language. They discover and discuss diversity in cultural identity and experience. Students explore the Chinese past. Written language use includes reading and comparing Chinese and English children’s literature.
Students are immersed in Chinese speaking, listening, reading, writing and viewing activities. These activities may provide opportunities for translating or interpreting. Students speak and write in Chinese to express their own interests. They begin to appreciate how their own language use compares to modern standard forms in terms of pronunciation, tone and rhythm. They consciously use aspects of grammar in their language learning. They consider audience, purpose, and appropriate language choices in their cultural and communicative practices.
By the end of Level 6, students use spoken and written Chinese to maintain interactions with familiar and unfamiliar people across a growing range of situations (for example, 你星期几去汉语学校？,你说…对吗？); to convey information, opinions and experiences (for example, 我喜欢踢澳式足球，你呢？); and to access a range of print and digital media resources, such as 童书，报纸，画册，科学书，传单，广告， 教材，地图. They write characters, paying attention to shape, and stroke order and proportion. They transcribe spoken words and sentences in Pinyin and select appropriate simplified characters to match the sounds they hear. They effectively use stress, tone and intonation to express emotion and opinion. They respond to and create a range of short informative, persuasive and imaginative texts for diverse audiences and purposes. They relate their own experiences to those presented in texts, for example, 《如果我是…》. Sentences include the use of prepositions (给 、跟 、对) and possessives and attributive clauses with particle 的. They use a range of verbs, and use verb complements to describe the direction, result or potential of an action. They use conjunctions (for example, 可是、或者、因为、除了）to connect ideas and elaborate on or clarify opinions and actions. They explain how their developing bilingual ability supports their identities as users of Chinese and English.
Students understand the nature of Pinyin and map it to their own Chinese speech. They categorise characters into groups based on meaning, appearance, pronunciation or function, using this information to understand new characters. They compare the word order of Chinese sentences with that of English, and recognise how their knowledge of English impacts on the way they express ideas in Chinese. They describe how the features of Chinese and English texts are used to convey meaning.
Students extend their writing skills to include more persuasive language and more formal genres. They participate in presentations on topics studied, and initiate discussion through enquiry. Students begin to compare their own pronunciation to modern standard spoken Chinese. They also explore the influence of English on their own communication in Chinese, in pronunciation and linguistic structures...
Students extend their writing skills to include more persuasive language and more formal genres. They participate in presentations on topics studied, and initiate discussion through enquiry. Students begin to compare their own pronunciation to modern standard spoken Chinese. They also explore the influence of English on their own communication in Chinese, in pronunciation and linguistic structures, and the role of code-switching in their daily language use. Students develop their skills in analysing characters and recognising word and clause boundaries in extended text.
Classroom interaction is primarily conducted in Chinese. Students extend their knowledge of language structures and text organisation through reading and viewing materials and discussing how to apply new learning to their own communication. They are immersed in Chinese language exploring various issues, and the features of diverse Chinese personal and social environments.
By the end of Level 8, students use spoken and written Chinese to maintain exchanges, to analyse and evaluate information, and to share opinions (for example, 电视节目，纪录片，教育片，微电影， 报纸，杂志， 网站，博客， 少年百科) and experiences, for example, 我们为什么要保护熊猫？，中国和澳大利亚的一些差异， 我最喜欢的假期. They select and discern tone patterns and atonality. Students respond to and create a range of texts (for example, 流行歌曲演唱；电视剧配音), showing an understanding of different audiences and purposes. Sentences generally contain two or more ideas connected by cohesive devices (for example, 不但…而且…) and use a range of time phrases (for example, 先…然后； 以前；吃了饭，就）to sequence events and ideas. Students make comparisons (for example, 比;跟…一样), and elaborate on and explain their opinions or actions using conjunctions, for example, 所以、要不然. They use stylistic devices (including 比喻，排比，反问), and use 成语 to influence and persuade others. They move between English and Chinese to interpret and translate for different audiences.
Students explain how changes in tone and tone combination impact on meaning. They describe culturally specific gestures and actions. They recognise diversity within the Chinese spoken and written language. They explain the differences in writing systems across languages. Students connect the distinctive features of Chinese grammar with the development of complex ideas, and explain how the structure of texts influences audience response. They explain how features of Chinese culture impact on communication practices and influence their own interactions with others across languages.
Students elaborate messages, nominalise, and add complexity to the expression of their ideas. They apply their understanding of appropriate register in a widening range of interactions, and experiment with increasing sophistication in writing, through the use of idiom and references to classical literature. They learn to appreciate the forms and historical value of classical Chinese literature, and to appreciate how language changes over time.
Students are immersed in Chinese language, exploring and discussing topics related to their identity as Chinese-speaking Australians. They access information, learn to recognise diverse representations and perspectives, and explore context and the values and beliefs of authors.
By the end of Level 10, students sustain extended exchanges with others (for example, 那个，你知道的，就是，还有) and use Chinese to participate in shared activities, for example, 我为什么学汉语，澳大利亚的多元文化，年轻人的兴趣，网络的好与坏, 你难道不觉得…如果…就…吗？你的意思是说…,如果是这样的话… They apply knowledge of rhythm, pitch, intonation, and voice projection, and move between traditional and simplified characters as appropriate to role, audience and purpose.
Students interact with and create imaginative, persuasive and informative texts such as 自发采访，本地电视节目，访谈节目 and 偶像剧，娱乐节目，电影片断，音乐录影, in a range of generic formats, making choices with regard to audience and purpose, for example, 澳大利亚土著人的艺术，我看移民热，现代女性的地位, 报刊杂志，百科全书，百度等搜索引擎. They use Chinese to maintain social relationships with and interact with a diverse range of people across a variety of situations and contexts, using common colloquial expressions. They construct sentences using a range of structures to incorporate information and ideas, including relative and attributive clauses, conditionality and indefinite pronouns. Students compare information and ideas, explain or justify perspectives, and relate events using conjunctions. They apply a range of stylistic devices to engage and influence audiences, for example, 夸张，幽默.
Students explain how the traditional and simplified forms of the Chinese writing system convey meaning, and how ideographic cues can be used to extend meaning. They analyse the key features of Chinese grammar and sentence structure, and compare language use across a range of contexts and modes. They explain how features of culture impact on communication practices across languages, and apply this knowledge to their own interactions with others.
Students read nonfiction texts that are often glossed in Pinyin or supported with vocabulary lists. Written language use includes learning to read extracts from both Chinese and English literature to compare features of individual works. They learn to analyse new characters encountered in texts with a focus on mapping these character forms to their known spoken language. Oral language use includes...
Students read nonfiction texts that are often glossed in Pinyin or supported with vocabulary lists. Written language use includes learning to read extracts from both Chinese and English literature to compare features of individual works. They learn to analyse new characters encountered in texts with a focus on mapping these character forms to their known spoken language. Oral language use includes participating in discussions and presentations. Students participate in activities that focus on pronunciation, tone and rhythm, and learn to appreciate how their own language use compares to modern standard forms.
Students are immersed in Chinese and begin to explore various issues and further develop their Chinese language skills with a focus on extending their contexts and purposes of use and on using language that is appropriate to purpose and audience.
By the end of Year 8, students use spoken and written Chinese to sustain interactions in their personal and social worlds (for example, 你叫什么名字？你多大了？你住在哪个城市？,不对，我是说… and 老师，我可以用电脑吗？), making appropriate language choices for different roles, relationships and situations, for example, 你的那个，那个 assignment 做完了吗？ They access and analyse information （for example, 排版结构，表格，图标）from a range of sources which include familiar characters and use this information for a range of purposes. Students interpret, translate and create a range of spoken, written and multimodal Chinese texts for imaginative, informative and persuasive purposes and for different audiences. Sentences generally contain two or more ideas connected by cohesive devices (for example, 如果…就…), and use a range of time phrases （for example, 然后；就）to sequence events and ideas. Students make comparisons (比;跟…一), and provide reasons to explain their opinions or actions, using conjunctions (因为、所以、因此).
Students explain the diversity in speaking and writing systems across languages, including regional variations within Chinese, and how these differences impact on their own understanding and communicative practices. They identify familiar characters in their simplified and traditional forms, and explain the differences between standard Chinese and dialects that may be spoken in their family. Their written literacy is still developing and they produce longer and more complex texts through the use of digital resources than in handwriting. They describe how the distinctive features of Chinese grammar and texts can be used to achieve particular effects and purposes. They explain how ideas are mediated across languages and cultures in their local communities. They express their own understandings of the Chinese cultural values that influence their own communicative practices.
Students participate in discussions, debates and presentations on a range of issues. They extend their writing skills to include more informative and objective language and write in more formal genres. They develop their skills in analysing characters and recognising word and clause boundaries in extended text. Students explore the influence of English on their own communication in Chinese,...
Students participate in discussions, debates and presentations on a range of issues. They extend their writing skills to include more informative and objective language and write in more formal genres. They develop their skills in analysing characters and recognising word and clause boundaries in extended text. Students explore the influence of English on their own communication in Chinese, both in pronunciation and in linguistic structures. They share ideas about how they can contribute to Australian society through maintaining their bilingualism and through the development and consolidation of intercultural knowledge and skills.
Students are immersed in Chinese language, exploring a range of issues and begin to make connections and comparisons with the experiences of other young Chinese speakers and with those of other cultural groups in Australia. They also consider their own place in Australia and the nature of the relationship between Australia and the Chinese-speaking world.
By the end of Year 10, students use spoken and written Chinese to initiate and sustain extended interactions with others in their social world and in the Chinese-speaking community, for example, 我的学校生活，澳大利亚的运动，我最喜欢的春节活动. They ask questions (for example, 你真的认为…吗？请想一想…) and adapt language use for a range of contexts and roles. They identify and evaluate key points of information from different spoken, written and multimodal authentic sources and use this information to develop a position and to inform and convince others. They move between Chinese and English to create simple bilingual texts. Students interpret, interact with and create a range of texts for imaginative, informative and persuasive purposes and for different audiences. Sentences include a range of structures, including formal expressions to connect ideas, for example, 除此之外, 尽管这样, 因此，无论…都… They also use relative and attributive clauses, conditionality and indefinite pronouns. Students compare information and ideas, and explain or justify opinions, for example, 有人说… 还有人认为… 所以…而且… 因此… They apply knowledge of metaphor and 成语 in their own writing.
Students map characters against familiar sounds and apply their knowledge of character form and function to predict the meaning and sound of unfamiliar characters. They independently use digital resources to communicate with others, and utilise online and print dictionaries to assist in reading Chinese texts. They explain how the purpose and use of stylistic devices, textual features and language features change across contexts, genres and traditions. Students explain the cultural assumptions that influence participants’ responses and identify ways in which understanding could be enhanced in communication. They reflect on the roles both Chinese and Australian cultures play in their own communicative practices and use these reflections to improve their Chinese language use.
