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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

• 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

• VCZHC137

  Reflect on their reactions and responses to others when participating in learning and cultural experiences in Chinese and Australian contexts

  Elaborations

  • identifying levels of politeness, respect and formality in diverse contexts, for example, when seeking assistance, when engaging with people of different ages or authority
  • deciding how best to address and refer to others (for example, addressing an older stranger as 姐姐 or 阿姨 in Chinese) and considering how that person would be addressed in English
  • identifying ways in which their Chinese identity is reflected in their daily life and interests, for example, belonging to a sports or hobby group or attending community school
  • considering their linguistic and cultural skills as Chinese and as Australians and how these contribute to their overall sense of identity
  • comparing Chinese and Australian lifestyles such as festivals and celebrations, food staples, preferences and cooking styles, and discussing own engagement with these
  • noticing differences in cultural practices and the protocol for certain events, such as 我去表哥家要先叫人，大姨好，大姨夫好；如果他们要留我吃饭，我要先问妈妈可不可以；如果阿姨叫我多吃一点, 我不能吃太多，最好得客气客气
  • participating in cultural events (for example, watching a China–Australia soccer match, performing a Chinese song to the school community, or celebrating Anzac Day) and reflecting on own reactions

  VCZHC137 | Languages | Chinese | Background Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 3 and 4 | Communicating | Reflecting

• VCZHC226

  Collaborate with peers to plan and organise multicultural projects and events that would benefit their school and local community

  Elaborations

  • investigating Chinese cultural activities available for young people (for example, lion dance troupe, folk dance troupe), and discussing with peers details of the nature of the activity and the level of commitment involved
  • indicating agreement and disagreement in polite ways and expressing gratitude for time and services provided, for example, 太麻烦你了；这次多亏了你的帮助；这个不是太合适 吧， 我还想再看看，谢谢！
  • planning or participating in events which share popular aspects of Australian ways of life related to music, popular culture, climate, landscape and recreational activities, to members of their local Chinese-speaking community
  • introducing others to diversity within Chinese language and culture (such as diversity in language use and cultural practices across greater China, differences between urban and rural life, and regional cuisines) by participating in school cultural events or creating texts to inform others, for example, creating a poster for second language learners of Chinese
  • collaborating with others to organise a cultural day to support appreciation of linguistic and cultural diversity within the school community, using social media to plan the event and to encourage others to participate

  VCZHC226 | Languages | Chinese | First Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Communicating | Socialising

• VCZHU080

  Analyse the ways in which language choices reflect cultural practices and values and how language is used to express familiarity and distance between participants in interactions

  Elaborations

  • exploring how known languages influence their own communicative preferences, such as reflecting the values of one culture when communicating in another, for example, differences in the use and frequency of ‘thank you’ and 谢谢
  • making connections between their first language and how it influences communication in additional languages, for example: Why do Chinese speak English in certain ways? What features of my first language influence how I speak Chinese? How does this affect mediation of ideas between languages?
  • interacting with people of different ages and positions, varying language and level of formality according to relative status, for example, using appropriate ways to accept or decline requests, compliments or suggestions (你能不能帮我一点忙？---- 对不起，我没有空; 您找谁？- 你爸爸在家吗？)
  • examining how concepts such as humour and humility are conveyed in Chinese, and discussing how these may be perceived by non-native Chinese speakers
  • reflecting on taboos in language use and how these can impact on communication across cultures, for example: Is it okay to ask someone’s age in China? Why do numbers and colours matter? What are we superstitious about in Australia? What hand gestures are acceptable with Chinese speakers? What can I joke about?
  • defining familiarity and distance as they relate to language use

  VCZHU080 | Languages | Chinese | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Understanding | The role of language and culture

• VCZHU189

  Analyse and compose different types of texts for different purposes, using appropriate linguistic, textual and cultural elements

  Elaborations

  • comparing how statistical data such as census information or surveys is collated and referred to in Chinese and English texts, including consideration of the levels of in-text referencing required across both languages
  • analysing linguistic, stylistic and textual features of a range of samples of the same genre to compare the choices made by authors and the impact of those choices, for example, comparing 这位老人已经七十多岁了， 他每天要一上一下地打扫一千八百多级石阶， 该是多么辛苦啊！ and 这位老人年纪大了，要打扫很多石阶，这些石阶大概有一千八百多级，非常辛苦
  • analysing the layout of magazines and online texts and the deliberate choices of image, font and words to enhance understanding of key ideas and author positioning
  • examining the language of newspapers, identifying commonly encountered linguistic terms and considering the concise ways in which world events are reported in Chinese media
  • using models of literary styles to create texts and present them in multiple ways, for example, producing an article with 排比 to enhance emotional impact, and reading it aloud to peers, using volume, stress and facial expression to reflect emotions

  VCZHU189 | Languages | Chinese | Background Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Understanding | Systems of language

• VCZHU206

  Differentiate features and apply rules for expressing meanings in spoken and written modes in different contexts

  Elaborations

  • exploring how the rules of word order can be altered in informal interactions, for example, noticing that the time can be placed at the end of sentences in speech but not in writing
  • matching the use of 成语 and 俗语 to appropriate contexts, for example, 夕阳西下 is normally used in written language while 猪八戒照镜子——里外不是人 tends to be used in spoken contexts
  • analysing how language is used differently in public texts across different Chinese-speaking regions, for example, the use of traditional versus simplified character forms in overseas Chinese newspapers; word choices and ways of reporting on controversial issues
  • identifying variability in language used in different contexts, for example, interacting in the supermarket, at the doctor’s surgery, or when visiting a friend or relative
  • recognising language choices that reflect varying levels of formality as appropriate to context, and applying this to their own interactions (for example, 爷爷 and 祖父, 累死了 and 非常疲惫)

  VCZHU206 | Languages | Chinese | Background Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8 | Understanding | Language variation and change

• Chinese - Background Language Learner - F–10 Sequence: Levels 9 and 10 achievement standards

  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...

  Level description | Languages | Chinese | Background Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10

• Chinese - Background Language Learner - F–10 Sequence: Levels 7 and 8 achievement standards

  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...

  Level description | Languages | Chinese | Background Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8

• Chinese - Background Language Learner - F–10 Sequence: Levels 5 and 6 achievement standards

  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...

  Level description | Languages | Chinese | Background Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 5 and 6

• Chinese - Second Language Learner - F–10 Sequence: Foundation to Level 2 achievement standards

  By the end of Level 2, students use spoken and written Chinese to communicate with teachers and peers. They participate in structured and routine interactions, such as using 谢谢， 再见， 请, using learnt sounds, formulaic phrases, and verbal and non-verbal responses. They respond to and receive information...

  Level description | Languages | Chinese | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Foundation to Level 2

• Chinese - Second Language Learner - F–10 Sequence: Levels 3 and 4 achievement standards

  By the end of Level 4, students use spoken and written Chinese in simple personal interactions with familiar participants about self, family, people, places, routine, school life, and their own interests and preferences, for example, 你叫什么名字？ 你上几年级？ 你有狗吗？ 你喜欢什么运动？ They use appropriate pronunciation...

  Level description | Languages | Chinese | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 3 and 4

• Chinese - Second Language Learner - F–10 Sequence: Levels 7 and 8 achievement standards

  By the end of Level 8, students use spoken and written Chinese to sustain interactions in a range of social and personal contexts. They exchange ideas and opinions, for example, 你要去看电影吗？；我们可以六月份一起去. They summarise the main points of information about known content from a range of spoken and print...

  Level description | Languages | Chinese | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8

• Chinese - Second Language Learner - F–10 Sequence: Levels 9 and 10 achievement standards

  By the end of Level 10, students use spoken and written Chinese to sustain extended interactions with familiar and unfamiliar participants in a range of contexts (for example, interacting with Chinese-speaking students online; using Chinese to ask about items in a local Chinese grocery). Students...

  Level description | Languages | Chinese | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10

• Chinese - Second Language Learner - F–10 Sequence: Levels 5 and 6 achievement standards

  By the end of Level 6, students use spoken and written Chinese to initiate and maintain interactions. They describe and give information about themselves and their preferences, their environment, experiences and interests, for example, 我很喜欢唱歌。我的学校很漂亮。我觉得澳大利亚是很好的国家. They use simple questions (for example,

  Level description | Languages | Chinese | Second Language Learner | F–10 Sequence | Levels 5 and 6

• Chinese - Second Language Learner - 7–10 Sequence: Levels 7 and 8 achievement standards

  By the end of Level 8, students use spoken and written Chinese to interact in a range of familiar contexts. They respond to instructions, questions and directions. They use known phrases to exchange personal information (for example, 我叫…; 我的爸爸是澳大利亚人), seek clarification (for example, 对不起，我听不懂...

  Level description | Languages | Chinese | Second Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 7 and 8

• VCZHC214

  Create narratives to describe experiences involving imagined people and places

  Elaborations

  • collaborating with peers to perform a script from 儿童剧 or 情景剧 for younger year levels to engage them with the imaginative world
  • creating a script in response to a story from classical literature, such as 《草船借箭》, and considering how to convey the characters’ personality through language
  • creating own dramatic or humorous representations of people and events encountered in traditional or contemporary Chinese literature, drama or song
  • writing a creative account of an imagined experience involving Chinese visitors to the local community, such as hosting a Chinese student or taking a tour group to a local sporting event
  • creating a Chinese voice-over for a scene from an English language sitcom and experimenting with ways in which language, images, action and humour are used to enhance appreciation of the message
  • collaborating to create performances in which they assume an imaginary role, for example, a skit about celebrating Spring Festival, a simple lyric about school life, or a rap about being a student of Chinese
  • creating narratives that hold the attention of readers, for example, beginning a story with 你知道吗？ and experimenting with 正叙，倒叙，插叙 to sequence events
  • collaboratively creating short plays describing the experiences of imagined characters in different cultures, for example, 《James在上海》
  • using descriptive language to set the scene and capture the reader’s imagination, for example, describing the sound of traffic and the smell of breakfast stalls on a busy morning in a Chinese town
  • exploring how alternative words can be used to convey a range of attitudes and varying degrees of emotion towards people, places and events, for example, 我真高兴。你快乐吗？他很幸福!
  • comparing portrayals of a range of social groups in media, for example, how urban and rural communities and residents are portrayed in both traditional and contemporary texts
  • creating own narrative accounts of the life experiences of major historical figures or characters from literature, for example, 诸葛亮，孔子和他的学生
  • engaging and entertaining the audience through the use of devices such as humour, irony and metaphor, and embellishing ideas (for example, 猜猜我昨天干了什么？ as opposed to 昨天我), and building up to a climatic ending

  VCZHC214 | Languages | Chinese | Background Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10 | Communicating | Creating

• Chinese - Second Language Learner - 7–10 Sequence: Levels 9 and 10 achievement standards

  By the end of Level 10, students use spoken and written Chinese to initiate and sustain interactions in familiar and unfamiliar contexts. They exchange information, ideas and opinions and enquire into the experiences and opinions of others, using question words such as 为什么，怎么，怎么样 to elicit more...

  Level description | Languages | Chinese | Second Language Learner | 7–10 Sequence | Levels 9 and 10

• 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

• Languages | Chinese: Learning in Chinese

  Chinese language learning

  China's official language is Modern Standard Chinese, or Putonghua (the common or shared language) in Chinese. The language is also referred to as Hanyu, the spoken language of the Han people, or Zhongwen, the written language of China. In Taiwan it is more usually called...

  Overview material | Chinese