An overview of French, Japanese and Chinese
Students at Barker enjoy many opportunities to develop their global awareness and capacity through the study of Chinese, French and Japanese.
Our language courses focus primarily on communication and are designed to build students’ confidence in exchanging and negotiating meaning on the global stage. Students are encouraged to immerse themselves in the culture they are exploring through various mediums and activities.
Studying languages has many benefits. We gain new perspectives and develop our empathy and curiosity. Language learning also improves our literacy, collaborative and problem-solving skills.
Barker enjoys a strong relationship with its partner schools, Tokai Sugao Gakuen near Tokyo and Lycée Henri IV in Paris and offers many opportunities for students to engage with their counterparts overseas.
Language learning is sequential, so please bear in mind that studying a language in Years 9 and 10 is essential for those wishing to continue their studies into Years 11 and 12.
Contact
Head of Department: Trish Gibson
Email: tgibson@barker.nsw.edu.au
Year 9
Chinese
Mandarin Chinese is taught using activity based learning. In addition to following textbook based patterns, students spend a considerable amount of time ‘doing’ that which they learn and learning that which they ‘do’. This approach enhances greatly the students’ ability to retain Chinese structures and vocabulary, as students are required to communicate only in Chinese when preparing, undertaking and discussing activities.
Students will also use Chinese to write about the activities they have undertaken. These writing activities will only use Chinese characters, allowing students to become very familiar with the complexities of the Chinese script.
Furthermore, students will be given the opportunity to experience various aspects of Chinese culture and tradition through work activities and more official activities, such as participating in festivals.
Please note that students MUST study Chinese in Years 9 and 10 in order to continue their studies in Years 11 and 12.
French
The study of French in Years 9 and 10 provides the opportunity for active participation in reading, writing, listening and speaking one of the world’s great languages.
At the end of two years of study, students should be able to communicate orally with a native speaker and to understand the spoken language around basic topics. A student should also be able to read everyday French for information and enjoyment with a reasonable degree of comprehension and be able to communicate in writing ideas that express their everyday experience.
Please note that students MUST study French in Years 9 and 10 in order to continue their studies in Years 11 and 12.
Japanese
Students studying Japanese in Years 9 and 10 should be able to use and understand simple Japanese in everyday situations. This aim encompasses the four language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing.
Building on their knowledge of hiragana script from Year 8, students will continue on to learn katakana by the end of Year 9. A prescribed number of kanji will also be learnt by the end of Year 10. At all stages, emphasis is also placed on gaining knowledge of historical and cultural aspects of Japan and its people.
Barker College has enjoyed a sister school arrangement with Tokai Sugao High School, Tokyo, Japan since 1992 and students enjoy our cultural exchanges and connections.
Please note that students MUST study Japanese in Years 9 and 10 in order to continue their studies in Years 11 and 12.
Assessment
The study of a language will involve speaking, listening and writing assessment tasks.
Year 10
Chinese
Mandarin Chinese is taught using activity based learning. In addition to following textbook based patterns, students spend a considerable amount of time ‘doing’ that which they learn and learning that which they ‘do’. This approach enhances greatly the students’ ability to retain Chinese structures and vocabulary, as students are required to communicate only in Chinese when preparing, undertaking and discussing activities.
Students will also use Chinese to write about the activities they have undertaken. These writing activities will only use Chinese characters, allowing students to become very familiar with the complexities of the Chinese script.
Furthermore, students will be given the opportunity to experience various aspects of Chinese culture and tradition through work activities and more official activities, such as participating in festivals.
Please note that students MUST study Chinese in Years 9 and 10 in order to continue their studies in Years 11 and 12.
French
The study of French in Years 9 and 10 provides the opportunity for active participation in reading, writing, listening and speaking one of the world’s great languages.
At the end of two years of study, students should be able to communicate orally with a native speaker and to understand the spoken language around basic topics. A student should also be able to read everyday French for information and enjoyment with a reasonable degree of comprehension and be able to communicate in writing ideas that express their everyday experience.
Please note that students MUST study French in Years 9 and 10 in order to continue their studies in Years 11 and 12.
Japanese
Students studying Japanese in Years 9 and 10 should be able to use and understand simple Japanese in everyday situations. This aim encompasses the four language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing.
Building on their knowledge of hiragana script from Year 8, students will continue on to learn katakana by the end of Year 9. A prescribed number of kanji will also be learnt by the end of Year 10. At all stages, emphasis is also placed on gaining knowledge of historical and cultural aspects of Japan and its people.
Barker College has enjoyed a sister school arrangement with Tokai Sugao High School, Tokyo, Japan since 1992 and students enjoy our cultural exchanges and connections.
Please note that students MUST study Japanese in Years 9 and 10 in order to continue their studies in Years 11 and 12.
Assessment
The study of a language will involve speaking, listening and writing assessment tasks.
Year 11
Chinese
China is one of the world’s oldest and richest continuous cultures, over 5000 years old. Mandarin is the mother tongue of around 900 million people, making it the most widely spoken first language in the world.
Study of the Chinese language and cultural history, gives students access to the art, religion, music, customs and ways of thinking of a major culture which has particular relevance to Australia’s future.
By the end of Year 12, students should be able to exchange information, opinions and experiences in Chinese both verbally and in writing. They will also analyse, process and respond to spoken and written texts that are in Chinese and continue to learn about the culture of Chinese-speaking communities.
Eligibility:
Please note that students who have received some of their formal education in China or who have lived in a Chinese-speaking country for more that three of the last ten years may be required to take the Chinese in Context or Chinese in Literature course. For more information, please refer to the NESA guidelines
French
The study of French enables students to explore the traditions and attitudes of French-speaking countries and communities such as our South Pacific neighbours (New Caledonia, Tahiti, Vanuatu), South-East Asia (Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam), Europe (France, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg), Africa (Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia), the Middle East, the Indian Ocean region (Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion Island), Canada and the West Indies.
French is an official language for the Olympic Games; the United Nations, the European Union, and the South Pacific Commission, among others.
Through the study of the French language, students will learn to communicate in French and also gain an understanding and appreciation of the cultural contexts in which French is used.
By the end of Year 12, students should be able to exchange information, opinions and experiences in French both verbally and in writing. They will also analyse, process and respond to spoken and written texts that are in French and continue to learn about the culture of French-speaking communities.
Japanese
The study of Japanese language is of particular importance to Australians, both culturally and economically. Japan is Australia’s second largest trading partner and there are significant cultural ties between our countries. Japanese has been identified as one of the priority languages in the Asia-Pacific region to be taught in Australian schools.
Through learning Japanese, students gain access to both the language and the rich cultural traditions of Japan, as well as an understanding of different attitudes and values within the wider Australian community and beyond..
By the end of Year 12, students should be able to exchange information, opinions and experiences in Japanese both verbally and in writing. They will also analyse, process and respond to spoken and written texts that are in Japanese and continue to learn about the culture of Japanese-speaking communities.
Eligibility:
Please note that students who have received some of their formal education in Japan or who have lived in Japan for more that 3 of the last 10 years may be required to take the Japanese in Context or Japanese and Literature course. For more information, please refer to the NESA guidelines.
Assessment
The study of a language in Year 11 will involve speaking, listening and writing assessment tasks.