Chinese Second Language and Chinese Second Language Advanced 2008-2011
The VCE Chinese Second Language/Second Language Advanced Study Design has been reviewed and reaccredited for the period 2008–2011.
The study design has been modified in response to a perceived need by teachers to provide greater access to students undertaking the study and reflects the recommendations of teachers and other key stakeholders.
Summary of Changes
The curriculum content of the reaccredited study designs remains mainly unchanged. Changes have been made to both the School-assessed Coursework and the written examination for both Chinese Second Language and Chinese Second Language Advanced.
The skill of translating texts from Chinese characters into English has been included in Unit 2 Outcome 2 and Unit 4 Outcome 1 and in Section 2 of the end-of-year written examination.
Changes to the written examination include:
Section 1: Listening and responding, there has been an increase to the number of listening texts and a decrease to the total listening time.
Section 2, currently titled Reading and responding, will be titled Reading, responding and translating and will incorporate the skill of translation.
Section 3: Writing – there are no changes to the specifications in this section.
Unit 1
There are no changes to Unit 1. As in the current study design, students develop the skills to establish and maintain a spoken or written exchange, listen to, read and obtain information from spoken and written texts and produce a personal response to a text focusing on real or imaginary experience.
Unit 2
There are no changes to Unit 2, Outcomes 1 and 3. For Outcome 1, as in the current study design, students develop the skills to participate in a spoken or written exchange related to making arrangements and completing transactions. For Outcome 3, students develop the skills to give expression to real or imaginary experiences in spoken or written form.
Outcome 2 has changed. The skill of translation is acknowledged as integral in the development of linguistic competence and is included in this outcome. Students develop the skills necessary for reading written texts, and reorganising information and ideas in a different text type as well as the skills to translate these texts from Chinese characters into English.
Unit 3
There are no changes to Unit 3. As in the current study design, students develop the skills to express ideas through the production of original texts, analyse and use information from spoken texts and exchange information, opinions and experiences.
Unit 4
As in the current study design, Unit 4 requires students to develop key knowledge and skills to analyse and use information from written texts and to respond critically to spoken and written texts for Outcomes 1 and 2.
Outcome 1 has been modified to include translation of part of the written texts from Chinese characters into English. Marks allocated for School-assessed Coursework for this outcome remain unchanged for both Chinese Second language and Chinese Second Language Advanced.
Assessment
School-assessed Coursework, Unit 3 (25%) and Unit 4 (25%), continues to contribute 50 per cent to the study score. The end-of-year examination, oral component (12.5%) and written component (37.5%) continues to contribute 50 per cent to the study score.
End-of-year examinations
Oral component
There are no changes to the oral examination.
Written component
Specifications for the revised written component of the examinations in Chinese Second Language and in Chinese Second Language Advanced will be published on the VCAA website in June 2007. Sample examinations for both studies will be published at the start of Term 1 2008.
Enquiries about the content of the study design can be directed to:
Maree Dellora, Curriculum Manager, LOTE
Telephone: (03) 9651 4620
Email: dellora.maree.r@edumail.vic.gov.au
