JAPANESE - Year 8 elective

Course Information:

Japan is our largest trading partner and provides one fifth of all inbound tourists. There are many job opportunities for Japanese speakers in Australia. The aim of this course is to teach students of all abilities to communicate in Japanese and to introduce them to the Japanese writing system. Students will also study the fascinating cultural life of Japan, including its many festivals, and they will spend some time learning the traditional paper craft of Origami. The study of lifestyle and customs in this course gives students an insight into Japanese culture which can be extremely useful later on in the workplace. A variety of course materials will be used, including songs, stories and videos.

• At the end of this course students are expected to be able to:
• Speak in Japanese using simple structures and vocabulary;
• Understand some very simple spoken Japanese;
• Read and write simple Japanese using Romanised script;
• Demonstrate an understanding of the Japanese writing system;
• Show some familiarity with the basic Japanese Hiragana alphabet;
• Demonstrate some understanding of Japanese lifestyle and culture.
•  

JAPANESE - Year 9 & 10 elective

 

Course Information:

Students will develop practical skills in speaking, reading, writing and listening to Japanese. They will study aspects of Japanese lifestyle and culture, and they will practise the Japanese paper craft of Origami. Students will learn to use the basic Japanese script of Hiragana and they will be introduced to the Kanji writing system. Topics will include basic greetings, numbers, the family, school, home life, sport, food and travel.

At the end of this course students are expected to be able to:

• Speak in Japanese using simple structures and vocabulary;
• Understand spoken Japanese relating to the above topics;
• Read sentences written in Japanese Hiragana script;
• Write in Japanese script using the vocabulary and structures studied during the course;
• Recognise and write some basic Kanji;
• Show some familiarity with Japanese lifestyle and culture.

Japanese Beginners Year 11 & 12 

2 Units in each of Preliminary and HSC

 Board Developed Course

Exclusions: Japanese Continuers, Japanese Background Speakers. Other eligibility rules apply. Check with your teacher or the Board's ACE Manual.

No knowledge of Japanese is required.

Students who select this course must be beginners.

What will I be doing in this course?

In the Preliminary course, students will develop their knowledge and understanding of Japanese through the themes suggested in the syllabus by integrated use of the four skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing.

In the HSC course, students will continue to develop their knowledge and understanding of Japanese through the four skills. Study may cover new topics or more detailed treatment of topics previously studied.

The main topics covered are: meeting people, family and friends, home life, education, around town, travel and the future.

What should I be able to do at the end of the course?

• Communicate on a personal level with native speakers of Japanese and travel and study in Japan
• Participate fully in every-day life and tourist ‘survival' situations like catching public transport, seeking medical attention and arranging accommodation
• Understand and appreciate Japanese culture and society
• Further knowledge of Japanese through continued learning or for future employment opportunities.

How will this course help me in the future?

 The study of Japanese provides students with knowledge, understanding and the skills that form a valuable foundation for a range of courses at university and other tertiary institutions. Many courses, ranging from Applied Science through Business and Administration, Communication and Humanities, the Creative and Performing Arts, Design, Education, Psychology, Social and Community Services, Engineering, Health Sciences, Sport and Recreation, Information Technology, Tourism and Hospitality can all be enhanced with International Studies. This provides the opportunity to spend a year at a in-country study in Japan and can result in a double degree.

The ability to move between countries, cultures and languages has increased due to globalisation, ease of travel and advanced information and communication technologies. High quality education in languages enables students to respond positively to the opportunities and challenges of their rapidly changing world and become more accepting of diversity, more respectful of others and more aware of their place in the international community.

Japanese companies have an important economic presence in Australia and Japan is a major trading partner. Australia is also a popular destination for Japanese tourists. Japan has a major role in world affairs. It is in the forefront of technology, telecommunications and trade. Japanese is a significant commercial language throughout the Asia Pacific region. A knowledge of Japanese provides students with opportunities to continue learning and for future employment both domestically and internationally in areas including commerce, tourism, hospitality and diplomacy.

Learning a language also helps to improve literacy skills in English.

Japanese Continuers - Year 11 & 12 

 

2 Units in each of Preliminary and HSC and an optional 1 Unit HSC Extension

Board Developed Course


Exclusions: Japanese Beginners and Japanese Background Speakers. Other eligibility rules apply to the study of this subject. Check with your teacher or the Board's ACE Manual.

What will I be doing in this course?

The Preliminary and HSC courses focus on themes and associated topics. Students' skills in, and knowledge of, Japanese will be developed through tasks associated with a range of texts and text types, which reflect the themes and topics. Students will also gain an insight into the culture and language of Japanese-speaking communities through the study of a range of texts. The themes are: the individual, the Japanese-speaking communities and the changing world.

Students' language skills are developed through tasks such as: conversation, responding to an aural stimulus, responding to a variety of written material, writing for a variety of purposes and studying Japanese culture through texts.

The 1 Unit HSC Japanese Extension course is available in Year 12 for students who have completed Preliminary Japanese Continuers, and are currently studying HSC Japanese Continuers. The Extension course has a prescribed theme and related issues as its organisational focus. Students' knowledge and understanding of Japanese language and culture will be enhanced through accessing a variety of texts, some of which are prescribed, related to the theme and issues. Students will extend their ability to use and appreciate Japanese as a medium for communication and creative thought and expression. The theme in the Extension course is the individual and contemporary society. The prescribed issues are: impact of technology, group versus the individual, and overcoming personal difficulties.

What should I be able to do at the end of the course?

 

·       Communicate with native speakers of Japanese and travel and study in Japan

·       Exchange information, opinions and experiences in Japanese

·       Express ideas through the production of original texts in Japanese

·       Analyse, process and respond to texts that are in Japanese

·       Understand and appreciate Japanese culture and society

·       Apply Japanese language skills in work, further study and leisure activities

·       Continue the study of Japanese at tertiary level.

 How will this course help me in the future?

The study of Japanese provides students with knowledge, understanding and the skills that form a valuable foundation for a range of courses at university and other tertiary institutions. Many courses, ranging from Applied Science through Business and Administration, Communication and Humanities, the Creative and Performing Arts, Design, Education, Psychology, Social and Community Services, Engineering, Health Sciences, Sport and Recreation, Information Technology, Tourism and Hospitality can all be enhanced with International Studies. This provides the opportunity to spend a year at a in-country study in Japan and can result in a double degree.

The ability to move between countries, cultures and languages has increased due to globalisation, ease of travel and advanced information and communication technologies. High quality education in languages enables students to respond positively to the opportunities and challenges of their rapidly changing world and become more accepting of diversity, more respectful of others and more aware of their place in the international community.

Japanese companies have an important economic presence in Australia and Japan is a major trading partner. Australia is also a popular destination for Japanese tourists. Japan has a major role in world affairs. It is in the forefront of technology, telecommunications and trade. Japanese is a significant commercial language throughout the Asia Pacific region. A knowledge of Japanese provides students with opportunities to continue learning and for future employment both domestically and internationally in areas including commerce, tourism, hospitality and diplomacy.

Learning a language also helps to improve literacy skills in English.