LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT
Teachers in Charge:
Mrs S Burch (HOD)
Mr W Jackson (Asst. HOD)
Mrs H Amoamo (PR Mäori)
Subjects Offered:
French: Forms 3-7
German: Forms 3-7
Japanese: Forms 3-7
Mäori: Forms 3-7
Spanish: Forms 6 and 7
FRENCH
General Aim: To study and appreciate French as a leading world
language, developing the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing in order to
communicate effectively in everyday situations; to study the way of life in a variety of
French-speaking countries and, in doing so, develop sensitivity to other cultures and
greater understanding of our own. Materials used include songs, video-tapes, listening
posts and a graded reading scheme.
Form 3 French
Course Content: Emphasis is on listening and speaking skills. Students
are encouraged to use French right from the start. Reading and writing activities are also
introduced. Themes are: greetings, numbers, alphabet, time, school, sports, talking about
yourself, your family and friends, pets, describing people, French throughout the world,
and getting acquainted with France.
Assessment: Class tests, listening and speaking tests in the course
book. End-of-year exam.
Form 4 French
Pre-requisite: 3rd Form French.
Course Content: The four skills begin to receive more equal attention,
although emphasis is still placed on speaking activities. Dictation in French and
translation into English are introduced. Students learn to talk about present, past, and
future activities. New themes are: home, town and shopping, travel, interests and hobbies,
expressing feelings.
Assessment: Regular tests of vocabulary and verbs; listening, reading,
writing and speaking tests in the course book; end of year examination.
Form 5 French
Pre-requisite: 4th Form French
Course Content: Varied language activities encourage greater skill in
listening, speaking, reading and writing. Themes are: holidays, travel, sport and leisure,
health, cafes and restaurants, communications and talking about New Zealand in French.
Themes from forms 3 and 4 are revised.
Assessment: Regular vocabulary, grammar and verb tests as well as
testing of progress in the four main skills. School Certificate includes a 20% oral
component internally assessed in 3 tests through the year, as well as a cultural knowledge
section tested in English.
Form 6 French
Pre-requisite: Minimum grade C in S.C. French.
Course Content: The course is theme-oriented and covers a selection of
the following: teenagers, daily life, cultural life, fashion, health, New Zealand, the
French-speaking world, media and holidays. We use the language to explain our way of life
and learn about French-speaking countries. French literature is introduced through short
stories and poems.
Assessment: 6FC is internally assessed. Regular grammar and vocabulary
tests as well as tests at the end of each unit in the various skills. End of year
examination.
Form 7 French
Pre-requisite: Minimum grade 5 in SFC French
Course Content: Themes as for Form 6. Those not covered previously will
be studied this year and last year's themes will be expanded. We deal with some more
general material concerning history, society and culture. Students do more extended
reading. This may include the study of one or more novels in French.
Assessment: Bursary French includes a 20% oral component assessed in 3
tests over the year. Also regular tests of vocabulary, verbs and grammar, as well as
progress tests in the various skills. Mid-year examination.
GERMAN
General aim: To study the German language, way of life and history and
to promote and encourage cultural awareness and tolerance. To gain an insight into our own
culture through comparison with that of Germany. To develop the four main linguistic
skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking in German.
Form 3 German
Course Content: Students learn to talk about themselves, their families
and interests in German. They learn to read, write and speak basic German, and understand
spoken German. They will learn songs, watch videos, listen to tapes and be involved in
project work.
Assessment: Two small speaking tests (1 per half year). Regular
vocabulary and verb testing. End-of-year exam.
Form 4 German
Pre-requisite: Form 3 German
Course Content: Emphasis is placed on speaking German and having fun
within the language. Progress is made with learning new grammar and the students will
continue to learn about German life and how to talk about important everyday things.
Assessment: Regular class vocabulary and verb testing. End of unit
tests covering listening, reading, writing and speaking skills, as appropriate.
End-of-year exam.
Form 5 German
Pre-requisite: 4th Form German
Course Content: There are 8 prescribed thematic topics:
- The individual;
- The family and home ;
- School and education;
- Social life
- City and town
- Sport and recreation
- Travel and holidays
- Geography
Students are encouraged to increase their reading, writing, speaking and listening
skills within these and enjoy the culture.
Assessment: S.C. German exam. 20% oral component requires 3 oral tests in the year.
Regular vocabulary and verb testing. End of unit testing, covering reading, writing,
listening skills.
Form 6 German
Pre-requisite: Minimum grade C in S.C. German.
Course Content: The course is theme-oriented i.e. job-hunting and
educational systems, travel and holidays, foreigners in Germany, reunification, etc. which
are compared to N.Z. The four skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking) are further
developed. Students will be encouraged to take part in the Waikato Exchange at the end of
the year.
Assessment: There will be 4 assessments plus a seminar throughout the
year worth 80%. Regular vocabulary and verb testing. Six main units of work based on a
theme. The exam will be worth 20%.
Form 7 German
Pre-requisite: Minimum grade 5 in SFC German.
Course Content: A continuation of theme work i.e. young people, looking
at German and European society and comparing it with our own, environmental issues, etc.
Seminar presentations and individual research are encouraged. Literature studies are
integrated into theme work.
Assessment: University Bursary prescription. 20% oral component -
requires 3 oral tests in the year. Regular vocabulary and verb testing. 5-6 units of work
based on a theme with assignment work and/or a test. Revision of Form 6 work.
JAPANESE
General Aim: Through the study of a foreign language we increase our
understanding of other peoples and their culture as well as our own. We emphasise
communication in the target language and students learn to understand and speak as well as
to read and write.
Form 3 Japanese (total beginners)
Course Content: An introduction to the Japanese writing system, life in
Japan, including family and school life. Students are encouraged to use spoken Japanese as
much as possible.
Assessment: Class tests. Final exam. 2 small speaking tests.
Form 3 Japanese (non-beginners)
Course Content: A further development of the Japanese writing systems
and communication related to daily life and customs of Japan.
Assessment: Class tests. Final exam. 2 small speaking tests.
Form 4 Japanese
Pre-requisite: 3rd Form Japanese.
Course Content: Through themes of daily life and customs we increase
our communication skills and understanding. Students continue to develop their knowledge
of the Japanese writing system.
Assessment: Class tests. Final exam. 2 small speaking tests.
Form 5 Japanese
Pre-requisite: 4th Form Japanese.
Course Content: Communication skills are developed further covering
several topics such as: family, travel, your town and how to get around, daily routines,
leisure activities and shopping. Cultural themes include comparison between N.Z. and
Japan, daily life and work. (Regular vocabulary and unit tests including writing, reading
and listening skills).
Assessment: S.C. Japanese is 40% internally assessed: 20% for oral
work, 20% for cultural studies each of which has 3 tests during the year.
Form 6 Japanese
Pre-requisite: Minimum grade C in S.C. Japanese.
Course Content: Thematic in its approach to enable the students to
describe Japan and New Zealand. The topics covered in 6th form are family life, eating and
drinking, education and leisure activities.
Assessment: 6FC (internally assessed) includes cultural assignments in
English as well as tests in oral and written Japanese language skills. Final exam.
Form 7 Japanese
Pre-requisite: Minimum grade 5 in SFC Japanese
Course Content: A continuation of the themes: Land and People, Travel
and Tourism, Japan at Work and Communication and the Media. Presentation in both Japanese
and English and individual research are encouraged.
Assessment: University Bursary examination with 20% internally assessed
oral component. 3 speaking tests. Regular vocabulary, Kanji, and unit tests including
reading, writing and listening skills.
MÄORI
General Aim: To enable pupils to understand spoken Mäori, speak in
Mäori, understand written Mäori, write in Mäori, and gain some insight into the culture
associated with the language.
Form 3 Te Reo Mäori
There are two third form Te Reo Mäori classes. The beginners class
caters for students who have nil to a little experience in Mäori language. The advanced
class caters for students who have a strong background in Te Reo Mäori. Pupils coming
from Kohanga Reo, bilingual and total immersion Mäori units will be placed in this class
along with pupils who have had a continuous Mäori language programme prior to entering
High School.
Course Content: Students are introduced to listening, speaking, reading
and writing skills to Te Rangatahi I level. Workbooks used are Te Matapuna Book 1.
Assessment: A series of assignments and tests and an end of year
examination.
Form 4 Te Reo Mäori
Pre-requisite: 3rd Form Mäori.
Course Content: Students develop their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills
to Te Rangatahi I level. Students also work from Te Pukaki Book 2 by I & S McCormack.
Assessment: A series of assignments and tests and an end of year exam.
Form 5 Te Reo Mäori
Pre-requisite: 3rd & 4th Form Mäori.
Course Content: Students develop their listening, speaking, reading and
writing skills to the level of Te Rangatahi II.
Assessment: Series of assignments and tests, and a mid-year and end of
year examination. The final S.C. grade is decided by an external written examination at
the end of the year. The oral component consists of two speaking tests through the year
and a third test moderated by external assessors. This results in the final separate grade
for speaking.
Form 6 Te Reo Mäori
Pre-requisite: A good grade in Form 5 Te Reo Mäori. Grade 3 is
acceptable.
Course Content: Students develop their listening, speaking, reading and
writing skills to the first half of Te Reo Rangatira. Students also study the culture
associated with the language in these chapters. Te Rangatahi II Book is also used.
Assessment: Series of assignments and tests on language covered and
culture associated with it. End of year examination.
Form 7 Te Reo Mäori
Pre-requisite: A good grade in Form 6 Te Reo Mäori.
Course Content: Students develop their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills
to the level of the second half of Te Reo Rangatira. Te Rangatahi II Book is also used.
Assessment: Series of assignments and tests and a 2 1/2 hour written
examination is held in Term 2. A 1/2 hour oral examination also takes place in Term 2
making up 40% of the total examination. An external audio, oral and written examination at
the end of the year. The oral section of the examination is worth 40% of the total mark.
The other 60% will come from the written paper.
SPANISH
General Aim: The general aims for learning Spanish in N.Z. are to be
able to communicate through listening, speaking, reading and writing in a variety of
situations with people from Spain, Latin America and other peoples comprising the 300
million Hispanic speakers of the world. Through acquiring knowledge of Hispanic
contributions to the world, a better understanding of these cultures is gained.
Form 6 Spanish
Pre-requisite: Grade C in S.C. English is desirable. Good progress can
be made by beginners as well as those with previous foreign language experience. Students
must be committed to daily homework, learning the day's new language and revising previous
work.
Course Content: Everyday situations provide basis for language study.
Students are also introduced to the culture, history and geography of a range of
Spanish-speaking countries and two assignments are required.
Assessment: 6FC internal assessment: speaking tests and
listening/reading/writing tests 70%; final exam 30%.
Form 7 Spanish
Pre-requisite: Grade 5+ in 6FC Spanish and ability to cope with grammar
and written Spanish.
Course Content: Continues from 6th Form course with increasing emphasis
on culture, history and contemporary events in the Hispanic world, including two
assignments.
Assessment: Mid-year exam. Regular assessment each term of verbs,
grammar, speaking, listening, reading and writing. Note: UB Spanish has a 15% oral
component, assessed in three tests during the year. |