Ku-ring-gai High School

Harmony in Diversity

Telephone02 9144 3477

Emailkuringgai-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Languages

In NSW high schools, languages is a key learning area.

Language study allows students to develop communication skills, learn about languages as systems and explore the relationship between language and culture. Students engage with the linguistic and cultural diversity of societies and reflect on their understanding of social interactions.

The study of a language is compulsory for 100 hours in one continuous school year from Year 7 to Year 10, but preferably in Years 7 or 8.

In Years 11 and 12, NSW schools offer a wide variety of languages, catering for beginning students to background speakers.

The study of a language is significant in the development of an awareness of one's own language and plays a valuable role in the general education of students. It develops skills and disciplines which can be transferred to other learning areas, especially literacy and provides avenues for personal expression, access to an extended range of recreational activities including travelling, cultural excursions and enhanced employment opportunities.

Year 7 and 8 mandatory

As part of the mandatory language program, students are introduced to the Japanese language. They learn some basic language and grammatical structures and how to communicate using basic structures and familiar settings. Students also become aware of the rich diversity of cultures, festivals and traditions which are part of the Japanese speaking world.

Year 9 and 10 electives

In this course, students will learn Japanese grammar and structures as well as the topics prescribed by the NSW Department of Education. This course allows students to communicate in Japanese on the topics studied and will provide a solid ground to continue the study of the language in Year 11 and 12 continuers course (Stage 6).

Language is intrinsically attached to culture, thus students become familiar with the customs and way of life of Japan. Learning a language also instils in the students a sense of global understanding and their connection as citizens of the world.

Year 11 and 12 - Higher School Certificate

Japanese beginners

The Stage 6 beginners course is a course which allows students, who have not studied Japanese in stage 5, to learn a language in the last two years of high school. It is a 2 unit board approved course which provides an excellent base to continue the study of Japanese at a university level, allows students to communicate in Japanese and have a very good understanding of the grammar and structure of the language.

In addition, this course would improve students' understanding of English grammar and structures as language connections are an important component of learning a second language.

Japanese continuers

The Japanese continuers course is a 2 unit board approved course which requires a thorough knowledge of Japanese. Students built up from the vocabulary and structures which they acquired in Year 9 and 10, becoming more proficient with the use of language and expanding the study of topics beyond the personal world.

This course will assist students to analyse texts and deduce and infer meaning. Texts and language analyses are part of this course which expands from the personal world to the world of work, environment, arts, discrimination etc.

Japanese extension

The extension course is based on 8 short stories of the prescribed text and the prescribed issues. It is a 1 unit course which allows students to develop understanding of literary analysis and in depth study and analysis of the prescribed issues and topics.

Japanese is spoken as a native language by more than 128 million people and is considered one of the world's major languages.  Outside Japan there are over 5 million people who speak Japanese with some degree of proficiency, mainly in North and South America, Canada and Australia