Changes to VCE Chinese Second Language / Chinese Second Language Advanced

Rationale

The VCE Chinese Second Language (CSL) and Chinese Second Language Advanced (CSLA) studies have been modified in response to a perceived need by teachers to provide greater access to students undertaking the study.

Rationale

These modifications reflect the recommendations of teachers and other key stakeholders.

General changes

•The curriculum content of the study design 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

•Chinese First Language has not changed at all

General changes

School Assessed Coursework

The changes to the School Assessed Coursework occur in Units 2 and 4 only.

General changes

Unit 1

There are no changes to Unit 1

Unit 2

Unit 2, Outcome 2b has changed. It now includes a task requiring students to translate texts from characters into English.

There are no changes to Unit 2, Outcomes 1, 2a and 3

General changes

Details of Unit 2, Outcome 2b

In Unit 2, Outcome 2b students will be required to read written texts, reorganise information and ideas in a different text type and translate part of these texts from Chinese characters into English.

General changes

Sample task for Outcome 2b:

Write a short summary

comparing rural or urban

life in China and Australia,

using information from two

written texts provided.

Translate part of one of the

texts from characters into English.

Chinese Second Language/Chinese Second Language Advanced

Unit 3There are no changes to Unit 3

Unit 4 Unit 4, Outcome 1 has changed. It now includes a task requiring students to translate texts from characters into English.There are no changes to Unit 4, Outcomes 2a and 2b

Chinese Second Language/Chinese Second Language Advanced

Details of Unit 4, Outcome 1

In Unit 4, Outcome 1 students will be required to read written texts, analyse and use

information from them and translate part of these texts from Chinese characters into English.

Chinese Second Language

Sample task for CSL for Unit 4 Outcome 1:

Read two articles on the meaning of friendship and answer questions related to the content.

Translate part of one of the articles from characters into English

Chinese Second Language Advanced

Sample task for CSLA for Unit 4 Outcome 1:

Read two articles on the meaning of friendship and write a formal letter to the editor supporting one view and opposing the other.

Translate part of one of the articles from characters into English

Translation

The translation tasks require students to:

• Translate texts from characters into English• Understand texts and clearly convey

meaning

Written Examination

Section 1: Listening and responding• The number of listening texts is no

longer specified and there has been a decrease in the total listening time.

• The total listening time for one reading of the texts without pauses will be approximately 1½ -2 minutes

Chinese Second Language

Written Examination

Section 2: Reading, responding and translating • This section has a new title and the number of

texts in Part A and Part B has been modified.• Overall length of text in Parts A and B will be 250 -350 characters• New section, Part C, which requires students to

complete a translation task.• Total length of text for Part C will be 150 – 250

characters

Chinese Second Language

Written Examination

Section 3: Writing

There are no changes to the specifications

in this section

Chinese Second Language

Written Examination

Section 1: Listening and responding• The number of listening texts is no

longer specified and there has been a decrease in the total listening time.

• The total listening time for one reading of the texts without pauses will be approximately 1½ -2 minutes

Chinese Second Language Advanced

Written Examination

Section 2: Reading, responding and translating • This section has a new title and the number of

texts in Part A and Part B has been modified.• Overall length of text in Parts A and B will be 350 -450 characters• New section, Part C, which requires students to

complete a translation task.• Total length of text for Part C will be 200 – 300

characters

Chinese Second Language Advanced

Written Examination

Section 3: Writing

There are no changes to the specifications

in this section

Chinese Second Language Advanced

Further examination details

Weighting changeThe total weighting of Section 2: Reading, responding and translating has been increased to 22.5%

Chinese Second Language Advanced The changes to the Chinese Second Language Advanced examination only differ from those made for the Chinese Second Language examination in the number and length of texts and characters. (See charts below)

Contribution of assessment tasks to the study score - CSL Unit 3

School-assessed coursework

Chinese Second Language%

Unit 3

150–200 character personal or imaginative written piece.

10

Response to spoken texts. 5

A 3-4 minute role-play focusing on the resolution of an issue

10

Contribution of assessment tasks to the study score - CSL Unit 4

School-assessed coursework

Chinese Second Language%

Unit 4

Response to written texts and translation

5

250-character informative, persuasive or evaluative written response.

10

Three - to four- minute interview. 10

Contribution of assessment tasks to the study score - CSLA Unit 3

School-assessed coursework

Chinese Second Language Advanced%

Unit 3

200–250 character personal or imaginative written piece.

10

Response to spoken texts. 5

A role-play of approximately 4 minutes focusing on the resolution of an issue

10

Contribution of assessment tasks to the study score - CSLA Unit 4

School-assessed coursework

Chinese Second Language Advanced%

Unit 4

An extended response to written texts and translation.

5

300 - 350 character informative, persuasive or evaluative written piece.

10

Interview of approximately 4 minutes.

10

Contribution of examinations to the study score – CSL and CSLA

Written Examination

Chinese Second Language and Chinese Second Language Advanced

%

Listening and responding.

Part A: Response in English

Part B: Response in Chinese 2.5

2.5Reading, responding and translating.

Part A: Response in English

Part B: Response in Chinese

Part C: Translation - characters into English

7.5

7.5

7.5

Writing 10

Contribution of oral examination to the study score – CSL and CSLA

Oral Examination

Chinese Second Language and Chinese Second Language Advanced -

%

Conversation

Discussion

12.5