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 3 There 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 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 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 change The 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 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 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 Reading, responding and translating. Part A: Response in English Part B: Response in Chinese Part C: Translation - characters into English 7.5 Writing10

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