LANGUAGES DOMAIN
Tim Mansfield
Languages Learning Leader
In our interconnected and interdependent world, learning a language opens up a wealth of personal, social, cultural, and employment opportunities. By acquiring communication skills in either French or Japanese, you'll not only be able to engage with others but also develop a deep understanding and appreciation for the interconnectedness of language, culture, and learning.
In Middle School (Year 7 & 8) you will begin your language learning journey in either Japanese or French.
If you've enjoyed your language studies during Middle School, we highly recommend continuing with a language in Year 9 and 10, and both French and Japanese are offered at a VCE Level.
Catholic College Wodonga has well-established relationships with sister schools, Matsudo International High School in Japan and Lycée Saint-Michel in Château-Gontier, France. These connections give us the ability to offer incredible firsthand experiences of language and culture, including the opportunity to participate in immersion trips that occur (normally every two years) for students continuing to study a language into Years 10-12.
9 French
- Learn practical French that you can use while traveling, working in French or living abroad
- Develop confidence and pronunciation with French by reading stories and plays
- Dive into French arts, culture and important events throughout the year
Subject Code: P1LFR
Year Level: 9
What will I learn?
Bonjour! In this class we learn to use the French language through lively activities and games alongside written language practice. We keep working on the core skills of speaking, writing, listening, reading and viewing. You will study topics to get you ready for travel (booking transport, making phone calls, making reservations, seeing a doctor), to make plans with French speakers and to talk about movies, music, money and other cultural elements in French.
What will I do?
- Interact with the other people in your class through guided speaking activities
- Use a range of learning platforms including Education Perfect to practice your language skills
- Listen to French songs and use the lyrics to get a better understanding of the language
What else should I know?
Thinking about studying French at VCE level? We recommend selecting this subject for all four semesters at Year 9 and 10. This means you are eligible to take part in the immersion trips that occur (normally every two years) at Years 10-12. Exchanges and immersions incur additional costs.
Where can this take me?
VCE Subjects: VCE French. Exchange and Immersion programs to Chateau-Gontier, France. Exchanges and immersions incur additional costs.
Immersion Programs: Exchange and Immersion programs to Chateau-Gontier, France.
Careers/Jobs: Any job can be performed in French! However, language-specific jobs include: work within international organisations, translator, speech pathologist, journalist, teacher, immigration lawyer, ship’s master, tourism operator, flight attendant, work with government departments (defence, immigration).
Duration:
2 semesters (Year).
Pre-requisites:
French in Years 7-8.
*Exchanges and immersions incur additional costs.*
9 Japanese
- Develop confidence writing and recognising Kanji, Katakana and Hiragana scripts
- Extend your ability to communicate in Japanese beyond simple words and phrases.
- Explore aspects of traditional and contemporary Japanese culture
Subject Code: P1LJA
Year Level: 9
What will I learn?
Building on your understanding of Japanese from Year 7 and 8, Year 9 Japanese is focused on consolidating basic skills such as reading and writing hiragana and katakana, whilst moving your skills from simple vocabulary and phrases to being able to engage in conversations and be able to listen, read, view and respond to a variety of written and spoken texts.
As your study of the language continues, so will your opportunity to explore aspects of Japanese culture, including Japanese food, sports and pastimes, school and daily life.
What will I do?
- Work with other like-minded students who share an interest in language learning and culture;
- Draw on a range of resources, including textbook materials, online platforms, realia and visiting native speakers to develop skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing.
What else should I know?
We recommend selecting this subject for all four semesters at Year 9 and 10. This means you are eligible to take part in the immersion trips that occur (normally every two years) at Years 10-12.
Where can this take me?
VCE Subjects: VCE Japanese.
Careers/Jobs: Any job can be performed in Japanese! However, language-specific jobs include work within international companies, translator/interpreter, journalist, teacher, immigration lawyer, hospitality and tourism operator, flight attendant, government department roles (eg. Foreign Affairs, Trade, Immigration, Intelligence), foreign aid/charity organisations, Australian Defence Force.
Duration:
2 semesters (Year).
Pre-requisites:
Japanese in Years 7-8.
*Exchanges and immersions incur additional costs.*
10 French
- Develop your confidence in spontaneous, conversational French
- Learn to talk about your plans for the future and current global issues like sustainability, technology and French cinema
- Grasp the base grammatical structures needed for VCE French
Subject Code: P2LFR
Year Level: 10
What will I learn?
Bonjour! In this class we keep working on the core skills needed to be able to use the language in life beyond school: speaking, writing, listening, reading and viewing. You will solidify your grammatical understanding of the main French sentence structures and tenses (présent, passé composé, imparfait, futur proche, futur simple). This is a really important element of Senior Language study, as it helps you to use the language more effortlessly and fluently in VCE.
What will I do?
- Interact with the other people in your class through guided speaking activities
- Use a range of learning platforms including out text Quoi de Neuf to practice your language skills
- Interact with the French-speaking world (including France, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, Madagascar and Senegal to name a few) through music and film
What else should I know?
Thinking about studying French at VCE level? You must complete Year 10 French. This means you are eligible to take part in the immersion trips that occur (normally every two years) at Years 10-12. Exchanges and immersions incur additional costs.
Where can this take me?
VCE Subjects: VCE French.
Immersion Programs: Exchange and Immersion programs to Chateau-Gontier, France.
Careers/Jobs: Any job can be performed in French! However, language-specific jobs include: work within international organisations, translator, speech pathologist, journalist, teacher, immigration lawyer, ship’s master, tourism operator, flight attendant, work with government departments (defence, immigration).
Duration:
2 semesters (Year).
Pre-requisites:
French in Years 7-9.
*Exchanges and immersions incur additional costs.*
10 Japanese
- Further your depth and breadth in understanding of kanji, vocabulary and grammar
- Build your conversational Japanese to a “Japan-ready” level
- Explore aspects of traditional and contemporary Japanese culture
Subject Code: P2LJA
Year Level: 10
What will I learn?
In Year 10, you will continue to build depth and breadth in vocabulary and grammar, with a focus on developing your skills as a flexible and effective communicator; whilst equipping you with a strong foundation for further study of Japanese at a VCE level.
As your study of the language continues across a range of topics, such as travel, eating out, health, shopping and fashion, so will your opportunity to explore aspects of Japanese traditional and contemporary culture.
What will I do?
- Work with other like-minded students who share an interest in language learning and culture;
- Draw on a range of resources, including textbook materials, online platforms, realia and visiting native speakers to develop skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing
What else should I know?
We recommend selecting this subject for all four semesters at Year 9 and 10. This means you are eligible to take part in the immersion trips that occur (normally every two years) at Years 10-12.
Where can this take me?
VCE Subjects: VCE Japanese.
Careers/Jobs: Any job can be performed in Japanese! However, language-specific jobs include work within international companies, translator/interpreter, journalist, teacher, immigration lawyer, hospitality and tourism operator, flight attendant, government department roles (eg. Foreign Affairs, Trade, Immigration, Intelligence), foreign aid/charity organisations, Australian Defence Force.
Duration:
2 semesters (Year).
Pre-requisites:
Japanese in Years 7-9.
*Exchanges and immersions incur additional costs.*