Understanding

Systems of language

Understand that Pinyin has tones and reproduce the tones with increasing accuracy

Explain the use of Pinyin as a learning tool to reflect the sound of Chinese spoken language

Identify characters that make up words such as 老/鼠 (lǎo/shŭ)
(ACLCHU010)

Understand that words such as 熊猫 (xióng māo) have two characters, with each character having a meaning and that sometimes there may be one, two or more characters to form one word
(ACLCHU011)

Notice and use context-related vocabulary and begin to use some first elements of grammar to generate simple spoken and written texts for a range of purposes, including:

  • that Chinese sentences have a particular word order, for example, 我爱妈妈 is about ‘I’ and 妈妈爱我 is about ‘Mum’
  • using the third person to introduce others
  • describing people using adjectives, for example, body parts 头、头发、眼睛、眉毛、鼻子、耳朵、身体、嘴巴、腿, adjectives 大、小、长、短、胖、瘦 and colours 黑色、棕色
  • recognising and using sentences to describe, for example, 我的眉毛很长;他的头发很短;
    她有黑色的头发;我有两只棕色的眼睛
    (ACLCHU012)

Understand that language is organised as ‘text’ that takes different forms and uses different structures and features to achieve its purpose
(ACLCHU013)

Language variation and change

Understand that Chinese speakers use language differently in different situations and according to cultural norms such as when at home with the family or in the classroom
(ACLCHU015)

Role of language and culture

Recognise that all languages, including Chinese continuously change through contact with each other and through changes in society
(ACLCHU014)