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Advice for teachers -
Chinese Second Language

Teaching and learning activities

Unit 3

Unit 3 – Area of Study 1: Interpersonal communication

Theme: The individual
Topic: Personal identity
Sub topic: Health and wellbeing

Outcome 1

Participate in a spoken exchange in Chinese to resolve a personal issue.

Examples of learning activities

  • Watch video clips on YouTube or other media about the health and wellbeing of Chinese speaking teenagers and take notes.
  • Conduct an interview with a Chinese-speaking student about his/her views on the importance of balancing study and leisure.
  • Participate in a group/class discussion on the time pressures that face Australian teenagers and their Chinese-speaking counterparts.
  • Read an article about personal interests, hobbies and leisure time to develop vocabulary and expressions.
  • Read an article outlining the importance of a healthy lifestyle for young people in China. Summarise your findings in a paragraph.
  • Discuss the findings with classmates.
  • Create a glossary of words and expressions to form a basis for understanding the topic.
  • Read blog posts from a country where Chinese is spoken about how young people balance cocurricular/school commitments and fitness.
  • Listen to a conversation between two young people discussing school routines and finding time for recreational activities.
  • Work in pairs asking each other questions about the importance of a balanced and healthy lifestyle.
  • Prepare an oral presentation to tell the class about tips for balancing study and leisure activities.
  • Participate in a role play according to a scenario given.
  • Example icon for advice for teachers
    Write an email to a friend convincing them to adopt a more balanced lifestyle in Year 12.
Example icon for advice for teachers 

Detailed example

Email a friend convincing them to adopt a more balanced lifestyle in Year 12

  1. Watch video clips about the interests and hobbies and the leisure time of Chinese-speaking teenagers and take notes.
  2. Listen to an interview with a Chinese-speaking student about his/her views on the importance of personal interests, hobbies and leisure.
  3. Hold a group/class discussion on personal interests, hobbies and leisure and summarise some key information from the discussion.
  4. List vocabulary and expressions related to interests, hobbies and leisure.
  5. Read an article on healthy lifestyles/routines for young people and summarise the key information.
  6. List vocabulary related to health and nutrition.
  7. Listen to a conversation between Year 12 students about how their studies are progressing. Take notes on what they say to each other and the language they use.
  8. Watch a vlog in which a teacher offers ideas to students about how to tackle Year 12 (or equivalent in China) in the healthiest way possible.
  9. Find and read websites that target students and their study methods. List ideas and advice provided.
  10. Read a youth magazine where students have asked questions about healthy and balanced lifestyles. Discuss the responses and decide whether they are realistic.
  11. Draft an email to a friend suggesting actions that could be taken to have a balanced and healthy lifestyle in Year 12. In the draft include:
    • solutions or ideas
    • language that would be used when addressing a friend
    • vocabulary and expressions that highlight your knowledge in this area
    • grammar that showcases your linguistic facility.

Unit 3 – Area of Study 2: Interpretive communication

Theme: The Chinese-speaking communities
Topic: Living in a Chinese-speaking community
Sub topic: Sightseeing and places of interest

Outcome 2

Interpret information from texts and write responses in Chinese.

Examples of learning activities

  • View a map of a place of interest in a country where Chinese is spoken and identify the geographical features.
  • Individually or in pairs, discuss aspects of the place of interest such as the climate, historical sites, transport options, festivals/traditions and food/cuisine etc.
  • Research the aspects on the internet for more information and write down the key information in dot points.
  • Read blog posts about several places of interest and answer questions.
  • Watch a video clip about a place of interest and list the key information.
  • Prepare a poster or PowerPoint about a selected place of interest and present it to the class. Answer questions from students.
  • In small groups, discuss the main features of a travel brochure and report your findings to the class.
  • Design a travel brochure about a place of interest that will promote a particular cultural aspect or tradition.
  • Example icon for advice for teachers
    Deliver a three-minute speech about a chosen place of interest with emphasis on one particular aspect of its traditions or culture. Respond to questions from the class and to their comments about the presentation in terms of content and language used.
  • Write a 200-character personal blog post as though you have just visited a place of interest. Comment on your reactions to discovering the place and any cultural observations about its role in the country where it is located.
Example icon for advice for teachers 

Detailed example

A three-minute speech about a chosen place of interest with emphasis on particular aspects of its traditions or culture

  1. Research a place of interest. Create a glossary of its various attractions and traditions as well as its geography and history.
  2. Gather images of the place and any of its traditional festivals. Display them on a poster with detailed captions.
  3. Watch a video of people talking about visiting this place. Make notes in answer to these questions: How do they present themselves physically while giving the talk? What type of language do they use? What techniques do they employ to make it engaging and interesting?
  4. Plan the three-minute speech using the research information. Re-read the information gathered about the place and consider which aspects must be included to convey the flavour of the place and its traditions in the best possible way.
  5. Practise reading the script aloud and note areas that might pose problems in terms of pronunciation or intonation.
  6. If using images as part of the speech, practise indicating them to others so that listeners are aware of them and appreciate how they support the spoken material.
  7. Record the speech. Listen to the recording and make any necessary changes to either content or delivery. Also note the timing and adjust the speed of presentation or information included.
  8. Respond to questions and comments from the class after the presentation.

Unit 3 – Area of Study 3: Presentational communication

Theme: The world around us
Topic: Communication and media
Sub topic: Social media

Outcome 3

Express ideas in a personal, informative or imaginative piece of writing in Chinese.

Examples of learning activities

  • Create a glossary of Chinese words and expressions focusing on concepts and ideas that are often discussed in Australia about social media and its influence.
  • Read an article about social media use in China. Compare the glossary to the vocabulary in the article. Identify any particular words or expressions not already in the glossary. Consider whether this highlights other cultural concerns. Discuss the similarities and differences in pairs and write a 100-character paragraph explaining why that might be so.
  • Discuss in a group social media as a popular form of communication and note the relevant vocabulary.
  • Watch a documentary on the topic of social media and answer questions.
  • Research online to discover the most effective way of using social media in China and in Australia.
  • Listen to people discussing their social media habits. Write a list of their opinions/preferences and note any problems or solutions.
  • Discuss in pairs the different ways of using social media. Write down five questions to be used in a class survey.
  • Share your questions with the class and design a series of questions for a social media survey in Chinese. Complete the survey and discuss the findings.
  • Read an article about social media and its change in the past 10 years.
  • Discuss the use of social media and its impact on everyday life. Write a 100-character informative summary.
  • Consolidate learning on the topic of social media in China. Using information extracted from spoken, written and viewed texts, write a personal informative or imaginative piece of writing.
  • Example icon for advice for teachers
    Research the topic of social media use in China. Use information extracted from written, spoken or viewed texts to create a brochure to present strategies for successful and effective social media use.
Example icon for advice for teachers 

Detailed example

Create a brochure to present strategies for successful and effective social media use.

  1. Discuss in groups social media use and its impact on everyday life.
  2. Watch a documentary on social media and write down the key information.
  3. Research online to find some facts and data for comparison. Collect any relevant images and note the sites that the information came from.
  4. Listen to a conversation between young people in which they discuss the different ways they use social media for communication, entertainment and shopping.
  5. Read an article about social media and change. Write a 100-character informative summary.
  6. Discuss in pairs how best to answer questions related to the topic in Chinese using full sentences.
  7. Individually, select an article and write questions on it. Also create an answer key for these questions.
  8. Circulate the sets of questions. Answer all of them. Correct as a group.
  9. Read some brochures and discuss the features and characteristics of each one.
  10. Under a series of subheadings, draft a paragraph about the most effective ways to use social media. Swap the drafts with a classmate to provide each other with feedback on language and grammar use.
  11. Create the brochure, integrating the use of headings, subheadings and images with captions in order to present the information effectively and appropriately.