LOTE
LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH FACULTY
Members of the Faculty
Marcela Ayas
Head Teacher Languages |
Adriana Caballero
Teacher of Spanish |
Mark Grace
Teacher of Japanese
|
Ms. Daniela Zanet
Head Teacher Administration
Teacher of Italian |
RATIONALE
Hola, Ciao and Konnichiwa
In today’s changing world, knowing a second language is becoming increasingly important. Learning a language goes beyond
having linguistic skills, it is more than communicating, it is the key to cultures that without the linguistic understanding
the intricacies and idiosyncrasies would be very difficult to understand.
The knowledge of a second language allows us to dig deep into the cultures of peoples that would otherwise remain a mystery,
therefore, may it be for business, sport, career, pleasure or because we want to go globetrotting, knowing a language will
help us to see the world from a different perspective.
Year 8
At Westfields Sports we offer Japanese, Spanish and Italian and all students will have completed the 100 mandatory
hours in one of the three languages by the end of Year 8. This is an introductory course wherein students are introduced to
the four macro skills of language; reading, writing, listening and speaking. By the end of the 100 hours students should have
acquired a basic appreciation of language acquisition and an understanding of basic language structures. We begin with
greetings, introductions, numbers, the time, birthdays, nationalities, adjectives, vocabulary and topics relating to the
adolescents’ world and simple verbs. Throughout the course students are also exposed to the cultures of the languages
studied by showing them the differences, similarities and the importance of respect and tolerance.
Years 9 & 10
At the end of Year 8, students choose their elective subjects for their School Certificate and at this stage we offer
Italian and Japanese. The course builds on the structures learned the previous year, beginning with revision, an overview
of the course and building of vocabulary. Students are introduced to reflexive verbs, tenses and conjugations, personal
subject and object pronouns, possessive adjectives, interrogations and relatively more complex linguistic structures. By
the end of the course students should be able to communicate effectively in relatively formal and informal settings. They
should be able to maintain a basic conversation as well as to communicate in the written form.
Yrs 11 & 12
Spanish Continuers is offered in Yr 11 as a 2 Unit HSC course. This course is offered to students who have either studied
Spanish for their School Certificate (currently not offered at Westfields Sports) or to students who have had exposure to
the language and already have a basic understanding in one or more of the four language macro skills. The course builds on
the students’ prior knowledge as well as introducing them to more formal and complex structures of the language. All topics
are based around the world of the student ‘My World’ and we explore these while working on grammar, language structure and
cultural appreciation. The Extension course is offered in Yr 12 and it is for those students who have sound linguistic
skills and wish to further their studies through the analysis of various texts and film.
At Westfields Sports High School we pride ourselves in endeavoring to teach language beyond the classroom and try to teach
language as part of our everyday world. We aim to immerse and expose our students to the different cultures by organising
cultural activities, dances and excursions.
A highlight of language studies at Westfields Sports is a very special visit from Japanese schools where students travel
to Australia to make new friends and experience first hand the importance of communication. Another highlight is the
opportunities available for international travel. We always organise excursions to Japan, Italy and the Spanish speaking
world!
Learning a language is a very rewarding experience because with it comes a package that is full of surprises, new ideas,
new beginnings and insight of the world and the self that is very difficult to surpass.
Marcela Ayas
Head Teacher Languages
|
|
