Languages

Overview

Melrose High School has strong focus on languages. Four languages are offered.

Chinese (Mandarin)
German
Indonesian
Japanese

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Year 7 and 8 - Language is a compulsory subject in years 7 and 8. Classes are not streamed in Year 7 but are in Year 8; where they are streamed into three separate skill levels. Students choose which language they wish to study for the two years.

Year 9 and 10 - Language is an elective subject for years 9 and 10. Students must choose to study a language in Year 9 if they wish to study a language in year 10, as the course continues on previous work studied in year 9.

Description of Courses

Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10
Compulsory	Compulsory	Elective	Elective
Choice of one language among Chinese, German, Indonesian and Japanese	Continuation of language of choice in Year 7	Continuation of language of choice in Year 7 and 8	Continuation of language of choice in Year 7, 8 and 9
No streaming	Streamed into Level 1, 2 and 3	International Students can be enrolled in Beginning Japanese	International Students can be enrolled in Beginning Japanese
Overseas excursion opportunities in Chinese and German	Overseas excursion opportunities in Chinese, German and Indonesian	Overseas excursion opportunities in Chinese, German, Indonesian and Japanese	Overseas excursion opportunities in Chinese, German, Indonesian and Japanese
Encouraged to sit for ACER Languages Certificate Test 1	Encouraged to sit for ACER Languages Certificate Test 1 or 2	Encouraged to sit for ACER Languages Certificate Test 2	Encouraged to sit for ACER Languages Certificate Test 2 or 3
			Can sit for Japanese Proficiency Test Level 4

The courses are designed to help each student achieve the fullest possible development in both intellectual and social skills related to the language taught; both for survival in the foreign country and/or for continuing studies at college level. The courses aim at student excellence in the intellectual skills associated with a foreign language. The four language courses develop learning experiences for students which enable them to prepare for further schooling, for training in employment or for other life situations.

The courses provide practice in all four basic language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Students are encouraged to speak German/Japanese/Indonesian/Chinese in questioning, general conversation, dialogues, and self-descriptions. Communicative grammar is an important part of the courses. It is taught concurrently throughout the course. The courses supply ample practice material and also encourage cultural awareness.

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Additional Programs

Hokkaido Makubetsu Board of Education Exchange Program in Japanese

Every year in late March, students from the Makubetsu Board of Education jurisdiction in Hokkaido Japan visit Melrose High School for one week. They are billeted and experience Australian school life during their stay. A reciprocal visit takes place biennially.

Enrichment Activities

� Students in Year 8 Level 1, Year 9 and 10 elective languages classes are encouraged to participate in the annual ACER Languages Certificate tests.

� All languages courses offer excursions to local restaurants such as Iori in Civic and Sizzle Bento in Woden (Japanese), Iron Chef in Mawson (Chinese), Sanur in Belconnen (Indonesian) and the Austrian Club in Mawson (German).

� All languages courses offer biennial overseas excursions to Japan, China, Germany, Malaysia and possibility to Indonesia and Taiwan.

ESL

ESL classes consist of less than 16 students, and these classes are specifically for International Students (IPS) students from diplomatic families, and students from non-English speaking background including refugees, who need extra support in English. ESL specific subjects include;

� Year 7 ESL English

� Year 8 ESL English

� Year 9/10 ESL English

� Year 9/10 ESL SOSE

For further information, please refer to the school’s International Students site

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