Kura Tuarua Marautanga
Upper School Curriculum
Languages
The teaching of languages involves instructing students in the grammar, vocabulary, and cultural nuances of foreign languages. It aims to develop proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing, fostering cross-cultural understanding and communication skills in diverse linguistic contexts.
Languages Class 8
In Class 8, Languages support the developmental theme of "threshold," marking the students' transition from lower to upper school. It is also the beginning of a more structured approach to language learning, aimed at developing confident, culturally aware, and intellectually curious students. By understanding and using familiar expressions and everyday vocabulary, interacting in simple ways, and recognizing the organization of languages and cultures, students become equipped to navigate the complexities of communication and cultural exchange in today’s world.
Skill Development:
- Comprehension and Usage: Students learn to understand and use familiar expressions and everyday vocabulary. They can receive and produce simple information on familiar topics, allowing them to engage in conversations about daily life and common experiences.
- Interaction: Students can interact in simple ways, asking and responding to questions and requests. They learn to show social awareness and adapt their communication to different social contexts, fostering respectful and meaningful interactions.
- Expression: Through supported activities, students practice producing and responding to questions and requests, enhancing their ability to communicate needs, share information, and participate in basic discussions.
Language Knowledge:
- Recognition and Connection: Students learn to recognize the organization of the target language and make connections with their own language(s). This involves understanding basic grammatical structures, common phrases, and vocabulary usage in context.
- Comparative Understanding: By comparing the target language with their own language(s), students develop a deeper appreciation of linguistic structures and gain insights into how different languages function.
Cultural Knowledge:
- Cultural Recognition: Students recognize that the target culture(s) is (are) organized in particular ways. This includes understanding cultural norms, traditions, and societal structures.
- Connection to Own Culture: By making connections between the target culture and their known culture(s), students develop a broader perspective and appreciation for cultural diversity. They explore similarities and differences, fostering an inclusive mindset.
Cross-Curricular Links:
- Integration with Other Subjects: Language lessons incorporate content from other subjects, such as history, geography, and social studies, to provide context and deepen understanding.
- Cultural Projects: Students engage in projects that explore the culture of the target language, linking language learning with arts, literature, and humanities.
Skill Development:
- Comprehension and Construction: Students learn to understand and construct simple texts using their knowledge of the target language. They practice reading and writing on familiar topics, allowing them to convey information clearly and accurately.
- Description: Students can communicate about aspects of their own background and immediate environment. This includes sharing personal experiences, discussing daily routines, and describing their surroundings.
- Information and Ideas: Students can understand and produce information and ideas. They engage in activities that require them to process and communicate information, enhancing their ability to articulate thoughts and concepts.
- Expression and Response: Students can express and respond to personal needs and interests. They practice communicating their preferences, desires, and feelings, and learn to respond appropriately to others in various contexts.
Language Knowledge:
- Recognition and Description: Students learn to recognize and describe ways in which the target language is organized. This involves understanding more complex grammatical structures, idiomatic expressions, and syntactical patterns.
- Comparative Understanding: By comparing and contrasting the target language with their own language(s), students develop a nuanced understanding of linguistic differences and similarities, which enhances their overall language competence.
Cultural Knowledge:
- Cultural Recognition and Description: Students recognize and describe ways in which the target culture(s) is (are) organized. This includes examining cultural norms, values, traditions, and societal structures in greater depth.
- Comparative Cultural Practices: By comparing and contrasting the target culture with their own culture(s), students gain a richer perspective on cultural diversity and practices, fostering a more inclusive and empathetic worldview.
Cross-Curricular Links:
- Integration with Other Subjects: Language lessons incorporate content from other subjects, such as history, geography, and social studies, providing students with a well-rounded context for their language learning and deepening their overall understanding.
- Cultural Projects: Students engage in projects that explore the culture of the target language, linking language learning with arts, literature, and humanities. These projects encourage students to apply their language skills creatively and thoughtfully.
Languages Class 9
In Class 9, Languages provide an opportunity to explore the developmental theme of "polarities," where students are encouraged to understand and appreciate similarities and differences within language and culture. Students continue to develop their language and cultural skills. At this stage, students may become more reluctant to speak an additional language in front of their peers, as their increasing self-awareness can hinder their oral language production. Creating trusting relationships and a safe classroom environment is crucial to the students learning. Increased focus is given to constructing simple texts, often describing their own world and immediate environment, and using cultural knowledge to communicate appropriately. By recognizing and comparing the organizational structures of languages and cultures, and exploring the theme of "polarities," students develop a deeper appreciation for linguistic and cultural diversity, enhancing their critical thinking and equipping them with the skills necessary for effective communication and cultural engagement in a globalized world.
Skill Development:
- Comprehension and Construction: Students learn to understand and construct simple texts using their knowledge of the target language. They practice reading and writing on familiar topics, allowing them to convey information clearly and accurately.
- Description: Students can communicate about aspects of their own background and immediate environment. This includes sharing personal experiences, discussing daily routines, and describing their surroundings.
- Information and Ideas: Students can understand and produce information and ideas. They engage in activities that require them to process and communicate information, enhancing their ability to articulate thoughts and concepts.
- Expression and Response: Students can express and respond to personal needs and interests. They practice communicating their preferences, desires, and feelings, and learn to respond appropriately to others in various contexts.
Language Knowledge:
- Recognition and Description: Students learn to recognize and describe ways in which the target language is organized. This involves understanding more complex grammatical structures, idiomatic expressions, and syntactical patterns.
- Comparative Understanding: By comparing and contrasting the target language with their own language(s), students develop a nuanced understanding of linguistic differences and similarities, which enhances their overall language competence.
Cultural Knowledge:
- Cultural Recognition and Description: Students recognize and describe ways in which the target culture(s) is (are) organized. This includes examining cultural norms, values, traditions, and societal structures in greater depth.
- Comparative Cultural Practices: By comparing and contrasting the target culture with their own culture(s), students gain a richer perspective on cultural diversity and practices, fostering a more inclusive and empathetic worldview.
Cross-Curricular Links:
- Integration with Other Subjects: Language lessons incorporate content from other subjects, such as history, geography, and social studies, providing students with a well-rounded context for their language learning and deepening their overall understanding.
- Cultural Projects: Students engage in projects that explore the culture of the target language, linking language learning with arts, literature, and humanities. These projects encourage students to apply their language skills creatively and thoughtfully.