VCE Chinese Second Language Advanced flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Detailed study

A research project on a topic related to the Chinese-speaking world, based on at least three texts, presented orally in the oral examination.

Presentation duration

The oral presentation lasts 3–4 minutes, followed by a 6–7 minute discussion with the assessors.

Visual aids

In the presentation, visual aids may be used but must not contain full sentences; only keywords or images are allowed.

Assessment criteria for presentation

Relevance and depth of research, coherence of structure, use of appropriate language, and ability to engage the audience.

Discussion duration

The discussion following the presentation lasts 6–7 minutes and assesses the student's ability to exchange information and opinions spontaneously.

Discussion assessment criteria

Communication strategies, fluency, accuracy, range of vocabulary and grammar, and cultural appropriateness.

Spontaneity in discussion

Students should avoid memorised responses and instead respond spontaneously to questions, demonstrating genuine understanding.

Broadening the discussion

The discussion may extend beyond the presentation to related issues, personal experiences, and comparisons between cultures.

Listening texts

The listening section includes conversations, announcements, and radio segments played twice, with questions in English or Chinese.

Listening skills

Extracting specific information, understanding main ideas, and inferring meaning from spoken Chinese, including recognising numbers, dates, and locations.

Note-taking in listening

Students should develop note-taking strategies, such as using abbreviations and symbols, to capture key information while listening.

Listening weighting

The listening section is worth 15% of the final assessment (or as specified by the VCAA).

Reading texts

The reading section includes articles, emails, and advertisements, followed by questions in English or Chinese.

Reading skills

Skimming and scanning, identifying main ideas and details, interpreting implied meaning, and recognising discourse markers.

Responding in Chinese

Some reading questions require students to respond in Chinese, such as writing a short paragraph based on the text.

Reading weighting

The reading section is worth 20% of the final assessment (or as specified by the VCAA).

Writing tasks

Students produce two texts in Chinese of approximately 250–300 words each, based on prompts, such as letters, articles, or speeches.

Writing assessment criteria

Relevance to the prompt, coherence and cohesion, range and accuracy of vocabulary and grammar, and appropriateness of register.

Text types in writing

Common text types include personal letters, formal letters, articles, speeches, and diary entries; students should know their conventions.

Writing weighting

The writing section is worth 20% of the final assessment (or as specified by the VCAA).

Unit 3 coursework

Typically includes an oral presentation, a listening task, a reading task, and a writing task, contributing 25% to the final assessment.

Detailed study in Unit 3

The detailed study is often assessed in Unit 3 through a presentation and a discussion, contributing to the oral examination component.

Authentication

Coursework must be completed under supervised conditions and authenticated by the teacher to ensure authenticity.

VCAA guidelines

Assessment criteria for coursework are based on VCAA guidelines, focusing on communication, comprehension, and cultural understanding.

Unit 4 coursework

Typically includes a listening task, a reading task, and a writing task, contributing 25% to the final assessment.

Detailed study in Unit 4

The detailed study may be further assessed in Unit 4 through a written report or an oral task, depending on the school's program.

Varied assessment tasks

Coursework should include a range of tasks to cover all language skills and integrate the prescribed themes and topics.

Supervised conditions

All coursework assessment tasks must be completed under supervised conditions to ensure fairness and authenticity.

Prescribed themes

The detailed study and coursework must be based on the prescribed themes: the individual, the Chinese-speaking communities, and the changing world.

Register in oral

Students must use appropriate register (formal/informal) in the oral examination, matching the audience and purpose.

Inference in listening

The ability to understand implied meaning, such as the speaker's tone or purpose, beyond the literal words.

Cohesion in writing

The use of linking words and cohesive devices to connect ideas and paragraphs logically in written texts.