WACE Chinese: Second Language ATAR case studies
WACE Chinese: Second Language ATAR · Put your knowledge to work in context.
WACE Chinese: Second Language is a Western Australian senior-secondary course and ATAR subject for students who are learning Chinese as an additional language, typically without a substantial Chinese-speaking family background. It is designed for candidates who already handle everyday written and spoken Chinese and want to extend that into more formal, abstract and culturally grounded use. The WACE Chinese: Second Language ATAR case studies are 5 cases and about 2,501 words.
1The WeChat Voice Message That Changed the Plan
A WACE class is practising listening. The teacher plays a 40-second WeChat voice message from a host family in Beijing.
500 words, about 3 min2Reading a Rental Advertisement with Hidden Conditions
A Year 12 student reads a short Chinese rental advertisement as part of a reading comprehension task. The text says: "两室一厅，靠近大学，月租2500元，包水费，不包电费。押金两个月。最短租期六个月。不能养宠物。周末看房请提前一天预约。" The student must decide whether the flat suits an exchange student who will stay five months, has a small cat, and whose budget is 2600 yuan per month including all bills.
520 words, about 3 min3Choosing the Right Text Type for a Formal Request
A writing task asks students to produce 120-150 characters in Chinese. The situation: a student wants to ask a university language centre to change an oral test time because of a clash with a family funeral.
542 words, about 3 min4When Grammar Accuracy and Meaning Conflict
In a grammar-focused speaking activity, students describe their weekend using at least three different aspect or particle structures. Sam says: "我上个周末去了看电影，然后我跟朋友吃饭了在饭馆。" The teacher marks two issues: the verb-object pattern with 去 and the placement of the location phrase.
437 words, about 2 min5Explaining a Cultural Norm Without Stereotyping
During a discussion of Chinese-speaking communities, a student gives a presentation claiming: "Chinese people always respect old people, so in China young people never disagree with their parents." The teacher asks the class to respond. Another student, who lived in Singapore, says her Chinese-speaking family argues openly at dinner.
502 words, about 3 min