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Bossley Park High School

Bossley Park High School

Focussing on excellence and success

Telephone02 9823 1033

Emailbossleypk-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Languages

In NSW high schools, languages is a key learning area.

Language study allows students to develop communication skills, learn about languages as systems and explore the relationship between language and culture. Students engage with the linguistic and cultural diversity of societies and reflect on their understanding of social interactions.

The study of a language is compulsory for 100 hours in one continuous school year from Year 7 to Year 10, but preferably in Years 7 or 8.

In Years 11 and 12, NSW schools offer a wide variety of languages, catering for beginning students to background speakers.

Faculty Aims

The Languages Faculty aims to provide authentic learning opportunities for students who have no background knowledge to learn a secondary language as well as to enhance and improve the skills of background speakers who would like to continue studying languages for the HSC and beyond. The Languages Faculty adopts a practical approach to teaching and learning, incorporating modern technology and innovative teaching ideas into the curriculum.

Courses Offered

In New South Wales secondary schools, Languages is a key learning area. The study of 100 compulsory hours in a Language other than English must be undertaken during one continuous school year from Year 7 to Year 10. Languages offered at Bossley Park High School include Italian and Spanish in Stage 4 and Stage 5. The following courses are running in 2019:

 

  • Stage 4 Mandatory Spanish & Italian (Year 7)

  • Stage 4 Spanish Elective (Year 8)

  • Stage 6 Italian Beginners

  • Stage 6 Spanish Continuers

 

Extra-Curricular and Gifted and Talented Initiatives

Year 7 AsiaConnex Program: This project involves Gifted and Talented Year 7 students. Coordinated by the University of New England, Armidale, the project aims to increase global citizenship and intercultural understanding. Students will be using the Connected Classroom for real-time videoconferencing discussion with South Korean students. The Learning Outcomes of this project include enhanced cultural understanding of Asia, improved communication skills, and effective teaching of LOTE curriculum topics using technology.

Harmony Day: Year 7 Languages Students participate in a range of activities during Harmony week. They engage in cross-KLA activities to promote core values of intercultural understanding, cultural diversity and communication. Student activities and performances during Harmony day incorporate the Languages studied at our school; maintaining curriculum links through the following workshops:

  • Cuban Dominoes –culture and language meet numeracy
  • Empanadas –in collaboration with Home Economics, coordinated by Year 12 Home Economics and Spanish students
  • La Policía Internacional – our ICT and STEM-inspired workshops, where students solved cases around the world using Google Earth, research and cultural knowledge
  • The Ancient Maya –combining Indigenous culture, history and numeracy

The involvement of Bossley Park High School staff and students leading up to and beyond Harmony Day, stands as a powerful example of the authentic learning of the Australian History Curriculum in Languages.

Excursions: Excursions provide an authentic practical experience for all students to enhance their knowledge and skills in Languages. Some of the excursion opportunities offered to our students include:

Cultural Food Tour: Year 12 Italian Beginners and Spanish Continuers students engage in cultural experiences and activities, including a guided restaurant tour whereby students need to place orders and communicate in their selected language before tasting the wonderful food!