Head Teacher: Ms Melinda Boyce (relieving)
Year 7:
At Albury High School, we primarily offer French and Japanese for face-to-face study. All Year 7 students will learn one of these languages for the year, depending on their class. These introductory courses expose students to the key skills of foreign language acquisition, looking at listening, reading, writing and speaking, as well as launching students into the culture and lives of people from another country. Students are offered a range of academic, technological and hands-on authentic learning experiences to help immerse them in the adventures of learning another language.
Stage 5:
Stage 5 French and Japanese 100-hour (one year) courses are offered which focus on Food, Travel and Tourism. Students explore towns, festivals, traditions and customs of their chosen language’s homeland in order to gain a deeper appreciation for the lives of the French or Japanese. Through researching, preparing and consuming different traditional foods, students are able to cross the final sense-based frontier to delving into these exotic worlds and being able to experience a little of the wonders of France and Japan from our very own classrooms.
Stage 6:
For Years 11 and 12, courses offered face-to-face include:
- French Beginners
- French Continuers
- Japanese Beginners
- Japanese Continuers
Beginners:
Bonjour! Un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq !
Konnichiwa! こんにちは! Ichi, ni, san, shi, go! 一 二 三四五 !
Are you completely confused? Then a Beginners Course could be right for you! Students with little to no background knowledge of French or Japanese are eligible to study the French Beginners and Japanese Beginners courses for the HSC (and we will teach you how to say, “Hello! 1, 2, 3, 4, 5!”).
Over the course of the two years, students learn all key language learning skills, including listening, reading, writing and speaking. Students will learn about themselves and their own world, as well as French-speaking or Japanese-speaking communities. Topics for the Preliminary and HSC Courses include:
- Family life, home and neighbourhood
- People, places and communities
- Education and work
- Friends, recreation and pastimes
- Holidays, travel and tourism
- Future plans and aspirations
Continuers:
If you have studied 100+ hours of a language previously, Continuers is the course for you! (If you aren’t sure which one to do, one of our very friendly Language Teachers will gladly help you work it out!)
Over the course of the two years, students revise, improve and expand their abilities in all key language learning skills, including listening, reading, writing and speaking. Topics are primarily focused on you and your world, but also look at French-speaking or Japanese-speaking communities. Topics for the Preliminary and HSC Courses include:
- Personal identity
- Relationships
- School life and aspirations
- Leisure and interests
- Daily life/lifestyles
- Arts and entertainment
- Travel and tourism
- The world of work
- Current issues
- The young person’s world
Distance Education:
If there is a Language or other select subject that you really want to study but isn’t offered at Albury High School, there is a possibility of studying it by Distance Education. Most often, students wishing to study another language other than those on offer choose this path of study. Students enrolled in Distance Education for a Single Course will have a dedicated teacher based at a specialised Distance Education School somewhere else in the state. Students must be highly dedicated to their study and be active independent learners, as this pattern of study can be very challenging (but very rewarding). If you think that this could be the best option for you, come and see Ms Boyce to find out more! Please be aware that places are limited, and admission is not guaranteed.
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.