Ofsted Outstanding

Year 9 Chinese

Guidance for Parents

What will students be studying in Mandarin this year?

In Year 9,  students will start studying Jin Bu Book 2.  It is a topic-based book which provides a good progression route towards the study of GCSE Mandarin Chinese. Students will learn more vocabulary and grammar used in Chinese daily life and develop a good insight into Chinese culture.

Expectations of Students in Mandarin

The Year 9 Mandarin course takes place after school for an hour and during lunch break for half an hour each week with a potential progression route to study GCSE Chinese in Years 10 and 11. In view of its accelerated nature, students have every opportunity to develop their ability to be independent learners. To this end, self-assessment is an important element of the course and the completion of weekly homework on an aspect of vocabulary and grammar is especially important.

What are the major assessments this year?

Year 9 students will have an end of year exam. Also at the end of each term, there will be an End of Unit test based on Speaking and Writing. The Listening and Reading assessment will take place during their homework and lesson time.

What will the current performance grade be based on, and what do the levels mean?

The current performance grades are based on all the work students complete this year, including classwork and homework as well as End of Unit tests. Oral contributions to class work and discussion will also form part of the assessment. The current performance grade encompasses all these elements.

What should my daughter do if she feels she is struggling in the subject?

In the first instance, she should speak to her subject teacher. She should try to identify specific areas of the subject which she is finding a challenge so that we can offer targeted support. Additional exercises can be found online with free registration: http://www.memrise.com/course/56836/jinbu-2/,

bbc bitesize Mandarin

How can I support my daughter in Year 9?

The best way to support your daughter is by taking an interest in her work in Mandarin. No prior knowledge is required! Indeed if you have never studied Mandarin you might find it interesting for your daughter to share some of her learning with you as this is a powerful way for her to reinforce her knowledge and understanding of the subject. Do offer to help with testing vocabulary. Look out for interesting video clips and television programmes about  Chinese culture which can enlarge your daughter’s knowledge about life in China. 

What kind of independent work should my daughter be completing?

To do well in Chinese, students should practise and develop vocabulary and speaking skills on a regular basis. Students will be set regular homework targeted at different topics with core vocabulary and grammar. Students need to take responsibility for regular revision of all aspects of language.

Who can I contact for further advice and information?

Mr Moren has oversight of the twilight language courses and will be pleased to follow up any queries: peter.moren@newsteadwood.co.uk

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