Course Prescriptions
for
Stage 6 Background Speakers Courses
Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese and Korean
2014 – 2018
Consultation Report
April 2012
Contents
1
Executive Summary.......................................................................................................... 3
2
Summary of Key Matters Raised and Actions Taken ...................................................... 3
3
Key Stakeholder Consultation List ................................................................................... 4
4
Summary of Respondents ................................................................................................. 6
5
Analysis ............................................................................................................................ 8
2
1
Executive Summary
The Consultation Report for the proposed course prescriptions for Stage 6
Background Speakers courses in Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese and Korean for the
2014–2018 Higher School Certificate presents data and findings gathered through 44
online consultation survey responses. The profile of respondents reflects a range of
teaching experiences, locations, school systems, school sizes, and community and
professional organisations.
An analysis of qualitative and quantitative data indicated that the majority of
respondents agreed that the proposed course prescriptions provided opportunities for
students to develop their language and communication skills and to explore themes
and contemporary issues by analysing, evaluating and responding to texts.
2
Summary of Key Matters Raised and Action Taken
Summary of key matters raised
Summary of action taken
The number of proposed texts for
Chinese.
The level of lexical difficulty of the
Japanese text, Manabi kara no tousou.
The age of the data in the Japanese text,
Koukousei no shuugyouishiki to jendaa.
The level of challenge of the Japanese
film, Shiawase kazoku keikaku.
The level of challenge of the Korean text,
To me the used ones are the well-known
designer goods.
The suitability of the Indonesian text,
Malu aku jadi orang Indonesia.
The appropriateness of the Indonesian
text, Dharma Wanita.
The suitability of the Indonesian film,
Mengejar matahari.
The appropriateness of the Indonesian
text, Sajak Potret Keluarga.
The appropriateness of the Indonesian
text, Buldoser dan Ayah.
The number of proposed texts for
Indonesian.
The clarity of the proposed prescribed
themes and contemporary issues for
Indonesian.
The mapping of the proposed texts for
Indonesian to the proposed prescribed
themes and contemporary issues.
The number of proposed texts has been
reduced.
The demand of the proposed text was
deemed appropriate.
The text has been replaced with another
text that has more recent data.
The demand of the proposed text was
deemed appropriate.
The demand of the proposed text was
deemed appropriate.
The text has been removed.
The text has been removed.
The text has been removed.
The text has been removed.
The text has been removed.
The number of proposed texts has been
reduced.
The proposed prescribed themes and
contemporary issues have been reworded
for greater clarity.
The proposed texts have been re-mapped
to the proposed prescribed themes and
contemporary issues.
3
3
Key Stakeholder Consultation List
Ms Julie Flynn
Mr Ian Baker
Ms Ghislaine Barbe
Ms Merryl Wahlin
Ms Pam Wellham
Professor Martina
Mollering
Professor Darryl
Poulsen
Associate Professor
Ludmila Stern
Dr Roger Markwick
Professor Duncan
Ivison
Professor Peter
Morgan
Dr Jeff Browitt
Professor Peter
Hutchings
Professor Kerry
Dunne
Professor Gail
Crossley
Mr Kim Tsolakis
Ms Jenny Diamond
Mr Dick Shearman
Ms Adelia Fuller
Position
Group Leader,
Languages, HSIE and
Health PE
Director Education Policy
and Programs
Languages Consultant
Languages Consultant
Executive Officer
Department of
International Studies
Head of School
Organisation
NSW Curriculum and Learning
Innovation Centre, NSW Department of
Education and Communities
Catholic Education Commission
Head of School of
Languages and Linguistics
Acting Head of School of
Humanities and Social
Science
Dean
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Acting Head of School
School of Languages and Cultures
Head of International
Studies
Head of School
University of Technology Sydney
Director, Language Centre
Faculty of Arts
The Dean,Faculty of Arts
and Sciences
Executive Officer
General Secretary
General Secretary
Principal
Australian Catholic University
Association of Independent Schools
Association of Independent Schools
NSW Secondary Principals’ Council
Macquarie University
School of Arts
University of Newcastle
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Humanities and Languages
Professional Teachers' Council of NSW
NSW Teachers Federation
Independent Education Union
Saturday School of Community
Languages
Consulate-General of the Republic of
Indonesia
Consulate-General Of Japan
Mr Gary R M Jusuf
Consul General
Ms Jennifer
Schroeder
Ms Janelle Byrne
Information Section
Mr Kai Liu
President
Ms Cathleen Jin
President
Ms Karen White
Assistant Director
Learning Services
Executive Director
Modern Languages Teachers'
Association of New South Wales
Chinese Language Teachers'
Association of NSW
Japanese Teachers' Association of
NSW
NSW Curriculum and Learning
Innovation Centre
Anglican Education Commission
Mr John
Oldmeadow
Ms Vicki Danvers
Executive Director
Uniting Church Board of Education
State Executive Director
Christian Schools Australia Limited
Mr Stepan
Kerkyasherian AO
Chairperson and Chief
Executive Officer
Community Relations Commission
Dr Bryan Cowling
Secretary
4
Organisation
The Japan Foundation, Sydney
Mrs Helen Walton
Position
Manager, Japanese
Language Department
President
Ms Danielle Cronin
Executive Director
Council of Catholic School Parents
Ms Anne Crabb
Executive Officer
NSW Parents Council Inc
Mr Albert Vella
President
Ms Jozefa Sobski
Chairperson
Mr Yair Miller
President
NSW Federation of Community
Languages Schools
NSW Community Languages Schools
Board
Jewish Board of Deputies
Mr Bachir Bakhti
Consul General
Consulate–General of the Federal
Republic of Germany
Consulate-General of France
Ms Anastasia
Batagiani
Dr Alessandra
Bertini Malgarini
Mr Saad Zakhia
The Education Office
Consulate-General of Greece
The Director
Consulate-General of Italy
Consul General
Consulate-General of Lebanon
Dr Santiago
Gonzalez
Ms Gilda Stuart
Counsellor (Education)
Embassy of Spain
President
Dr Panayiotis
Diamadis
Mr Cesare Popoli
President
President
NSW Association of French Language
Teachers
Australian Hellenic Educators’
Association
Spanish Teachers Association of NSW
Mr Khaled
Sukkarieh
Ms Kathrin
Furmanek
Mr Han Joo Kim
Chairman
Islamic Council of NSW
German Language
Adviser
Consul (Education
Section)
President
The Goethe Institute
Mr Yutaka Nakajima
Ms Kathleen Cleuet
Ms Janette Ra
Federation of P&C Associations of NSW
Consulate-General of the Republic of
Korea
Korean Language Teachers Association
5
4
Summary of Respondents
Online survey
respondents
44 online survey responses
Sector:
Government
20
Catholic
0
Community
2
Unknown
12
Independent
10
Type of School/System/Organisation:
Metropolitan
10
Non-Metropolitan
7
Unknown
14
K – 12
7
7 – 12
13
11 – 12
5
Teacher
20
Head
Teacher/Coordinator
1
System
1
Response from:
Principal
1
School
4
Faculty
1
Organisation
7
Unknown
9
Number of people contributing to the response:
1
21
2
2
3
1
4
0
5
0
6 or more
7
6
Unknown
13
Language on which response is based:
Chinese
8
Indonesian
10
Korean
15
Unknown
2
7
Japanese
9
5
Analysis
The abbreviated sources are explained as follows:

T
Teacher

F
Faculty

O
Organisation

DEC Department of Education and Communities
5.1
Chinese
Summary
Response to the proposed prescribed texts for Chinese Background Speakers was
positive. There was agreement that all texts are appropriate vehicles through which
students can develop their language skills and explore the prescribed themes and
contemporary issues. Respondents agreed that the proposed texts are accessible, that
they offer sufficient challenge and interest for students, and that the subject matter of
the texts is suitable.
The only concerns expressed related to the number and extent of proposed texts.
Respondents commented that there would not be sufficient time to cover all of the
proposed prescribed texts.
Feedback affirming the proposed prescriptions
Feedback
Source

DEC
The majority of proposed texts are readily available via the
internet.
Key matters raised and actions taken
Key matters raised
Source
Action

Tx1
The number of chapters for study
from Environmental Bureau has
been reduced from six to two.
The proposed film, Dreams in
Between, has been removed.
The proposed song, Sailors, has
been removed.
The number of proposed prescribed
texts has been reduced from ten to
eight.

Six chapters of the text
Environmental Bureau are
too many to study.
There won’t be sufficient
time to cover ten prescribed
texts. Currently there are six
prescribed texts.
Tx2
DEC
Ox1
8
5.2
Indonesian
Summary
Response to the proposed course prescriptions for Indonesian Background Speakers
was mixed. In general, there was consensus that the texts are appropriate for
developing students’ language skills and for exploring the proposed prescribed themes
and contemporary issues.
Respondents expressed concerns about the suitability and appropriateness of certain
texts and about the number of proposed texts. Respondents commented that the intent
of one of the contemporary issues was not clear, and that some of the issues overlap.
There was also concern that the texts are mapped to too many of the prescribed
themes and contemporary issues and that certain texts are more relevant to some
themes and issues than others.
Feedback affirming the proposed prescriptions
Feedback
Source

The texts Saleha di Tengah Badai Salju and Pulang go very T
well together. Both are good in reflecting contemporary
issues.

Bayi ke Tujuh is a very good story which is relevant to the
contemporary issues.
T

Matahari di Celah Rinjani is a very good contemporary
story, relevant to the students.
T

Was certainly addresses the issue of the Individual and the
community.
T

The recent nature of some texts is refreshing.
T

It is great to have revised themes and contemporary issues.
T
9
Key matters raised
Source
Action

The text Malu aku jadi
orang Indonesia, criticises
the Indonesian government
with regards to ongoing and
sensitive issues such as East
Timor, Aceh and
Irian/Papua. It may cause
issues within the Indonesian
community both in NSW
and in Indonesia.
Tx2
The text has been deleted.

The text Dharma Wanita, is
too narrow and shallow in
exploring the issues
suggested. There are
sufficient texts dealing with
the same contemporary
issue.
Tx2
The text has been deleted.

The film Mengejar Matahari T x 4
is too violent.
The film is quite dated and
Tx2
large parts of it are
inaudible.
One film is sufficient in a
Tx3
course of this nature.
Tx2
The text Sajak Potret
Keluarga is a current
prescription. It will be very
difficult for the Examination
Committee to develop
questions on it for another
five years.
The text has been deleted.



The text has been deleted.

The text Buldoser dan Ayah
is a current prescription. It
will be very difficult for the
Examination Committee to
develop questions on it for
another five years.
Tx2
The text has been deleted.

There are too many texts
overall.
Tx3
The number of texts has been
reduced from 12 to 8.

The issue, the impact of
changing attitudes, is not
clear. Whose attitudes?
Attitudes to or on what?
Tx2
The issue, the impact of changing
attitudes, has been deleted. The
issue, the family in contemporary
society, has been deleted.
10
Key matters raised
Source
Action

Tx2
The theme, the individual and the
community, has been changed to the
family. The new contemporary
issues under the new theme, the
family, are family ties and the
impact of socioeconomic influences
on family life. The contemporary
issues under the theme, cultural
identity, have been changed to,
pressures on traditional values and
what it means to be an Indonesian.


The contemporary issues,
the family in contemporary
society and reconciling
traditional and
contemporary Indonesian
culture, overlap too much.
The themes, the individual
and the community and
youth culture are quite
similar.
Tx1
Tx2
Some of the proposed
prescribed texts are mapped
to too many themes/issues.
While it is good practice to
use texts in more than one
theme/issue, if they appear
in more than two, students
will become bored or
confused if they have to look
at them from multiple
perspectives.
The texts have been re-mapped to
the prescribed themes and
contemporary issues. While some
texts relate to certain themes and
issues more than others, other texts
relate very well to more than one or
two themes and issues. Analysis of a
text from multiple perspectives
allows students greater scope in
applying knowledge, understanding
and skills in varied contexts, and
also allows teachers and the
Examination Committee more scope
in the setting of examination items.
11
5.3
Japanese
Summary
Response to the proposed prescribed texts for Japanese Background Speakers was
generally positive. There was agreement that all texts are appropriate vehicles through
which students can develop their language skills and explore the prescribed themes
and contemporary issues.
Feedback affirming the proposed prescriptions
Feedback
Source

F
The proposed texts look appropriate and interesting.
Key matters raised and actions taken
Key matters raised
Source
Action

The vocabulary in Manabi
kara no tousou is too
difficult for students at this
level.
Ox1
This matter was reviewed and it was
found that the level of language in
this text is commensurate with
current prescriptions.

The data in Koukousei no
shuugyouishiki to jendaa is
from the 1990s and out of
date.
Fx1
Ox1
This text has been deleted and
replaced by a text that has more
current data on the topic, Jendaa no
kabe o koete – Otokorashisa,
onnarashisa to wa.

Shiawase kazoku keikaku is
too easy for Background
Speaker students.
Fx1
The matter was reviewed and it was
found that the text satisfied the
relevant criteria. The language used
in the film is authentic and the
themes of the film relate to the
prescribed themes and
contemporary issues. The film is
complex enough to allow for critical
evaluation and analysis.
12
5.4
Korean
Summary
Response to the proposed prescribed texts for Korean Background Speakers was extremely
positive. There was consensus that all texts are appropriate vehicles through which students
can develop their language skills and explore the prescribed themes and contemporary issues.
There was agreement that the texts offer sufficient challenge and interest for students, and
that the subject matter of the texts is suitable. Respondents agreed that there is sufficient time
to cover the proposed prescribed texts, themes and contemporary issues and that the texts are
accessible.
Feedback affirming the proposed prescriptions
Feedback
Source

The proposed texts look more interesting than the current
texts and they are more significantly related to the themes.
T

Overall, the target group of students will enjoy learning
with the new prescriptions.
DEC
Key matters raised and actions taken
Key matters raised
Source
Action

Tx1
The matter was reviewed and it was
found that the text satisfied the
relevant criteria. The level of
language in this text is
commensurate with current
prescriptions and the text relates
extremely well to the prescribed
themes and contemporary issues.
The text has enough complexity to
allow for critical evaluation and
analysis of the experiences of the
Korean-speaking communities in
Australia.
The text, To me, the used
ones are the well-known
designer goods might be a
bit easy for Korean
Background students.
13