Learning languages provides the opportunity for students to engage with the linguistic and cultural diversity of the world and its peoples. Students broaden their horizons in relation to personal, social, cultural and employment opportunities in an increasingly interconnected and interdependent world. Proficiency in languages provides a national resource that serves communities within Australia and enables the nation to engage more effectively with the global community.
Contemporary research and practice have established a clear link between the learning of languages and improved literacy skills for both background speakers and second or additional language learners. The development of communication skills in language builds an understanding of how language works as a system. In addition, students further develop literacy skills in English, through close attention to detail, accuracy, logic and critical reasoning.
Through learning languages, students develop an intercultural capability and an understanding of the role of language and culture in communication, and become more accepting of difference and diversity. They develop understanding of global citizenship, and reflect on their own heritage, values, culture and identity.
At Hills Grammar, students are able to continue with their studies of French, Japanese or Latin in Stage 5 until the end of Year 10. Humanities Honours students may choose Latin as well as their modern language.
Please note: Students intending to study a language for the HSC, must choose that language in Years 9 and 10.
The Stage 5 Languages program at Hills Grammar is rich and varied. An important component of these language courses is the establishment of the Hills Grammar Language Tour Program. The French Tour (April-May 2020), Japan Tour (June-July 2021) and Classics Tour (2022) are fixtures in the School calendar and are available to Stage 5 students. A homestay is an important element of these tours (the Classics Tour is an exception), as well as exposure to the culture of the country, through purposefully designed tours led by teachers from the School. There are also options to participate in longer exchanges should students feel they are ready for a greater challenge and more intense language exposure. Students also have the opportunity to host students from our Sister Schools as well as visiting school.
Japanese Course Description
The Stage 5 Japanese Course is a continuation of Stage 4 content and a stepping stone to Stage 6. The topics studies develop the students’ ability to:
- communicate with Japanese people of different ages in different contexts
- travel with confidence in Japan.
Topics are those relevant to the lives and interests of young people and include school life, friends and free time activities, school trips and travelling in Japan, healthy lifestyles, future plans, country and city living and homestays. Students develop authentic skills in spoken and written Japanese:
- with their teachers, who are either native speakers or have native fluency in Japanese
- with students from our Sister School who visit us each year in March
- with students from our Japanese Visiting School who we host each July
- by billeting students from the Sister School and Visiting School
- by participating in a homestay as part of the Japan Tour, which takes place every two years
- by communicating with Japanese friends through emails and social media.
The coursework also aims to prepare students with skills so they are able to travel in Japan either on the School Japan Tour or with their own families. Students learn how to order meals, buy tickets, ask for directions and seek travel advice. Japanese culture and values are an integral part of Japanese communication and understanding. Students explore these on a regular basis in lessons through thinking routines, during their interactions with Japanese people and their travels or exchanges to Japan.
Opportunities for extension and enrichment learning include short or long-term exchanges at our Sister School. These give students more exposure to every day Japanese and bring a deeper insight into Japanese culture. Students who are completing classwork at a high standard are given time in class to prepare for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test which is held once a year in Sydney as well as various other cities in Australia and worldwide throughout the year. This certification is internationally recognised and has 5 levels of performance. Extension work related to the syllabus is also given to students who show potential and interest in this class.
French Course Description
The Stage 5 French Course is a continuation of Stage 4 content and a stepping stone to Stage 6. The topics studies develop the students’ ability to:
- communicate with French-speaking people of different ages in different contexts
- travel with confidence in Francophone countries.
Topics are those relevant to the lives and interests of young people and include school life, friends and free time activities, school trips and travelling in France, healthy lifestyles, technology, the environment, future plans, careers, country and city living and homestays. Students develop authentic skills in spoken and written French:
- with their teachers, who are either native speakers or have native fluency in French
- with students from our Sister School who visit us every second year in May
- by billeting students from the Sister School
- by participating in a homestay as part of the French Tour, which takes place every two years
- by communicating with native French speaking friends through emails and social media.
The coursework also aims to prepare students with skills so they are able to travel to Francophone countries either on the School French Tour or with their own families. Students learn how to order meals, buy tickets, ask for directions and seek travel advice. French culture and values are an integral part of communicating and understanding the language. Students explore these on a regular basis in lessons through thinking routines, during their interactions with French speakers and their travels or exchanges to Francophone countries.
Opportunities for extension and enrichment learning include short or long-term exchanges at our Sister School or with established organisations. These give students more exposure to every day French and bring a deeper insight into French culture. Students who are completing classwork at a high standard are given time in class to prepare for the Diplôme d’études de langues française (DELF) which is held twice a year with Alliance Française in Sydney as well as various other cities in Australia and worldwide throughout the year. This certification is internationally recognised and has 7 levels of performance. Extension work related to the syllabus is also given to students who show potential and interest in this class.
Latin Course Description
The Cambridge Latin Course is based for the most part on the lives and exploits of real people, places and events in the ancient world. Beginning in Pompeii just prior to the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79, we travel across the Roman Empire to Britain, to Egypt and then back to Rome. The characters who populate these places are an eclectic mix of the fabulously wealthy and the miserably poor, heroes and scoundrels involved in acts of derring-do and skulduggery, erudite and courageous women and girls, powerful and untrustworthy politicians, comic characters, brave and loyal soldiers, kings and commoners, all competing for a place (and money) in a richly multi-cultural world. In short, studying Latin is like going on a grand adventure, with the added bonus of learning as you go what was the universal language up until the end of the sixteenth century.
Learning a highly inflected language like Latin teaches you about demonstrating precision of thought and clarity of expression. It also helps develop your skills in critical and analytical thinking. Learning to read Latin and the literature of Rome makes you more familiar with the ancient world than is possible by reading translations alone.
Students will learn about the ways that Latin, as the great universal language, was the vehicle through which Greek, Jewish and Roman ideas and culture spread throughout the Western world. They will learn how one of the mighty foundations of our modern civilization exerts a huge and lasting influence on many modern languages, including English.
Students will learn about Roman history, life and culture: the Roman military machine, the science of Roman architecture and construction, the technology of building roads and communication systems across a vast empire, Roman politics and government, Roman (and Greek) medicine, business, the law-courts, social hierarchies and how Romans entertained themselves. Finally, students will learn about the Greek and Roman myths and how these are essential markers of the human imagination and spirit. In Year 10, students will learn about the science and technology behind the modern archaeologist: laser and magnetic resonance imaging, genetics and advanced preservation techniques.
Students will learn to speak a little conversational Latin. They will learn to read both abridged and original Latin for understanding and for pleasure. They will learn to read Latin inscriptions and honorific encomia. They will learn to analyse the functions of words and structures and to identify and describe relationships between the different elements of a sentence or idea. Students will learn to recognise the interdependence of language and culture: why certain words and phrases stir up feelings in a speaker, reader or listener and how to apply this in their own speech and writing.
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