Piara Waters Senior High School currently offers Indonesian and French as our Language subjects. In both Indonesian and French, we seek to support students in communicating proficiently, gaining intercultural capability and an understanding of the role of language and culture in communication.

In Year 7 and 8, students learn Languages through rich and varied language input, and the provision of experiences that are challenging, but achievable. English is predominantly used for discussion, clarification, explanation, analysis and reflection. To assist students in the language learning process, support is provided from the classroom teacher in the form of scaffolding, modelling and monitoring, explicit instruction and feedback, structured opportunities for understanding and practising new language, and the chance to revisit, recycle and review.

Many students will have learnt an additional language in primary school and bring existing language learning strategies, textual knowledge and intercultural awareness to the new experience of learning a Language in secondary school. Skills in analysing, comparing and reflecting on language and culture in the languages are mutually supportive. Students may need encouragement to take risks in learning a new language at this stage in their social development and to consider issues of how the experience influences their first language and culture.

In Year 7 and 8, students communicate in their chosen Language, in a variety of ways, interacting with peers and known adults to exchange information about self, family and friends, and interests, expressing feelings and preferences, engaging with native speakers and texts and also understanding the dynamic nature of French and Indonesian culture. They engage in individual and collaborative tasks that involve making arrangements, inviting, planning, deciding and responding, or work together to highlight their language learning for family, friends and their school community. Students reflect on their and others’ responses to interactions and intercultural experiences and use these reflections to improve intercultural communication.