HSIE

HSIE Electives:

Subjects Include:

• Japanese

• Murder and Mysteries

JAPANESE

Language courses provide opportunities 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. Learning languages exercises students’ intellectual curiosity, increases metalinguistic awareness, strengthens intellectual, analytical and reflective capabilities, and enhances creative and critical thinking.

Japanese can be studied in Stage 4 as a stand-alone course, or as a precursor to Japanese studies in Stage 5 and/or year 11&12. The study of Japanese allows students to engage with elements of modern Japan, including popular culture such as anime, manga, music and fashion, as well as with the rich cultural traditions of this part of Asia.

COURSE OUTLINE:

• Application, pronunciation, intonation and phrasing patterns of spoken Japanese, recognising that most kanji have more than one reading and that pronunciation changes according to kanji compounds.

• Writing texts comprising hiragana, katakana and familiar kanji, using knowledge of familiar kanji to predict the meaning of new vocabulary.

• Participation in a range of collaborative tasks, activities and experiences that involve making plans, negotiating and solving problems.

ASSESSMENT:

• Group work creating an instructional video

• Creation of a comic or animation

Course Fee: Nil

MURDERS AND MYSTERIES

What happened to the ancient city of Atlantis? Who killed the bodies in the bog? Did King Arthur really exist? Why was the Great Wall of China built?

All of these questions and more will be examined as we step back in time to investigate some of the most bloodthirsty, cruel and interesting historical cases from around the world.

This course will involve individual and group research projects, web page design and film studies. The focus of this unit will be to get students interested in a variety of historical periods and events and let them further develop their investigative, literacy and ICT skills. Students will be given the opportunity to research topics of their choice and participate in practical lessons such as artefact making.

This course is designed for students of all ability levels and is an excellent starting point for those wishing to undertake the Forensic Archaeology course in Years 9 and 10.

COURSE OUTLINE:

• Investigation into the lost city of Atlantis

• Archaeological investigation of European Bog Bodies and other famous remains.

• Inquiry into how and why the Great Wall of China was built and what remains of Emperor Qin’s mausoleum. Designing a web page on the Qin Dynasty.

•  Film study on King Arthur and some problems with the legend

• Individual research project based on student’s interest

ASSESSMENT:

• Individual research project

• Group task

Course Fee: Nil