Mandarin

The Mandarin curriculum introduces students to a language and culture very different from that which they would usually experience. The topics covered allow students to approach a language which is conceptually differently from more commonly taught and spoken languages in our community.

Before language is explored, students are introduce to the idea of character writing and pinyin. As they progress they are regularly introduced to other cultural particularities and are able to see how language form and culture are intertwined in a view of the world.

Language learning is cyclically built to support their knowledge of key vocabulary and core grammatical structures, so that they can develop their mastery of the subject. Through the delivery of “unlocking languages” lessons focussed on language form and language families, students’ overall Literacy is reinforced. With a greater focus on oral fluency from KS3, communication skills are also developed.

One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way.” Frank Smith (psycholinguist)

The apprenticeship of learning a language provides an open road to the world. Through Mandarin at Harris Academy Peckham, we promote students’ curiosity and deepen their understanding of different countries’ people, culture, history, literature and arts.

As Global Citizens, we challenge students to consider their own identity and place in the world and to appreciate and empathise with different ways of seeing the world.

We aim to equip students with the confidence, lexicon and grammatical foundations that allow them to express their ideas and opinions, to seek information and to respond to speakers’ of the language across the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing.

By developing students’ linguistic, communicative and intercultural skills, we strive to foster rounded individuals ready for lifelong language learning and entry into a global, more cooperative and more peaceful world.

The GCSE specification especially supports the delivery of our PSHE curriculum by including the topics of diversity and inclusion, Mental health, and environmental and social issues. Mandarin students are encouraged to use their critical thinking around those topics in their language lessons, as they are in their tutor sessions.

 

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Core skills

All skills are each week at different time in the lessons, but they are used in different contexts to manipulate different vocabulary. In KS4 skills are more closely linked to exam specifications to ensure students have clarity on how to access and succeed in their exams.The core skills are:

• Speaking
• Reading
• Listening
• Writing
• Grammar
• Translation