At Knox Gardens Primary School, learning a language other than English (LOTE) is aimed at engaging students in thinking and reflecting on their own culture, wider civilisations that surround them and humanity in a broader sense.
LOTE/Mandarin
Our partnership with Taicang Chengxiang No. 1 Primary School in China provides a unique opportunity for students to communicate with their peers in Mandarin while developing their language skills and intercultural understanding. Through this partnership, our Grade 5 and 6 students also have the opportunity to participate in an exchange program, visiting the school in China and experiencing the language, culture, and daily life through authentic, immersive learning experiences.
Learning language
The LOTE curriculum is offered as an integrated part of the curriculum, to all students. It is aimed at engaging students in thinking and reflecting on their own culture, wider civilisations that surround them and humanity in a broader sense.
All students from Foundation to Year 6 attend one Mandarin session per week. Their listening, understanding and speaking skills are developed through singing, games, rhymes, role play and other language activities. Students also have the opportunity to use technology to develop their language learning. Besides communicating in Mandarin, they build up an awareness and knowledge of Chinese culture.
Some highlights include our annual Lunar New Year festival, students enjoying making Hot Pot and a whole school Boat festival celebration.
“As Year 6 LOTE Leaders, we introduced the history and customs of the Dragon Boat Festival at assembly and organised the Dragon Boat Festival Scavenger Hunt with the support of some of our Year 6 classmates. It was rewarding to see everyone working together and having fun while learning more about the Dragon Boat Festival. We also would like to congratulate the six lucky winners who successfully completed the hunt and received a special prize!”
Sister school partnership
At Knox Gardens Primary School, we have a sister school partnership with Taicang Chengxiang No. 1 Primary School in China. This provides students with additional opportunities to hear Chinese spoken in authentic contexts and to practise their own Chinese with peers of a similar age.
The annual Cultural and Language Exchange Program with our sister school assists our students to develop their language skills and understanding of the Chinese culture.