LEGAL STUDIES

VCE Legal Studies enables students to become active and informed citizens by providing valuable insight into their relationship with the law and the legal system. Students develop knowledge and skills to enhance their confidence and ability to access and participate in the legal system. They will learn to appreciate the underlying principles of the rule of law, how legal systems and processes aim to achieve social cohesion, as well as how they themselves can affect positive change to laws and the legal system.

Unit 1: The presumption of innocence

In this unit, students develop an understanding of legal foundations, such as the different types and sources of law, the characteristics of an effective law, and an overview of parliament and the courts. Students are introduced to and apply the principles of justice. They investigate key concepts of criminal law and apply these to actual and/ or hypothetical scenarios to determine whether an accused may be found guilty of a crime. In doing this, students develop an appreciation of the manner in which legal principles and information are used in making reasoned judgments and conclusions about the culpability of an accused. Students also develop an appreciation of how a criminal case is determined, and the types and purposes of sanctions. Students apply their understanding of how criminal cases are resolved and the effectiveness of sanctions through consideration of recent criminal cases from the past four years.

Unit 2: Wrongs and rights

In this unit, students investigate key concepts of civil law and apply these to actual and/or hypothetical scenarios to determine whether a party is liable in a civil dispute. Students explore different areas of civil law, and the methods and institutions that may be used to resolve a civil dispute and provide remedies. They apply knowledge through an investigation of civil cases from the past four years. Students also develop an understanding of how human rights are protected in Australia and possible reforms to the protection of rights, and investigate a contemporary human rights issue in Australia, with a specific focus on one case study.

Unit 3: Rights and justice

In this unit, students examine the methods and institutions in the criminal and civil justice system and consider their appropriateness in determining criminal cases and resolving civil disputes. Students consider the Magistrates’ Court, County Court and Supreme Court within the Victorian court hierarchy, as well as other means and institutions used to determine and resolve cases. Students explore topics such as the rights available to an accused and to victims in the criminal justice system, the roles of the judge, jury, legal practitioners and the parties, and the ability of sanctions and remedies to achieve their purposes. Students investigate the extent to which the principles of justice are upheld in the justice system. Throughout this unit, students apply legal reasoning and information to actual and/or hypothetical scenarios.

Unit 4: The people, the law and reform

In this unit, students explore how the Australian Constitution establishes the law-making powers of the Commonwealth and state parliaments, and how it protects the Australian people through structures that act as a check on parliament in law-making. Students develop an understanding of the significance of the High Court in protecting and interpreting the Australian Constitution. They investigate parliament and the courts, and the relationship between the two in law-making, and consider the roles of the individual, the media and law reform bodies in influencing changes to the law, and past and future constitutional reform. Throughout this unit, students apply legal reasoning and information to actual and/or hypothetical scenarios.

Languages

The study of a second language contributes to the overall education of students and particularly in the area of communication, cross-cultural understanding, cognitive development, literacy and general knowledge. The smaller our world is becoming and the more diverse our job market is becoming, the importance of a second language is growing intensely.

Italian

The study of Italian provides students with the ability to understand and use a language that is spoken in Italy, Vatican City and San Marino. Italian is one of the official languages of Switzerland and the European Union. It is widely spoken by communities of Italian speakers who migrated to countries such as Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Canada and the United States. It provides students with a direct means of access to the rich and varied cultures of the many communities around the world for whom Italian is a means of communication. Students are able to engage with Italian-speaking communities in Australia and internationally in a variety of endeavours, such as tourism, hospitality, the arts, diplomacy, social services, journalism, commerce, fashion, education, translating and interpreting.

Unit 1

In this unit students develop an understanding of the language and culture/s of Italian-speaking communities through the study of three or more topics from the prescribed themes. The three outcomes require students to develop their skills and knowledge to establish and maintain an informal, personal, spoken interaction in Italian, develop skills and knowledge to read, listen to or view texts in Italian effectively, to summarise content and to combine information from the texts in written responses in Italian and English and present content related to the selected subtopic in Italian in written form, which may include supporting visual elements.

Unit 2

In this unit students develop an understanding of the language and culture/s of Italian-speaking communities through the study of three or more topics from the prescribed themes. The three outcomes requires students to participate in a written exchange in Italian. They develop skills and knowledge that enable them to read, listen to and view texts and respond in Italian. Students are also required to extract information from texts provided in Italian and respond to the texts in writing using elements of this information. They develop skills and knowledge to read, listen to or view texts in Italian and to use information in a new context. Students research cultural products or practices that demonstrate an aspect of the culture studied. They develop an oral presentation in Italian on an aspect of the selected subtopic of interest to them.

Unit 3

In this unit students investigate the way Italian speakers interpret and express ideas, and negotiate and persuade in Italian through the study of three or more subtopics from the prescribed themes and topics. The topics are; the most liveable cities in the world and making comparisons to Australian cities, products that are made in Italy and how that brand has influenced and aided Italy’s economy and health and wellbeing. The three outcomes requires students to develop skills and knowledge to resolve a personal issue by negotiating a mutually agreeable outcome in a spoken exchange in Italian on a selected subtopic. Students will extract information from three or more texts relating to the selected subtopic, and create written responses in Italian. Students synthesise information from written, spoken and visual texts. Students will create an extended original piece of personal, informative or imaginative writing in Italian to express ideas, thoughts or responses on an aspect of the selected subtopic.

Unit 4

In this unit students investigate aspects of culture through the study of two or more subtopics from the prescribed themes and topics. The topics although updated regularly are; Italian youth today, and the difficulties they face in becoming independent and financially secure and the history of migration in Italy, both internally and abroad. In this area of study students research and present information on a cultural product or practice from an Italian speaking community. Students develop knowledge and skills to share observations and consider how the product or practice may reflect a specific cultural perspective or behaviour. Students will analyse and present in writing information extracted from written, spoken and viewed texts in Italian on a selected subtopic. Students will present information, concepts and ideas in an extended written response to persuade an audience of a point of view or evaluate existing ideas and opinions about an aspect of the selected subtopic.

School-assessed Coursework for Unit 4 will contribute 25 per cent to the study score. The level of achievement for Units 3 and 4 is also assessed by two end-of-year examinations. The examinations are written and oral .

Japanese Second Language

VCE Japanese Second Language focuses on student participation in interpersonal communication, interpreting the language of other speakers, and presenting information and ideas in Japanese on a range of themes and topics. Students develop and extend skills in listening, speaking, reading, writing and viewing in Japanese in a range of contexts and develop cultural understanding in interpreting and creating language. The study of Japanese provides students with a direct means of access to the rich traditional and popular cultures of Japan. Japan and the Japanese-speaking communities have an increasing influence in Victoria through innovations in science, technology, design, retail, fashion, cuisine, sport and the arts. A knowledge of Japanese, in conjunction with other skills, can provide employment opportunities in areas such as tourism, hospitality, the arts, diplomacy, social services, journalism, commerce, fashion, education, translating and interpreting.

Unit 1

In this unit students develop an understanding of the language and culture/s of Japanese-speaking communities through the study of three or more topics. Students access and share useful information on the topics and subtopics through Japanese and consolidate and extend vocabulary and grammar knowledge and language skills. They focus on analysing cultural products or practices including visual, spoken or written texts. Cultural products or practices can be drawn from a diverse range of texts, activities and creations. These may include the following: stories, poems, plays, novels, songs, films, photographs, artworks, architecture, technology, food, clothing, sports and festivals. Students apply acquired knowledge of Japanese culture and language to new contexts. Students reflect on the interplay between language and culture, and its impact on the individual’s language use in specific contexts and for specific audiences.

Unit 2

In this unit students develop an understanding of aspects of language and culture through the study of three or more topics. Students analyse visual, spoken and written texts. They access and share useful information on the topics and subtopics through Japanese and consolidate and extend vocabulary, grammar knowledge and language skills. Cultural products or practices can be used to demonstrate how culture and perspectives may vary between communities. Students reflect on the interplay between language and culture, and its impact on meaning, understanding and the individual’s language use in specific contexts and for specific audiences.

Unit 3

In this unit students investigate the way Japanese speakers interpret and express ideas, and negotiate and persuade in Japanese through the study of three or more topics. Students interpret information, inform others, and reflect upon and develop persuasive arguments. They access and share useful information on the subtopics through Japanese, and consolidate and extend vocabulary and grammar knowledge and language skills. Students consider the influence of language and culture in shaping meaning and reflect on the practices, products and perspectives of the cultures of Japanese-speaking communities. They reflect on how knowledge of Japanese and Japanese-speaking communities can be applied in a range of contexts and endeavours, such as further study, travel, business or community involvement.

Unit 4

In this unit students investigate aspects of culture through the study of two or more topics. Students build on their knowledge of Japanese-speaking communities, considering cultural perspectives and language and explaining personal observations. Students consolidate and extend vocabulary, grammar knowledge and language skills to investigate the topics through Japanese. Students identify and reflect on cultural products or practices that provide insights into Japanese-speaking communities. Cultural products or practices can be drawn from a diverse range of texts, activities and creations. Students reflect on the ways culture, place and time influence values, attitudes and behaviours. They consider how knowledge of more than one culture can influence the ways individuals relate to each other and function in the world.

School-assessed Coursework for Unit 4 will contribute 25 per cent to the study score. The level of achievement for Units 3 and 4 is also assessed by two end-of-year examinations. The examinations are written and oral .

CHINESE LANGUAGE, CULTURE and SOCIETY

This course is designed to develop an understanding of the language, social structures, traditions and contemporary cultural practices of diverse Chinese-speaking communities. Students extend their study of the Chinese language, develop the skills to critically analyse different aspects of the cultures of Chinesespeaking peoples and their communities, and gain insight into the connections between languages, cultures and societies.

The area of study for Chinese Language, Culture and Society comprise of various topics relevant to Chinese culture and society. A range of text types, kinds of writing, vocabulary and grammar is integrated with listening, speaking as well as writing skills.

Unit 1:

On completion of this unit the student should be able to discuss and analyse, in Chinese, research about key aspects of Chinese family relationships and the education system in modem China. The student should also be able to establish and maintain a simple spoken exchange in Chinese related to personal experience of schooling and family life in a Chinese-speaking community. Finally students should have developed the ability to read short texts on aspects of the family in Chinese-speaking communities and the education system in China. They create texts in characters. Students produce informative writing and express personal ideas in written texts in Chinese.

Unit 2:

Students are introduced to Chinese mythology evident in contemporary culture, including the dragon symbol and the importance of Chinese New Year and the Lantern Festival. Students learn about legendary emperors and deities. Students explore Chinese art through examining sources in Chinese on areas such as calligraphy, painting, sculpture, ceramics, film and photography. They consider how these art forms represent aspects of Chinese culture. The student should also be able to establish and maintain a basic spoken exchange in Chinese related to planning travel in China. Finally, the student should be able to read and comprehend simple written texts in Chinese and create a simple text in Chinese about the geography of China.

Unit 3:

On completion of this unit the student should be able to discuss in Chinese the significance and influence of two Chinese philosophies and Guanxi in contemporary Chinese culture. The student should also be able to understand and use information from a spoken text related to an aspect of leisure and lifestyle in Chinese speaking communities, and present this information in spoken Chinese. Finally, the student should be able to Read and comprehend written texts in Chinese about aspects of life in a Chinese-speaking community and write a report in Chinese.

Unit 4:

On completion of this unit the student should be able to investigate contemporary Chinese social and cultural values in Chinese and produce a written report in Chinese. The student should also be able to establish and maintain a spoken exchange in Chinese about an employment-related issue experienced by young people in Chinese-speaking communities. Finally, the student should be able to read and comprehend written texts in Chinese about the world of work in China and produce a written text in Chinese.