Course requirements

Implementation of the Modern Languages K–10 Syllabus is optional in Kindergarten to Year 6.

Mandatory study of 100 hours in one language is completed in Years 7–10 but preferably in Years 7–8, over one continuous 12-month period. However, students may commence their study of a language at any point along the K–10 continuum.

Course numbers:

Course name	200-hour	100-hour	200-hour Life Skills	100-hour Life Skills
Arabic	800	801	806	805
Armenian	694	695	696	697
Assyrian	730	731	732	733
Bosnian	698	699	700	701
Chinese	810	811	815	816
Croatian	702	703	704	705
Filipino	722	723	724	725
French	870	871	875	876
General	862	863	864	865
German	880	881	886	885
Modern Hebrew	890	891	894	895
Hindi	63141	63140	898	899
Indonesian	910	911	916	915
Italian	920	921	926	925
Japanese	930	931	935	936
Korean	940	941	946	945
Khmer	706	707	708	709
Macedonian	981	982	983	984
Modern Greek	990	991	996	995
Persian	63251	63250	998	999
Polish	710	711	712	713
Portuguese	714	715	716	717
Punjabi	63299	63298	1005	1006
Russian	1010	1011	1014	1015
Serbian	718	719	720	721
Spanish	1040	1041	1045	1046
Tamil	63303	63302	1047	1048
Thai	726	727	728	729
Turkish	1050	1051	1056	1055
Vietnamese	1071	1072	1077	1076

Languages (Stage 5 Mandatory): 4070

Exclusions: Students may not access Life Skills outcomes and other outcomes from the same subject.

Organisation of Modern Languages K–10

The diagram (Figure 1) is an overview of the Modern Languages K–10 Syllabus. It shows that:

communication is the central goal in language learning
the 3 focus areas are interacting, understanding texts and creating texts
knowledge of language systems is applied in all focus areas and is an essential part of communication
intercultural capability is the capacity to exchange, understand and create meaning between people and across languages and cultures and is developed in all focus areas.

Image long description: The diagram shows 'Communication' encompassing the focus areas of Interacting, Understanding texts and Creating texts. Below the 3 focus areas are the headings 'Applying knowledge of language systems' and 'Developing intercultural capability'.

Access content points

Life Skills outcomes and content

Balance of content

Syllabus framework

The Modern Languages K–10 Syllabus is organised as a framework that can be used to teach any modern language in New South Wales. A modern language refers to any language that is currently in use. There are separate syllabuses for Aboriginal Languages, Auslan and Classical Languages.

Macro skills

There are 4 macro skills, also known as language modes: listening, speaking, reading and writing. They are related to focus areas as shown in the table below.

Focus Area		Macro skills
	Listening	Speaking	Reading	Writing
Interacting
Understanding texts*
Creating texts

* The response to texts can be in the target language or English.

For some students with disability, teachers will need to consider appropriate adjustments to speaking, listening, reading, writing and communication experiences in the context of the Modern Languages K–10 Syllabus.

Representation of language systems and culture

The syllabus content is organised to show that knowledge of language systems and culture is required to communicate across all 3 focus areas as shown in the table below.

Focus Area		Language systems			Culture
	Sound system	Vocabulary	Grammatical system	Writing system*
Interacting
Understanding texts
Creating texts

* It is the intention of the syllabus that spoken interactions are prioritised; however, written interactions can occur where appropriate.

Learner proficiency

Students come to the learning of languages with diverse linguistic and cultural profiles. This may include a heritage in a particular language and/or a range of prior language experiences, either in the target language or another language.

Proficiency levels recognise what the student can do in the target language. Examples have been provided for each stage to support students learning the language at Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced levels, where relevant.

Welcome to the NSW Curriculum website

K–10Modern Languages K–10 Syllabus (2022)

Teaching and learning support