Teacher's+Page

Dear Student,

This is the first VSL course that is 100% online, and we wish you lots of learning and some fun as well. My name is Deweng Song. We also have a Chinese Teacher Assistant this year at our Distance Education Section. Her name is ZHANG, Shuting(Sue). We do hope that you will find your study of Chinese with us enjoyable and rewarding. Studying a language completely online via distance education is a challenge. It may take a little time for you to get used to reading instructions, navigating through the course materials, ringing the teacher, organising to send in your work and so on. However, there are also some advantages: from left to right: Mr Frank Merlino, Principal of the Victorian School of languages; Musashi Koyama, Chinese Award winner 2011; Ebony Jones, Chinese Award winner 2011; Deweng Song, Chinese teacher ||
 * Welcome to the Victorian School of Languages Year 7 Chinese course!
 * you can work at times which best suit you
 * you get a real sense of satisfaction when you see the progress you are making each week
 * you are in charge of your own learning
 * you get a lot of individual attention from your teacher. || [[image:vslyear7chinese/IMG_3159.jpg width="437" height="340"]]

To do this course you will need:
 * a computer and the Internet
 * a headset with a microphone
 * a folder where you can keep your notes and worksheets.

This course is divided into weekly sets of work. Each week equals one workset. Each week you will be sending us some work for checking. Some tasks are submitted online, and some are done on a worksheet that you print out and mail to us.

With the online materials you can do listening, reading and writing assignments by yourself, but you will also practice speaking in Chinese with us during the fortnightly telephone lessons. To do this you will need to contact us to work out mutually suitable timetables. The best way to contact us is by phone: metropolitan students can ring Shuting (Sue) Zhang’s direct phone number: 9474 0550. The toll free number is: 1800 675 872 if you call from countryside. If we are unable to take your call, please leave your name and a contact number, so that we can contact you as soon as we are able. We are available during weekdays from 9 – 4. Shuting’s email address is: shutingz@vsl.vic.edu.au. It is an important and integral part of the course; you must attempt it to be able to satisfactorily pass the year.

Before you log in to the course to start Workset 1, you will receive an email with the course website link and your log in details. We look forward to hearing from you and receiving your homework. Ring us if you need an extra help or information.

Regards,

Deweng Song Chinese Coordinator & course writer Victorian School of Languages <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Email address: dewengs@vsl.vic.edu.au <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Phone: (03) 9474 0542 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Toll free: 1800 675 872 Teacher pin 1542 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Fax: 9416 8598