Modern Hebrew Continuers 2018 HSC exam pack

Conversation

Students should:

• respond to all questions asked
• elaborate on responses and avoid yes and no responses
• answer the question asked and avoid giving pre-prepared responses that do not address the question.

In better responses, students were able to:

• provide extended responses to questions
• adapt their responses to meet the requirements of the questions
• respond to the question using appropriate tense
• offer opinions about their personal world and justify their opinions
• use a variety of vocabulary, tenses and a range of sentence structures in their responses
• respond to questions fluently and with correct intonation and pronunciation.

Areas for students to improve include:

• correctly using infinitives
• using correct verbs in context, for example, saying lomed ivrit instead of ose ivrit and nosea leIsrael rather than olech leIsrael
• using a variety of vocabulary, in particular appropriate adjectives for context.

Discussion

Students should:

• choose topics that have resources easily available which will enable them to support their research with evidence
• have at least three sources or texts and ensure that one is a literary text
• identify texts clearly by title and author.

In better responses, students were able to:

• give evidence of research by referring to texts specifically
• support their opinions with evidence from their texts
• compare their texts and express opinions about issues raised
• analyse and evaluate information from different texts and express an opinion about reliability
• clarify the angle or perspective of their texts
• synthesise information researched and use it to support their point of view
• offer possible solutions to matters raised in their research
• demonstrate a high level of grammatical accuracy and use a variety of vocabulary and sentence structures appropriate to the context.

Areas for students to improve include:

• avoiding simply recounting information
• avoiding recounting their personal experiences without support from reliable texts
• giving anecdotal information about their in-depth topic.

Listening and Responding

Part A

Students should:

• respond in English
• make notes in the Candidates Notes column on the right-hand side of the page
• write all parts of a response in the lines, table or chart provided below the question
• use the lines provided as a guide to the length of the response required
• choose only one response in multiple choice questions
• read the question carefully and ensure that their responses are clear and address all parts of the question
• support their responses with relevant reference to the text, using their own words
• refer to a dictionary carefully to ensure that vocabulary that is appropriate to context of response is used.

In better responses, students were able to:

• provide all relevant details required by the question
• refer to the content and language of the text without just translating the text
• support their answer with relevant references to the text, using their own words
• address and provide explanation in response to the requirements of how in questions (Q1b, Q2 and Q4b)
• refer to specific language used in text to demonstrate change of feelings during the conversation (Q4b).

Areas for students to improve include:

• using appropriate examples and references to the text
• referring to relevant language features, such as similes, metaphors, rhetorical questions if the question asks to comment on how language is used by speaker(s)
• providing an explanation using own words when the question asks for How …?
• using dictionary appropriately to find the correct meaning of word or words for the context
• proofreading responses so that they make sense and are not contradictory.

Part B

Students should:

• respond in Modern Hebrew
• use their own words in Modern Hebrew
• avoid translating parts of the text as part of their response
• make notes in the Candidates Notes column on the right-hand side of the page
• write all parts of a response in the lines, table or chart provided below the question
• choose only one response in multiple choice questions
• address all parts of the question.

In better responses, students were able to:

• use appropriate vocabulary, grammar and syntax in Modern Hebrew
• respond using their own words rather than simply translating the text
• provide all relevant details required by the question
• provide all the changes in Motti’s opinion about lawn bowls (Q5)
• support their response by explaining quotes from the text using their own words (Q5 and Q6)
• justify and support their response with relevant reference to the text (Q6b)
• explain the feelings of the speakers and not just give a name to the feelings (Q6b).

Areas for students to improve include:

• addressing all parts of the question
• using appropriate examples and references to the text
• using correct Modern Hebrew vocabulary, grammar and syntax
• referring to relevant language features, such as similes, metaphors, rhetorical questions if the question asks to comment on how the speaker(s) use language
• providing an explanation using own words when the question asks for How …?
• avoiding translating text as part of their response
• revising noun + adjective and pronoun + verb agreements
• revising correct use of prepositions.

Reading and Responding

Part A

Students should:

• respond in English
• should read the whole text carefully
• write all parts of a response in the lines, table or chart provided below the question
• choose only one response in multiple choice questions
• address all parts of the question
• analyse the information in the text or draw a conclusion rather than give a literal translation
• use the dictionary appropriately to find the correct meaning of the word or words in context.

In better responses, students were able to:

• address all key words and main points required by the question
• provide all relevant references to the text using their own words
• refer to the content and language of the text without just transcribing the text
• provide an explanation of howShoshana’s feelings changed using appropriate quotes from the text, using their own words and not just providing a translation (Q7c)
• evaluate the information to express and present their judgment about whether Tomer would place his children in a similar situation that he experienced (Q8b).                    

Areas for students to improve include:

• using their own words when providing answers rather than just repeating the question in response
• supporting response with appropriate examples from and references to the text
• avoiding translating text as part of their response
• using own words or paraphrasing to show understanding of quotes from text
• avoiding repeating information used to answer other questions
• using the dictionary appropriately to find the correct meaning of the word or words for the context of the text.

Part B

Students should:

• address all parts of the question in their response to the text
• demonstrate an understanding of the whole text and not respond only to questions asked in the text
• respond to all relevant and key points raised in the text, for example comments made, requests for advice
• respond using all the conventions of the type of text required by the question
• respond in Modern Hebrew using their own words, ideas, original expressions and sentence structures and avoid using expressions used in the text
• edit their work in relation to grammar and spelling.

In better responses, students were able to:

• use appropriate vocabulary, grammar and syntax in Modern Hebrew
• use a variety of expressions and structures appropriate to the requirements of the task
• be creative and original and demonstrate an understanding of the whole text
• use their own words and not translate the text as part of their response.

Areas for students to improve include:

• avoiding transcribing sections of the text in their response
• using their own vocabulary and expressions
• learning the rules for conjugation of verbs
• avoiding using English sentence structures when writing in Modern Hebrew
• responding in a coherent and logical way to show understanding of text
• writing using the conventions of the type of text required by task
• ensuring meeting the correct length requirements of task
• proofreading their work to ensure clarity of response.

Writing in Modern Hebrew

Students should:

• ensure that their response is in keeping with the context, purpose and audience required by the question
• respond using all the conventions of the type of text required by the question
• address all parts of the question using their own words, original expressions, sentence structures and ideas
• avoid using expressions used in other parts of the examination
• adhere to the correct length requirement of the question
• edit their response for clarity.

In better responses, students were able to:

• use appropriate expressions to demonstrate reflection in their writing
• clearly describe and reflect on the impact that someone made in their life rather than just describing the person (Q10a)
• use the past tense effectively when reflecting about being surprised about having the courage to deal or confront a situation in (Q10b)
• write addressing the relevant context, purpose and audience required by the question
• give substantial treatment to the task using original and creative ideas
• structure and sequence their response in a logical and coherent way
• use appropriate vocabulary, grammar and syntax in Modern Hebrew
• use a variety of expressions and structures appropriate to the requirements of the task
• manipulate the language authentically and appropriately for the task.

Areas for students to improve include:

• reading the question carefully and addressing all the parts of the question
• avoiding addressing the question superficially
• avoiding using pre-learnt expressions that are irrelevant to answering the question
• using a variety of vocabulary rather than using the same adjectives and expressions throughout the response
• revising grammar rules, sentence structures and tenses
• using appropriate language to demonstrate ability to reflect
• avoiding retelling or describing rather than reflecting as required by the question
• using dictionary appropriately to ensure correct word or words are used in the context of the question.