Brinbeal Secondary College is a diverse and multicultural community. To further promote our acceptance of culture and languages, the College offers students the choice to study one of four different languages throughout their Junior Years. The languages offered are: Chinese, Dutch, Spanish and Vietnamese.
Learning additional languages not only provides a deeper understanding of other cultures and societies, it also provides the student with additional all-round advantages, including enhanced literacy, verbal and mathematical skills, increased creativity, and improved ability to solve complex problems. Students will develop the skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening through topics related to greetings, self-introductions, numbers and day-to-day life. They will explore the similarities and differences between English and their studied language.
For 2025, students are required to submit their language preferences in order via the Microsoft Form provided to families. Please be aware that students may not receive their first preference due to timetable limitations.
Please note: all of these subjects are being offered as beginner courses. Students should not pick a language they are already competent in.
Chinese - 中国人 Zhōngguó rén
Chinese is the language spoken by more than one fifth of the world’s population. In addition to the People’s Republic of China, Chinese is the official language of Taiwan and Singapore. The Chinese script appeared as a fully developed writing system about 4000 years ago. Because of their pictographic origin, Chinese characters are easy to remember. To help people learn Chinese characters, a Romanised spelling system known as PinYin is used to represent the pronunciation of characters. China offers a unique history, geography and culture. Knowledge of the Chinese language will enable better communication with Chinese speaking people and provide a better understanding of Chinese culture.
Dutch - Nederlands
As the official language of the Netherlands and Belgium, Dutch provides an introduction to European culture and history, broadening students' global perspectives. For students with an interest in art, history, or travel, learning Dutch also connects them to the rich heritage of the Dutch-speaking world, including famous artists such as Van Gogh and events such as King’s Day in the Netherlands. Dutch is relatively easy for English speakers to learn due to shared linguistic roots, making it a manageable and rewarding choice.
Spanish - Español
Spanish is one of the three most widely spoken languages in the world. It originated in Spain and is now spoken by over 400 million people in over 20 different countries across four continents. Spanish is the official language of most of Latin America. It is also widely spoken in Israel, Morocco, the Philippines, and the United States of America. Spanish is the language, not only of a range of popular cultures, but one of the richest literary and artistic languages in the world. Spanish is a very accessible language for English speakers. English and Spanish both use the Latin alphabet and some Spanish words are already familiar to English speakers.
Vietnamese - Tiếng Việt
Vietnamese is the official language of Vietnam. It is spoken by approximately 90 million people in Vietnam and approximately four million Vietnamese people living in other countries around the world, with the majority residing in the United States, Cambodia, France, Taiwan and Australia. Learning languages, including Vietnamese, offers students numerous cognitive, cultural, and personal benefits. Vietnamese provides a gateway to understanding the rich history, traditions, and perspective of Vietnam and its people. Additionally, learning the language fosters better cross-cultural communication, builds relationships, explores new things, and enhances your experiences, all of which are essential in today’s interconnected world.
