Languages Update!September 2011

Australian Curriculum - LanguagesJan-April 2011 Draft Shape Paper- Consultation

August 2011 Revised Shape Paper

From Sept 2011 Procedures and Guidelines document for Curriculum writers

Curriculum writing:

1st stage – Chinese, Italian

2nd stage – French, German, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish

3rd stage – Arabic, Modern Greek, Vietnamese

2012 National consultation

TBA Implementation

Feedback

Positive:

Paper provides a useful tool for promotion of language learning in school context

Mandatory hours in Primary will raise profile of language learning in community

Languages as a separate KLA

Aims are clear and appropriate

Concerns:

catering for the 3 different categories of learners, particularly in K-6 and in some European languages

the eligibility criteria for the 3 groups of learners and who will be responsible for placement

the continuity between primary and secondary if the original language is not offered in the local high school

staffing, resourcing and professional development needed to cater for mandatory primary and differentiation K-12 at 3 levels

the gap between the minimum and maximum hours (200hrs by Year 12) creates inequity at exam level

More concerns: proposed 130-160hrs in Stage 5 is significantly less than current

200hrs in NSW

lack of pathways for Beginners and Extension courses at senior level

frequency of lessons is not addressed in this paper

confusion over the meaning of Reciprocation as one of the three organisational strands

clarification on the achievement levels is needed.

tailoring of paper to modern languages rather than both classical and modern

the academic and technical tone of the document.

Language grants 2012 Open from end of August

Applications and guidelines: www.ais.nsw.edu.au

Closing date 23 September 2011

Two types of grants:

- Schools Language Program

- Languages in Action

Max. $20,000 from Languages in Action

Proposed Language grants for 2012

Schools Language program (SLP)

Languages in Action grants:

Authentic Access

Beyond the Classroom

Collaborative Clusters

Enabling Electives

In-country Experience

Lifting Languages

Meaningful Mentoring

Parental Polyglots

Projects should:

Be manageable within 3 terms

Be “owned” by all Languages staff

Target a specific Year group/Stage/idea/theme/outcome/skill/need

Be implemented by as many of the Languages staff as possible

Be used as a means of promoting Languages within school community

Provide an opportunity for collaboration and professional development for all Languages staff

AFMLTA conference - Darwin July 6-9 2011 Australian Curriculum focus

Position of Australian Languages

Inter-disciplinary approach to teaching Languages in Stage 4

Feedback in the Languages classroom

Digital game-based language learning

“Translanguaging”