A quick update on what is happening with languages in NSW.

1. Languages update!
Board
of Studies Languages Review
Australian Curriculum
Upcoming events

2. Review of Languages in NSW Board of Studies

3. Overview of Review
Consultation
period -9.10.13 – 13.12.13
Online survey – BoS website
8 consultation briefings
Seeking views on six proposals “for a
broader, more inclusive languages
education for all NSW students”
NSW Languages Policy will be developed
and released during 2014

4. Proposal 1: New K-10 Languages
Curriculum Framework
Languages
a mandatory KLA in primary
Schools can choose to teach 2 of 3
strands in primary:
Strand 1: Language awareness
Strand 2: Intercultural understanding
Strand 3: Language learning
100 hrs mandatory in Stage 4 with
increased flexibility on how to deliver it
eg:(2x50hr courses)

5. Some initial concerns*:
No
indicative hours attached to primary
language KLA
No need to teach a language in primary.
Students may not learn a language
Languages in primary may be taught by
generalist teachers and not language
teachers
No incentive for schools to continue with
current primary language program
No incentive for schools to commence a
language learning program in primary
* Expressed by the MLTA Executive

6. Proposal 2: Strengthen Stage 6
Time
on task reviewed
Alternative names to describe language
courses (similar to English)
Review of current eligibility criteria and
processes around eligibility
Establishment of ATAR Languages Bonus
Points Scheme

7. Proposal 3: Recognition of Language
proficiency
Development
of a Languages proficiency
Framework to describe student
achievement
Development of a Languages Passport for
students to carry their achievement with
them across schools and sectors

8. Proposal 4: Strengthening
Aboriginal languages
Developing
support materials for the
Aboriginal languages K-10 Syllabus
Developing an online repository of
resources
Allowing more than one Aboriginal
language to be taught during 100
mandatory hours
Developing a Stage 6 syllabus framework

9. Proposal 5: Raising the profile of
Languages education
Establishing
a NSW Languages advisory
panel
Establishing a Languages curriculum
reference group
Proposal 6: National contributions
Advocate
for Commonwealth funding to
support delivery of Languages education
in NSW

10. Australian Curriculum
All
feedback from consultations has been
received by ACARA
Organisation of the curriculum has been
streamlined:
Strand 1: Communicating (with 5
substrands)
Strand 2: Understanding (with 3
substrands)
Revised Chinese and Italian curriculum
are being reviewed

11. Australian Curriculum cont.
Other
language curriculum will be
rewritten and reviewed
ACARA timeline has been pushed back
At this stage no definite date for
implementation.

12. Upcoming Languages events
19.10.13
– JTAN Workshop
25.10.13 - MLTA 2014 language
scholarship applications close
15.11.13 - Linguafest 2013 screening
7.3.14 - MLTA Conference
10-11.7.14 - Japanese Symposium(UTS)
Anything
else to add here?