The document discusses strategies for increasing language learning participation rates at Smith's Hill High School. It notes that 100 students were surveyed about their motivations, which included overseas study tours, interesting classes, passionate teachers, a sense of achievement, choice of languages, and contact with native speakers. It then provides many tactics for connecting with students early, building rapport, gaining administrative support, engaging students through interactive activities, using technology and media, emphasizing the benefits of language learning, and organizing overseas study tours. The overall aim is to promote language programs and increase student enrollment numbers.

1. Stories of success
Caroline David
Head Teacher, Teaching and Learning
Smith’s Hill High School

2. • 120 students per year
 Year 8 – mandatory 100 hours
 - 45 students studying a second language
 Year 9 – 105 elective students
 Year 10 – 75 elective students
 Year 11/12
 French, German, Japanese Continuers
 French, German, Japanese Extension
 Italian Beginners
My context

3.  100 high school students were surveyed about their
motivation for learning language and ..
 1. Overseas Study Tours *
 2. Interesting classes
 3. Passionate teachers
 4. Sense of achievement
 5. Choice of language
 6. Contact with native speakers

4.  Connect early
 First impressions
 Letter home with enrolment information
 Homestay program
 Overseas Study Tours
 In trust payments
 Fundraising program
 Smoke and mirrors??
Rapport and connection

5.  Make the Principal look good
 Open invitation to visit Language classrooms
 Keep them up to date with happenings in Language
 Invite them down for ‘coffee’
 Give them reasons to keep (or start!) supporting Language
 ATAR bonus
 National priority
Start at the top

6.  Push for authentic representation at Exec level
 Year Adviser
 Curriculum team
 Mentor
 Camps
Be involved

7. Make engaging spaces
Curtains? Kimonos?

8. Library at lunchtime?

9. Going through the front foyer?

10. Going to Science??

11. More engaging spaces

12.  Use funds to buy things for all languages
 Support those departments that support you
for commercial groups

13. Play dress ups

14.  Exploit it
 Patrice the crepe man
 The Wind Rises
 Bratwurst cook-offs
What floats kid’s boats?

15. Media – here
and there and everywhere

16.  Open night – be interactive , visible and attractive
 Staff morning tea – bring exotic food
 Certificates signed by the Principal for anything
 Dress up and present
anything to the Principal
at assembly
PR, PR and more PR

17.  School open night
 In class
 Buy saucepans/crepe makers/utensils
 Get kids to bring ingredients
 Menu in target language
 Get Principal / Senior Exec to come and judge best dish
Food, food, food

18.  Use Narrative
 Normalise bilingualism
 Many Language teachers
 are highly qualified
 Have higher degrees
 Have worked overseas
 Have worked outside schools
 Didn’t become a teacher because they couldn’t do anything else
Exploit your expertise

19. Exploit your connections 1

20. Exploit your connections 2

21.  Endeavour fellowships
 Donation programs
 Travel posters
 Language Uni Days – free food!
Exploit freebies

22.  Set user generated content
 Inclusivity
 Show students you are a lifelong learner
 Do something with technology – don’t just use it for
entertainment
 Cloze task with a song / TV interview
 Review of vocab learnt
Exploit the digital native

23.  Ask not
“Why is learning languages important”
but ask
“What’s in it for me?”
 Makes you smarter – higher performance in other subjects
 Bonus ATAR points
 Comparative advantage in the job market
 Can work overseas
 Flexibility and choices later in life
 Love?
 Food?
Why is learning languages important?

24.  Distance education
 Students enjoy a sense of achievement
 Make it realistic
 Second language speakers - gift of languages
 SSCL
Pitching for achievement

25.  Engagement for students
 Great sense of achievement
 Play it on loop at Open Night in the corridor
 Invite the Principal to Sydney for the finals
MLTA film competition

26.  Seed early
 Take late
 Only language students – not a Contiki tour but a Study Tour
 Early planning
 Clear and regular communication
 Teacher not Tour Guide so design is paramount
 The book
Overseas Study Tours

27. Smith’s Hill High School
caroline.david@det.nsw.edu.au