The Greek Language Teachers' Conference 2018 is only 3 weeks away!

​Don't forget to register now online through MyPL
​
​If you have any enquiries about registration please contact Ashley Nouris or Maria Harissi on 9244 5284
​or via email

​ashley.nouris@det.nsw.edu.au
maria.harissi@det.nsw.edua.u

See you all there!

​

The Greek Language Teachers Conference for 2018 is fast approaching!

​Do not forget to register via MyPL. 

​We hope to see you there!

The Language Teacher Network – Macarthur will hold its inaugural meeting on Thursday 27 September at Elderslie High School.

 Enrolment is via MyPL. Search for course code: NR18042 then choose the appropriate session.

Date: Thursday 27 September 2018
Time: 3:30-4:30pm
Venue: Elderslie High School
Agenda:

• - Meet and greet
• - Identify professional learning needs


• For further details please see the attached flyer.


• All language teachers K-12, teaching or living in the area, are welcome to attend

Networks are a great way to stay fresh, get new inspiration and be supported.

To join the Macarthur network contact the Network Leader Fred Tan.

​The Language Teacher Network – Hunter/Newcastle will hold its Term 3 meeting on Thursday 20 September at Francis Greenway High School.

Enrolment is via MyPL. Search for course code: NR18042 then choose the appropriate session.

Date: Thursday 20 September 2018
Time: 4:00-5:00pm
Venue: Francis Greenway High School
Agenda:

• - Assessment for new K-10 syllabus
• - TeachMeet resource sharing
• - Future directions


• For further details please see the attached flyer.


• All language teachers K-12, teaching or living in the area, are welcome to attend.
• Networks are a great way to stay fresh, get new inspiration and be supported.


• Contact: Coreena Allen – Network Leader

NESA has begun a public consultation on the NSW curriculum that will run from 3 September to 30 November 2018. Teachers may choose to participate in the consultation in a number of ways. They may choose to provide quick feedback, provide an online submission or attend one of 14 roadshows that are being held in regional and metro communities across NSW.

The September roadshows are as follows:
- 17 September: Coffs Harbour – Pacific Bay Resort, 4-6 pm
- 18 September: Tamworth – West Tamworth Leagues Club, 4-6 pm

For further information, please visit the website.

Radio presents the SBS National Languages Competition 2018 to encourage and celebrate a love of learning languages in Australia. For the first time, the competition is open to Australians of all ages who are learning a language, including those learning English.

The competition is open from Monday 15 October until Sunday 18 November 2018.

Visit the website for more details on how to enter.
https://www.sbs.com.au/radio/national-languages-competition-2018

The Language Teacher Network – Illawarra will hold its Term 3 meeting on Thursday 20 September at Smith's Hill High School.

Enrolment is via MyPL. Search for course code: NR18042 then choose the appropriate session.

Date: Thursday 20 September 2018
Time: 3:30-4:30pm
Venue: Smith's Hill High School
Agenda: Assessment and syllabus familiarisation

• For further details please see the attached flyer.
• All language teachers K-12, teaching or living in the area, are welcome to attend
• Networks are a great way to stay fresh, get new inspiration and be supported.


• Contact: Rachel Schilbe – Network Leader

As a follow-up to our recent K-10 syllabus workshops (run by the Languages and Culture team), we have been posting the questions you raised, with answers from our team.

In our first post, we looked at implementation and syllabus content and outcomes.
In our second post, we looked at target language use in the classroom and the three learner groups.
In our third post, we looked at learning across the curriculum content and programming.

Today we're looking at Program Builder and the role of language and culture objective.

 We will continue this series in Term 4. 

Program Builder
Q: Need training in using Program Builder.
A: Program Builder is very intuitive to use. There is also a range of “how-to” videos on the Program Builder site, for example:

• - how to create a program
  
• - how to edit a program
  
• - how to create a unit
  
• - how to edit a unit
  
• - how to customise a unit template.
  

As such, neither NESA nor the department will be providing training. As it has been available in other KLAs which have new syllabuses (for example mathematics, English, history) for some time, you could liaise with another teacher at your school who uses the program, if you need someone to walk you through it.
 
Q: When will Program Builder be ready for other languages?
A: Program Builder is close to release in the remaining 6 languages. Make sure you’re subscribed to NESA News so you know when they become available. Subscribe at http://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/about/news/newsletters

The role of language and culture
Q: Are principals aware of the cultural aspect of the new syllabus?
A: In the 2003 syllabus documents, students developed knowledge of the culture of [Language]-speaking communities as part of the Moving Between Cultures objective. In the new syllabuses, students understand and reflect on the role of language and culture in the exchange of meaning, and consider how interaction shapes communication and identity through the role of language and culture objective. There has been no formal announcement via NESA or the department regarding the culture-related objective in the syllabus. Individual teachers are encouraged to discuss these changes with their principals, including the implication for timetabling non-language teachers on to classes.
 
Q: Our school has done research tasks in English in 7 and 8. Can these still work in the new system?
A: They should work. Given the open nature of our syllabuses (no prescribed topics), they should support both research tasks and project-based learning, as long as the research tasks incorporate the intended learning (dot points) of the syllabus.

As a follow-up to our recent K-10 syllabus workshops (run by the Languages and Culture team), we will be answering your questions via this blog.

In our first post, we looked at implementation and syllabus content and outcomes.
In our second post, we looked at target language use in the classroom and the three learner groups.
Today we're looking at learning across the curriculum content and programming.

Learning across the curriculum content
Background:
Learning across the curriculum content assists students to achieve the broad learning outcomes defined in the K-10 Curriculum Framework, Statement of Equity Principles and in the Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians (December 2008).
Cross-curriculum priorities enable students to develop understanding about and address the contemporary issues they face.
The cross-curriculum priorities are:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures 
- Asia and Australia's engagement with Asia
- sustainability.
General capabilities encompass the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours to assist students to live and work successfully in the 21st century.
The general capabilities are:
- critical and creative thinking
- ethical understanding
- information and communication technology capability
- intercultural understanding
- literacy
- numeracy
- personal and social capability.
NESA’s syllabuses include other areas identified as important learning for all students:
- civics and citizenship
- difference and diversity
- work and enterprise.
(Source: http://syllabus.nesa.nsw.edu.au/)

Q: Did I understand correctly – we do NOT have to use the icons for the LATC section?
A: There is no requirement from NESA or the department to use the icons in your programs, however, individual schools may have their own requirements.
 
Q: How many capabilities are to be addressed in one year/Stage?
A: Teachers address the outcomes across a Stage – there is no mandate regarding how you choose to address the learning across the curriculum content. Schools may have their own mandatory requirements which teachers need to follow.

Programming
Q: Could European languages have a day to write Stage 4 and 5 programs together?
A: Later in 2018 and into Semester 1 2019, the Languages and Culture team is planning programming days for secondary languages teachers in NSW public schools who have attended a face-to-face syllabus familiarisation and planning workshop, or completed the online course (for release in Term 4). The days will be organised around the number of outcomes in your language syllabus (8 or 9 outcomes).
 
Q: Collaboration time?
A: In addition to the programming days, we encourage teachers to access their local Language Teacher Network to organise times to collaborate on a more informal basis. These events are advertised via this blog, and many networks are currently including a focus on the new syllabuses.
 
Q: Values and attitudes – where in program?
A: Values and attitudes should underpin everything you do in the classroom, and should form the basis of all the teaching, learning and assessment activities you design – will the activity develop an interest in and enjoyment of language learning? Will it support students to appreciate and value their own heritage, culture and identity? Will it support students to appreciate and respect the culture, beliefs and values of others through language learning?
Values and attitudes objectives do not have outcomes, therefore they are not assessable (as we assess outcomes, not objectives) but they form a critical part of curriculum design.

Q: Will NESA provide a template/proforma that we can all use? Provide some uniformity.
No – NESA will provide sample scope and sequences and sample units of work across a range of languages. The department will also provide a range of sample scope and sequences, sample units of work and sample assessment tasks across all 8 languages, in a range of formats. There are no definitive templates or proformas, as school contexts vary.
Scope and sequences must include:

• - title of each unit
• - sequence of each unit for the year/stage
• - duration of each unit
• - syllabus outcomes included in each unit (these are commonly represented by outcomes codes)
• - any specific-subject requirements (for example, text requirements, student research projects, a site study or time allocated to major aspects of a course)
• - additional information based on common practice in particular subject areas or particular school requirements.

(from http://syllabus.nesa.nsw.edu.au/support-materials/scope-and-sequence-plans)
The department recommends including 2 additional elements in your scope and sequence:

• - learning goal/s for each unit
• - final task for each unit.

Units of work must include:

• - unit description
• - syllabus outcomes
• - duration
• - Stage or year
• - range of relevant syllabus content
• - integrated teaching, learning and assessment activities
• - subject-specific requirements
• - resources
• - reflection and evaluation
• - adjustments for students with special education needs, where appropriate.
  (from http://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/k-10/understanding-the-curriculum/programming)

Q: When programing, do we include both an outcome as well as content “point”?
A: Yes, you include both. The outcome can be included as a code, however the content dot point (intended learning) should be included in full, for clarity.

Correction from previous post regarding NSW School of Languages courses:
Q: Stage 5 learners – do you envisage the teachers catering to the 3 learner groups within one classroom? NSW School of Languages can assist here.
A: Yes, if you have learners from each of those groups in your classroom. As mentioned in the question, NSW School of Languages can assist with Stage 5 Chinese and Japanese moodle courses for students who may matriculate into the Stage 6 [Language] in Context or [Language] and Literature courses. A $200 administration fee applies.