​The Languages and Culture team is able to enhance their support to language teachers 7–12 through growing language teacher networks across NSW.

Your local network leader can coordinate with state office to provide professional learning in a range of delivery modes and covering a range of curriculum needs. Working with teachers in their local areas, network leaders can also negotiate delivery dates, including staff development days.
​
Existing networks are listed below - if you teach in one of these areas and would like to join the appropriate network, please contact the network leader directly.

If a network is not listed for your area, and you would be interested in establishing a new network, please contact darlene.knowles@det.nsw.edu.au or 9266 8536.

Mid North Coast
Network leader: Jody Newhouse
Bellingen High School
JODY.NEWHOUSE@det.nsw.edu.au   

Illawarra
Network leader: Simona Mastroianni
Smiths Hill High School
Simona.Mastroianni1@det.nsw.edu.au

South Western Sydney
Network leader: Suzanne Safi
Holyroyd High School
SUZANNE.SAFI@det.nsw.edu.au 

Greater Western Sydney
Network leader: Alicia North
James Ruse High School
Alicia.North4@det.nsw.edu.au

Central West NSW
Network leader: Shery Pirie
Orange High School
Shery.PIRIE@det.nsw.edu.au

Riverina
Network leader: Marianna Valeri
Murray High School
MARIANNA.VALERI@det.nsw.edu.au

Sydney East/CBD
Network leader: Danielle Elvy
NSW School of Languages
​danielle.elvy@det.nsw.edu.au

Sydney North
Network leader: Margaret Wajs
Willoughby Girls High School
MARGARET.WAJS@det.nsw.edu.au

Sydney South
Network leader: Ke Fan
Kogarah High School
Ke.Fan4@det.nsw.edu.au

Central Coast
Network leader: Katherine Brownlee
Gosford High School
KATHERINE.BROWNLEE@det.nsw.edu.au

Northwest NSW
Network leader: Jacinta Hohnke
Manilla Central School
jacinta.hohnke1@det.nsw.edu.au

Newcastle/Hunter
Network Leader: Coreena Allen
Merewether High School
Coreena.Allen@det.nsw.edu.au

For information on primary language teacher networks, please contact Amanda Davis at amanda.l.davis@det.nsw.edu.au or on 9244 5284.

In 2017, the Languages and Culture team worked with the department's Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation (CESE) to conduct four case studies of high schools with successful participation in elective language classes.

The case study schools are:
- Armidale High School
- Burwood Girls High School
- Cabramatta High School
- Cherrybrook Technology High School.

The case studies highlight the school and classroom-based practices that four individual schools identify as contributing to their success in language participation.

The case studies are available at https://www.cese.nsw.gov.au/publications-filter/increasing-language-participation-in-secondary-schools and are recommended reading for any school looking to grow their languages program.

The Languages and Culture team would like to thank the staff and students of each school for being part of this important project.

A reminder that the next Brekkie with a Tekkie session is running on 7 February at 7.45 am. These sessions are a great opportunity for languages teachers to take advantage of the benefits that Adobe offers for both their teaching and professional learning. There is no need to register for the session. To join the session, simply go to http://connect.schools.nsw.edu.au/t4linnovations.

Due date: Friday 9 February 2018.

The Languages and Culture team is seeking experienced teachers of languages 7–12 to establish new networks across NSW. Networks facilitate the sharing of expertise, knowledge and resources between colleagues and with other network groups.

We are seeking network leaders for the following areas:

• - Lower North Coast/Port Macquarie
• - Far North Coast/Ballina
• - South Coast NSW (Nowra to Bega).
  

Teachers of languages, including Head Teachers, who would like to support the Language Teacher Network project, are invited to submit an expression of interest. This is an excellent leadership opportunity for language teachers who are possibly considering higher accreditation in the future. 

Successful applicants will receive one day's relief per term until the end of 2018, in order to plan meetings and organise professional learning.

There will also be an initial orientation day in Term 1 2018, to provide training in MyPL, Adobe Connect and other relevant platforms. Reimbursement for travel and accommodation costs for non-metropolitan teachers is available to attend the orientation day.

Networks facilitate the sharing of expertise, knowledge and resources between colleagues and with other network groups.

​All expressions of interest require the signature of the applicant’s principal. Please email the completed form (below) as a scanned PDF to darlene.knowles@det.nsw.edu.au by Friday 9 February 2018.

For further information contact Darlene Knowles, Language Officer on 9266 8536.

​Registrations for Languages at Sydney: Go Global 2018 are closing on 31 January 2018. 
  
This event is an initiative by the University of Sydney's School of Languages and Cultures and is catered towards students in Years 10–12, whether they are students continuing with a language, or students who want to learn a language from scratch, as the event will give them a taste of the programs and languages that the University of Sydney has to offer. Events on the day will include language-specific immersion, career opportunities for languages students, introduction to languages at SLC and a campus tour.

Languages at Sydney: Go Global is for:
- Year 12 languages students (HSC, IB)
- Year 12 students interested in languages at university
- Year 11 and 12 languages teachers and careers counsellors
- Year 10 and 11 students who are interested in studying languages.

Event details
Date: Friday 2 March 2018, 1:30-4:30pm
Venue: University of Sydney

To register, follow the registration link. Every student and teacher will need to submit an individual registration via the registration link.

For further enquiries, contact languages.admin@sydney.edu.au

The NSW Department of Education's Languages and Culture team invites expressions of interest from early career secondary teachers of languages (Years 7-12) who are interested in being mentored through the Virtual Languages Mentoring Network (VLMN) in 2018.
 
The Virtual Languages Mentoring Network supports the wellbeing and professional growth of early career languages teachers.
 
The VLMN program:

• - provides early career languages teachers with an experienced, language-specific teacher mentor
• - supports the development of  trusting, productive and mutually beneficial professional relationships
• - encourages critical conversations and self-reflection
• - develops the professionalism of teachers as they work toward best practice and accreditation
• - provides high quality, relevant and evidence-based professional learning
• - develops and supports robust professional networks
• - promotes teacher wellbeing and work-life balance
• - fosters a growth mindset.

 
We have five places available in 2018. The languages available are:

• - French
• - German
• - Spanish.

 
Teachers of Aboriginal Languages are also encouraged to apply.
 
If you teach a language not listed above, please contact the program manager to discuss joining the program in 2019.
 
Key responsibilities

• - All participants actively seek to build trusting, productive, and mutually beneficial professional relationships.
• - All participants are committed to meeting timelines for communication and deliverables.

 
Selection criteria
We are looking for participants who will commit to the program, and commit to growing as teaching professionals. If you feel like you have a lot to learn, would like to connect with more experienced colleagues, want to build your confidence and skills as a professional, and are enthusiastic and open, we would like to hear from you. 
 
At the time of application you must:
- be an employee of the NSW Department of Education, in your first three years of teaching in a metropolitan or    outer metropolitan school, or first five years of teaching in a rural/remote school
- have a permanent or long-term temporary (4 terms +) appointment
- teach at least 50% of a full time load in languages.
 
All expressions of interest must be endorsed by the applicant’s current principal. The program guidelines are attached for the information of applicants and their principals.
 
If you are interested in becoming part of the Virtual Languages Mentoring Network, please complete the attached EOI form, and include a brief statement supporting your application (no more than one A4 page).  Email your endorsed application as a PDF to the program manager, Michelle Walls by 5pm on Friday, 16 February 2018 (Week 3).
 
ALL: Please bring this opportunity to the attention of any early career languages teacher who could benefit from this mentoring program.
 
For further information contact Michelle Walls, Language Officer, on 9266 5573.