Blog Archives

Public talk - The Tower of Babel and Multilingualism - change of location

26/5/2017

School of International Studies, UTS and Japan Foundation, Sydney are hosting a public talk on Monday 26 June 2017 from 6:00pm - 7:30pm.
Professor John Mayer will present the public talk, The Tower of Babel and Multilingualism: A reinterpretation.
Due to popularity, the venue has changed to The Japan Foundation, Level 4, 28 Broadway, Chippendale.
(It is in Central Park: the building covered with plants in front of UTS Tower Building)
For further details and to register please visit: www.eventbrite.com.au/e/public-talk-the-tower-of-babel-and-multilingualism-a-reinterpretation-tickets-34788699938?aff=es2

Interactive whiteboard resources

23/5/2017

We have had many queries from teachers wishing to access copies of the interactive whiteboard resources which used to sit on the Curriculum K-12 website.

We are unable to house these resources on the NSW Department of Education's new curriculum website, as they cannot be made accessible under the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA, which are endorsed by the NSW Government.

NSW public school teachers can continue to access the resources through the Languages NSW - Resources group on Yammer.

Non-government teachers can access the resources through networking with colleagues, as we are unable to provide public access on this occasion.

NSW Department of Education curriculum website - a request for teachers to help us improve the site

22/5/2017

Dear colleagues,

As you are aware, the Languages NSW website (this site) is currently our main source of communication with teachers of languages across NSW.

Two weeks ago we asked you to provide some feedback regarding the Department of Education's curriculum website. The NSW Department of Education is aiming to bring all websites, including the Languages NSW blog, under the new education.nsw.gov.au site, however this site currently lacks a subscription feature (so you can receive an email when a news item is added).

We are asking all teachers of languages to support us in maintaining the highest levels of communication to ensure that you receive relevant information in a timely manner.

To this end, could you please take five minutes to:
1. take a quick look at the department’s new site: education.nsw.gov.au
2. visit the Languages section of the new site: https://education.nsw.gov.au/curriculum/languages
2. scroll to the bottom of the page and you will see a PROVIDE FEEDBACK button
3. rate the page – up to you what you think!
4. next to What do you like? give a short comment about a positive aspect of the site
5. next to What needs to be improved? please write that an RSS feed should be added to the News page at https://education.nsw.gov.au/curriculum/news
6. In addition, if you like the way we currently communicate, you may also like to add that you'd like the site to include a blog-style feature for state office to communicate with teachers.

Thank you in advance for helping our team maintain timely and effective communication with you!

And thank you to the many teachers who have already provided feedback.

Languages Adobe Connect webinar recording

22/5/2017

Participants logged in to last week's Adobe Connect from all across NSW. We were joined by communities of teachers, for example, from the Illawarra network and from Sydney's South West.

It was valuable to have mentors and mentees from the Virtual Language Mentoring Network (VLMN) online together as well as participants from the Languages and Numeracy module and the up-coming Languages and Differentiation module.

The participants represented a range of languages and we look forward to continuing to build teachers' capacity using this online forum. We would like to invite teachers to contribute to the Adobe Connect webinars. Please contact Elizabeth Wang if you have something of value you would like to share with other languages teachers in the Term 3 webinar (up to 5 minutes and maximum 3 slides).

If you were not able to join the Term 2 Adobe Connect webinar, the recording can be accessed via https://connect.schools.nsw.edu.au/p6m7crmnrmz/

Languages Adobe Connect sessions take place in Week 4 of each term, contributing 30 minute of teacher-identified professional learning addressing Standard 7.4.2 of the APST.

We look forward to meeting with you in the Secondary Languages Adobe Connect meeting room in Term 3.
Details will be advertised on the News page of Languages NSW and in SchoolBiz.

Implementation timetable for new Chinese and Japanese K-10 Syllabuses - NESA

15/5/2017

The new Chinese and Japanese K-10 syllabuses will be released in 2017 for familiarisation and planning, prior to their implementation from the start of Term 1 2019. Schools and teachers are advised of the following implementation timetable, which details when the syllabuses are to be introduced.

Years 7-10
2017-2018
Familiarisation and planning
2019
Start teaching Year 7
Start teaching Year 9 elective course
2020
Start teaching Year 8
Start teaching Year 10 elective course

Kindergarten to Year 6
Implementation of the Chinese and Japanese syllabuses in K-6 is optional.
2017-2018
Familiarisation and planning
2018
Optional to teach K-6
2019
Start teaching (if implementing)

For more information, contact:
Lyn Sully
Inspector, Languages
(02) 9367 8152

Languages and Numeracy - registered PL

15/5/2017

Due to demand, the Languages and Numeracy module is being repeated this term to support NSW public school secondary languages teachers.

The module will be delivered online in a blended learning mode by accomplished languages educators.

The Languages and Numeracy module consists of:
- a pre-task
- two mandatory online webinars via Adobe Connect
- a post-task.

The webinars will take place from 3:30pm on:
- Thursday 8 June 2017
- Thursday 22 June 2017.
Participation in both webinars is a requirement of the course.

Successful completion of the module will contribute 3 hours of registered PD addressing standards 2.5.2 and 6.2.2 of the APST.

NSW DoE teachers are required to enrol through MyPL by Friday 25 May. Enter Languages and Numeracy and enrol in the session commencing 8 June 2017.

For further enquiries please contact Janelle Byrne via email or on 9266 8540

Establishing a Russian Teachers' Network

15/5/2017

Maria Lobytsyna from the NSW School of Languages (formerly Open HS) is interested in establishing a cross-sectoral K-12 Russian Teachers’ Network.

The NSW School of Languages is a NSW Department of Education school that offers Stage 6 Russian Continuers through distance education. The course is open to students in both government and non-government schools. For more information about enrolment in a NSW School of Languages course, please go to www.nswschoollang.schools.nsw.edu.au/enrolment.

If you are interested in being part of a mutually supportive teachers' network, please email Maria directly with your name, school name and suburb and some details about the classes you teach.

Reminder: State-wide Adobe Connect - 17 May 2017

12/5/2017

All secondary languages teachers are invited to participate in the Term 2 Adobe Connect webinar. This will include an update from state office, information regarding NESA reforms as well as strategies to strengthen professional connections.

The webinar can contribute to 30 minutes of teacher-identified professional learning addressing Standard 7.4.2 of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.

Join us online via the Secondary Languages Adobe Connect room on Wednesday 17 May 2017 from 3.30-4.00pm.

If you're new to Adobe Connect, please refer to our how-to guide in our original post.

NEED A FAVOUR FROM ALL LANGUAGES TEACHERS

10/5/2017

Dear colleagues,

As you are aware, the Languages NSW website (this site) is the NSW Department of Education’s main source of communication with teachers of languages.

You may access the site directly, and/or receive regular updates via email (see image at right).

This week alone, the site has received 1,900 unique visitors with 39,727 page views.

The NSW Department of Education is aiming to bring all websites under the new education.nsw.gov.au site, however this site currently lacks a subscription feature (so you can receive an email when a news item is added).

We are asking all teachers of languages to support us in maintaining the highest levels of communication.

As such, could you please take five minutes to:
1. take a quick look at the department’s new site: education.nsw.gov.au
2. visit the Languages section of the new site: https://education.nsw.gov.au/curriculum/languages
2. scroll to the bottom of the page and you will see a PROVIDE FEEDBACK button
3. rate the page – up to you what you think!
4. next to What do you like? type a few words about what you like
5. next to What needs to be improved? please write that an RSS feed should be added to the News section. In addition, if you like the way we currently communicate, you may also like to add that you'd like the site to include a blog-style feature for state office to communicate with teachers.

Thank you in advance for helping our team maintain its communication with you!

Update from NESA (NSW Education Standards Authority - formerly BOSTES)

5/5/2017

Do you subscribe to NESA News? Make sure you're receiving the latest updates.

Resources to explain the HSC minimum standard
As part of the lead up to this year’s NAPLAN tests, NESA has developed a range of resources for students and parents to understand the NSW Government’s implementation of a minimum standard of literacy and numeracy for the HSC from 2020. Watch the new video and read the CEO letter to Year 9 students.

HSC exam timetables now available
The 2017 HSC written exam timetable is now available. This year the 118 HSC written exams start on Monday 16 October and finish on Tuesday 7 November. Students can access their personalised exam timetables via their Students Online account. Read more.