The Languages and Culture team successfully established the Virtual Languages Mentoring Network (VLMN) in 2017 to support beginning and/or isolated languages teachers 7-12. A beginning teacher is one in their first 2 years of teaching in metro areas and up to 5 years in rural and remote.
 
Beginning and geographically-remote teachers of languages often work as the only language teacher in the school and have specific needs which cannot always be met at school level.
 
The VLMN includes a Language Officer, Evia Kyriacou, from the Languages and Culture team, 2 lead mentors, 2 beginning mentors and up to 15 school-based language teacher mentors (selected via expressions of interest) working to support the mentee teachers.
 
Expressions of interest are invited from early career/geographically remote teachers of languages 7-12 (mentees) who would like to join the second cohort of VLMN for 2019-2021.

The VLMN will:
- identify professional learning needs for mentees and mentors
- implement evidence-based mentoring practices to develop the capacity of mentees over an 18-month period
- support teachers of languages in working towards and maintaining accreditation at a range of career stages
- build the capacity of virtual and face-to-face language teacher networks.

​The VLMN will begin with a centrally-located 2.5 day conference for both mentors and mentees. The Languages and Culture team will provide release to participants to facilitate mentoring support and to attend targeted professional learning.
 
Please complete the Google survey https://forms.gle/mQpQMMwZKdvb17Z48 and download the attached EOI form and submit by 5pm on Friday 10 May 2019 to Evia Kyriacou.

The Languages and Culture team (Secondary Education – Learning and Teaching Directorate) is running a Preservice Language Teachers' Conference on 16 November 2018.
​
​Due to low enrolments from preservice teachers, we are opening up the conference to beginning teachers in their first two years of teaching.

​If you are a beginning teacher and interested in attending this event, please send a copy of your tertiary transcript for the Education/Teaching course you have completed (for graduates 2016-2017) to darlene.knowles@det.nsw.edu.au to receive the enrolment link.

If you teach preservice teachers, have contact with practicum students or know a beginning language teacher, please let them know about this FREE-OF-CHARGE event.

Further details are provided in the attached flyers for both beginning teachers and preservice teachers.

Participants will be engaged in targeted workshops (based on identified needs from the tertiary sector), including:
- student engagement and advocacy
- managing multi-level classrooms
- future-focused learning in the languages classroom
- engaging teaching strategies
- time management.

There will also be plenary sessions presented by:
- TEACH.NSW
- NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA)
- the NSW branch of the Modern Language Teachers’ Association (MLTA).

​Participants will have the opportunity to network with experienced teachers of their specific target language, and build relationships with preservice/beginning teachers from other NSW institutions.

All plenary and workshop sessions align strongly with Standard 6.1 and Standard 7.4 of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.

Attendance can be logged as Evidence for Accreditation in the participants’ professional learning journals, as a record of engagement to achieve Proficient Teacher.

Morning and afternoon tea are provided.
 
Assistance with travel/accommodation available upon request.

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. 

MLTANSW invites languages teachers to register for the upcoming MLTANSW Beginners Languages Teachers' workshop which will be held on 28 October at the University of Sydney. This workshop is targeted for languages teachers who have less than 5 years of teaching experience, however, all languages teachers at any stage of their career are invited to attend. Pending conformation, it is likely that this workshop will be NESA registered for professional standards 2.3.2, 3.4.2, 6.2.6 and 7.4.2.

To register for the event, please follow the link below and follow the instructions.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beginners-languages-teachers-workshop-tickets-38105605893

Further information has been provided on the flyer below

If you are a beginning and/or geographically isolated teacher of languages 7-12 at your school, please email your details to Michelle Walls 
 
The Languages and Culture team (Secondary Education – Learning and Teaching Directorate) is establishing the Virtual Language Mentoring Network (VLMN) to support beginning and/or isolated languages teachers
​7-12, especially those without the support of a head teacher with languages background. A beginning teacher is one in their first five years of teaching.
 
Early career and geographically remote teachers of languages often work as the only language teacher in a school and have specific needs which cannot always be met at school level. This is a chance to build a network of language teachers across the state who can help and support each other, plus a valuable opportunity to participate in professional development.
 
The VLMN will include a Language Officer (Michelle Walls) from the Languages and Culture team and up to fifteen school-based language teacher mentors (selected via expressions of interest) working to support the mentee teachers.
 
Expressions of interest are invited from early career/geographically remote teachers of languages 7-12 (mentees) who would like to join the Virtual Languages Mentoring Network (VLMN) for 2017. Apply via the link below.
 
The VLMN will:

• - identify professional learning needs for mentees and mentors
• - implement evidence-based mentoring practices to develop the capacity of mentees
• - support teachers of languages in working towards and maintaining accreditation at a range of career stages
• - build the capacity of virtual and face-to-face language teacher networks.

 
The Virtual Language Mentoring Network will begin with a centrally-located two day conference for both mentors and mentees. The Languages and Culture team will provide release to participants to facilitate mentoring support and to attend targeted professional learning.
 
Selection criteria:
Contact Michelle Walls, A/Language Officer on 02 9244 5573 or at michelle.walls2@det.nsw.edu.au to find out more.
 
Expressions of interest should be submitted by 5pm on Friday, 24 February 2017

• EOI to become a VLMN mentee (language teachers in first five years/geographically remote).

 
Would you like to be a mentor?
The Languages and Culture team is also seeking mentors for the Virtual Language Mentoring Network (VLMN). In selecting mentors, we will consider selection criteria responses, to ensure members are drawn from a wide range of schools, languages and experience.
 
Experienced language teachers and/or Head Teachers participating in this program will have significant professional development opportunities and be given the opportunity to build skills at the APST Highly Accomplished Teacher level. Expressions of interest are invited from suitably qualified and experienced teachers.
 
Expressions of Interest should be submitted by 5pm on Friday, 24 February 2017

• EOI to become a VLMN mentor (experienced language teachers)