We are circulating this information on behalf of our colleagues at NESA, who have received a number of inquiries this year regarding Languages Life Skills courses in Stage 6.
· Schools with eligible students can develop a School Developed Board Endorsed Course for a Stage 6 Life Skills course in any language.
· Applications for these courses are submitted to NESA via Schools Online. Applications should be submitted by the end of Term 1 in the year before the course is planned to commence.
· Objectives, outcomes and modules are pre-filled in the application form. Schools determine the topics they will deliver (in relation to the modules provided), and the content that will be taught in each topic (suggested content is provided in supporting documentation attached to the application form).
· The objectives and outcomes within the application are based on the Stage 6 Beginners Languages courses.
· Once endorsed, the course can be delivered by the school and count as 2 units towards a student’s pattern of study.
Further inquiries from schools can be directed to Marina Laing or Melissa Gould-Drakeley.

NESA has updated all Stage 6 course descriptions – they are now available on the NESA website.
 
Course descriptions are helpful for students making subject selections. 

The 2020 HSC written exam and updated oral language exam timetables are now available on the NESA website.

What’s changed?
The written and oral exam timetables will each start a few days later than originally planned to give students more face to face time with their teachers to revise, ask questions and seek support in the lead up to exams:

• Written exams will start on 20 October and finish on 11 November
• Similarly, the oral language exams will start on 15 August and finish on 19 September

Results will be released on 18 December.

MLTA members are invited to the webinar Unpacking the NESA K-10 languages syllabuses presented by Melissa Gould-Drakeley (Inspector Languages at NESA).

​It will be held on Wednesday 6 May from 4-5:30pm.
Please register by 3pm on the day of the webinar.

Please note this is a repeat of the webinar facilitated last term for those who were not able to participate. You will not be able to gain registered hours for it twice. 

Registered participants will be sent the webinar link prior to the webinar (please ensure your email address is entered correctly). 

We are aware that many of you have questions concerning the HSC oral examinations for 2020. We encourage you to forward your questions and concerns to NESA, who facilitate these exams.

Through communicating directly to NESA, they will be aware of the types of concerns you have, as well as how many of you have these concerns.

For any questions related to COVID (including oral exams or school-based speaking assessments), email/call the COVID hotline covid19support@nesa.nsw.edu.au or call 1300 138 323.

The HSC Languages oral examinations timetable for 2020 will be released in March. Important information for schools scheduling students' oral examinations is now available on the NESA website. 

New examples of adjustments for supporting students with disability are now available on the NESA website. The examples include practical lessons, group work, physical activities and excursions.

NESA has published K-10 scope and sequences for Arabic, Modern Greek, Turkish and Vietnamese. They are now available on NESA’s website. These identify concepts and show linguistic progression from Kindergarten to Year 10.

Sample Stage 6 formal assessment tasks are also available on NESA’s website for Year 11 and 12 Beginners and Continuers courses. Go to ‘Sample formal assessment tasks’ on individual syllabus pages.

NESA has published information on preparing Year 11 assessment programs for 2020. You can find advice on: 
- developing school-based assessment programs in Stage 6, including checklists for teachers
- formal assessment schedules
- adjustments for students with a disability. 

Check your syllabus "Assessment and Reporting" documents available on syllabus pages for course specific requirements.