Share your thoughts about Australian Curriculum: Languages

2/1/2015

58 Comments

Kylie Farmer

3/6/2015 06:29:17 pm

Looking forward to hearing from the 500+ teachers involved in this AFMLTA project around Australia during March

Arika

3/13/2015 01:55:07 pm

Hi Kylie, where does do-think-notice-compare-reflect come from? I saw it from your unit planner

Anne Aldis

3/13/2015 02:29:46 pm

We use the website www.edutect.com

Cynthia Dodd

3/9/2015 01:34:43 pm

How marvellous it is to finally see a space for national, synchronous engagement about Languages learning accessible to grassroots members. Let's be sure to value this opportunity and keep this rolling.

Sherryl Saunders

3/10/2015 12:16:17 pm

We are looking forward to a productive and depthed conversation about Australian Curriculum: Languages. We are, also, looking forward to the ongoing work related to teachers engagement with AC:L and assisting in the sharing of the work within and across groups of teachers.

Angela Minuzzo

3/12/2015 09:04:10 am

Looking forward to hearing about the AC-Languages and to a productive day with colleagues!!

Nadine Hammill link

3/12/2015 09:12:46 am

Very much looking forward to collaborating and sharing ideas among colleagues and language professionals ...many hands make light work!

Kylie

3/12/2015 09:39:31 am

Good luck Darwin!
First of 9 Ready?Set?Go! Workshops starting around the country today!

Amber Badenhop

3/12/2015 11:06:44 am

Already some engaging discussion re teaching culture - which one do we teach if we are to teach French? Mauritian, France, Canadian, Senegalese French?? Process of discovery about culture is important to teach also. Great to be here together from Alice Springs and Darwin.

Anne-Marie

3/12/2015 01:22:40 pm

Great question. The flexibility of the AC allows for culture to be explored in the context of use. That is, French will be different in Canada, Mauritius, Senegal, etc, because as a language in use it will reflect local cultural conditions, needs and use, and thus can be considered in different ways. Wonderful question for students. They will also need to consider how they use French and what is means for Australian users.

Zoe Saliba and Imelda Indrawati

3/12/2015 12:05:02 pm

It is fantastic to connect with other teachers in the NT and be involved in discussions about Australian Curriculum : Languages. A chance to gain new understandings, perspectives and confirm our current interpretations and practice. (MacKillop Catholic College, NT)

richard willcocks

3/12/2015 12:15:14 pm

Is it possible to make the powerpoints for each of the modules in the Workshop materials booklet available electronically?

Sherryl Saunders

3/12/2015 12:23:10 pm

Lovely comment from Leanne... 'Understanding self (intraculturality) & understanding others (interculturaity) - very spiritual, very deep.'

Diane furusho

3/13/2015 08:15:17 am

Angela Natoli

3/13/2015 08:20:42 am

Looking forward to working with language colleagues to begin thinking about how to implement the Australian Curriculum for languages in our schools 😃

Rose Marasco link

3/13/2015 08:28:10 am

Looking forward to this.

Kathryn Tominaga

3/13/2015 09:01:11 am

http:/padlet.com'TominagaSensei/RSG_Brisbane

Jane Wildner link

3/13/2015 09:04:31 am

So great to have a united national forum for discussion of the important and fascinating topic of teaching multiple languages in Australia.

Kathryn Tominaga

3/13/2015 09:07:56 am

http://padlet.com/tominagasensei/RSG_Brisbane

Myriam Davies

3/13/2015 09:13:32 am

Great conversations happening in ACT around the AC;L!

Nicolette Bramley

3/13/2015 11:36:59 am

Yes, a wonderful day of learning and exploring the AC:L. Exploring the AC:L Structure, it is interesting to note that the Chinese curriculum is explicitly treating Oral and Written as separate threads but that in the Japanese curriculum that is not done explicitly even though they are both character-based languages.

I appreciate the work that has gone into articulating each of the different levels so clearly in all the languages.

Clémentine

3/13/2015 12:19:17 pm

Change the way we think.
What can our students learn?
NOT what can we teach?

Itin H

3/20/2015 03:31:49 pm

I second that Clementine.

Arika

3/13/2015 01:59:50 pm

Yes, great discussions, we even had sunflower analysis of language teaching and learning and organic planning, thanks to Kim 🌻

Siobhan L

3/13/2015 02:59:14 pm

Hi Myriam!! Here is Brisbane too!

Manuel Moreno

3/13/2015 09:57:35 am

Although the Australian Curriculum seems very specific, I think each school has to adapt it to their features and characteristics, so it gives teachers the opportunity to make the AC their own by their choices about language and culture. By the way, the teachers of Spanish have a hard task deciding about cultural elements about cultural communities of a language so spread along the world!!!

Kym

3/13/2015 10:02:16 am

Our perspective of teaching and learning a language has shifted. Once we saw 'language teaching and learning as linear; "...like a sunflower growing towards the sun, hoping one day a flower will appear and follow the sun" (the hope that of a student finally becoming fluent in a particular language). The Australian Curriculum makes us look below the soil, where our students are the microbes in the soil triggering the root growth and learning (forming a language learning foundation) to make the learning more meaningful, valuable and enriched.

Allissa

3/13/2015 12:45:17 pm

Well put Kym. I have had this philosophy being a primary language teacher for the past decade.

Itin H

3/20/2015 03:43:01 pm

What a fantastic analogy :)

Kathryn Tominaga

3/13/2015 10:54:56 am

"Articulation between AC and Senior Secondary is the next issue to address." (spoken by Andrew S. in Brisbane). "The AC addresses the needs of the majority of students learning languages F-10 whereas senior secondary is only concerned with a small minority."

Fiona Chapman

3/13/2015 11:32:39 am

Making me think about my practices and what I am expecting of my students.

Kym

3/13/2015 12:03:42 pm

Great questions being posed about the Australian Curriculum; application, implications, assessment and reporting.

Simone

3/13/2015 01:04:05 pm

I'm seeing the Australian Curriculum as a new start; it's time to get excited and organised.

Kym

3/13/2015 01:42:41 pm

I agree! I've never been so excited about curriculum and I think it is because we have been given an opportunity like today to explore, analyse the document in relation to our own teaching style and experience, the individuals in front of us who attend our lessons with such a variety of skills, knowledge and experience and with colleagues. Now, who will give up the time and opportunity to take this to the next practical step?

Frank Keighley link

3/13/2015 01:37:02 pm

Future work on senior secondary AC:L will be important in promoting our capacity building nationally in languages and in encouraging our students to extend their achievements in languages after their studies through F-10.

Kathryn Tominaga

3/13/2015 01:49:04 pm

Module 3 - Activity 3 - Explore planning templates and record observations on program-specific Padlet

Korea F-2: http://padlet.com/TominagaSensei/koreanF_2
Japanese 3-4: http://padlet.com/TominagaSensei/japanese3_4
Italian 5-6: http://padlet.com/TominagaSensei/italian5_6
French 10: http://padlet.com/TominagaSensei/french10
Latin 9: http://padlet.com/TominagaSensei/Latin_9

sharon

3/13/2015 01:58:37 pm

working in a bilingual setting (Italian/English) we find the AC:L valuable and relevant, it's about being flexible, adapting and using the document as a guideline upon which to embed what is suitable for your context and your learners...

sharon

3/13/2015 02:28:39 pm

the next challenge for our researchers and curriculum planners will be identifying a document which targets specifically bilingual schools and/or content based language programs in Australia....a look at the WIDA American document may be a starting point for reflection...are any other bilingual educators familiar with this document?

Adam Brooks

3/13/2015 03:49:06 pm

A lot of tweeting with the following hashtag - #afmltarsg

Ngaire

3/13/2015 06:10:39 pm

Thoughtful & valid question about differences in Threads for Reflecting across Language specific curriculum.

Megan Corfield

3/15/2015 11:19:06 am

This question probably applies to Qld teachers.....has anyone prepared their new unit plans utilizing 'New Land New Language' at it's core? I guess this would be an outside-in approach to planning which I am currently considering.

Sue Foley link

3/15/2015 11:49:47 am

No I have not Megan. However, I use the resources from LLS. http://www.lls.edu.au/home

Julia Bates

3/21/2015 05:10:12 pm

I believe that we in the Catholic sector still don't have access to this...does anyone know if that is still true?

Kylie Farmer link

3/21/2015 05:52:53 pm

All teachers can access the Professional Learning Modules on the LLS
When you go to lls.edu.au click on the Yellow Hyperlink to the Professional Learning Modules, instead of clicking "I'm a Teacher"
Such a valuable collection of resources!
If you can get a scootle password you can access more resources, including the Student Challenges (for Chinese, Japanese and Indonesian) by clicking "I'm a Teacher" and entering your password.
For more info about Scootle passwords, please contact Scootle Helpdesk via https://www.scootle.edu.au/ec/login.action;jsessionid=58A4FEAC0947EE6EEED8EBEB429D22AB

Kati Varela

3/20/2015 10:45:11 am

Top 5 tips to encourage Spontaneous Talk in the MFL classroom | Resources for the MFL Classroom
https://michellecairnsmfl.wordpress.com/2014/02/09/459/

Leah

3/20/2015 03:20:55 pm

Would love to see some unit plan or term plan examples for Chinese.

Shai

3/20/2015 03:25:09 pm

I would like to see some example unit plans. Explicit vocabulary and grammar functions to be covered.

Nathalie Grant link

3/20/2015 03:29:25 pm

Thank you to the AFMLTA for coming to Townsville. We look forward to finding out more about the next step in preparing for the Australian Curriculum...

Cathy Spencer

3/20/2015 03:39:58 pm

Yes, I would like to support the comments/requests for some more specific guidelines re required grammar. So we can know what grammar forms students are required to address at each year level or by the end of y10. The CDs are more 'functions' focused with just some references to specific language forms. Thanks for today and the opportunity to collaborate on and discuss ACL.

Julia Bates

3/21/2015 05:08:08 pm

I am just writing a grading rubric for a writing test. I am appreciating the streamlining of the Content Descriptors - they are described in terms of the social (for example) functions students can perform with all the complexity of those functions describing the level that they are at. No longer are the vocab and grammar tricks separate from their function. I like it.

Maria Gaudioso

3/24/2015 01:32:35 pm

Thanks to all the presenters for their excellent delivery of the document. It was great to learn more about the Australian Curriculum:Languages and share in lots of professional dialogue.

I am currently focusing on Critical Thinking in the Languages classroom and was so pleased to see that the new curriculum has placed such a large emphasis on it. All the threads are clearly linked to Critical Thinking. I particularly like the "Reflecting" sub strand and that it is now a skill that is recognised as a valuable part of language learning.

Are there any other thoughts on the Critical Thinking aspects of this Curriculum?

Catherine

3/29/2015 03:02:42 pm

I agree, Marie, reflecting is as important to the language learner as it is to the language teacher! I particularly like how reflecting can be used to explore the nature of Interculturality, for example by comparing and contrasting.

Maria Gaudioso

3/30/2015 12:36:44 pm

Definitely! I have just finished a Unit of Work with my senior students on Youth and Social issues and we have spent many lessons examining how Italian and Australian society differ and how these cultural changes affect our way of living. Point (ACLITU133) demonstrates this learning well - "Reflect on intercultural exchanges and the ways in which language is used to establish relationships, indicate social values and enhance reciprocity"

Maria Gaudioso

4/8/2015 03:37:01 pm

A very good point Catherine. I could not agree more. I am currently doing a unit on Youth and Social Issues with my Year 12 Italian Continuers and were are examining how the youth in Italy compare to those in Australia. In doing this we are examining social issues through a variety of texts - music video clips, documentaries and newspaper articles. These texts engage the students in a more critical manner, rather than reading passages and following a text book.

Kati Varela

4/6/2015 01:45:14 pm

I agree Maria. I believe reflecting about learning is essential for deeper engagement with the whole experience. It is when you talk / write about what has been going on in the learning process that it all gets organised in our brains in the long term.

I actually think Critical thinking is part of all strands and sub-strands. Indeed, if you go to http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/languages and select any of the languages and go under "general capabilities" (in any of the sequences) you will notice 'Critical and creative thinking' can be applied almost everywhere. It will be up to us, teachers, to actually plan and make it visible / obvious to our students.

Maria Gaudioso

4/8/2015 03:46:17 pm

Thanks Kati. Yes, teachers do need to plan and make critical thinking visible in the classroom. In my research on critical thinking I have discovered some fantastic strategies to engage students critically in subject content and have enjoyed teaching these new activities.
One example is the teaching of the Subjunctive. We used a technique called transformations where by a section of text is selected and written on strips of paper. The students are then guided to cutting out chunks of meaning that demonstrate and reflect the language features being learnt. Transformations allow students to visually see and physically manipulate the selected features to help them understand their meanings. The lesson was engaging and productive and much more fun than traditional drill activities.

Kylie Farmer

3/27/2015 08:55:04 am

Really pleased to be at the final workshop in this series of Ready?Set?Go! with 30 Languages teachers in Hobart.
Great discussions already about language, culture and learning.

Andrea Fox

8/14/2015 03:37:51 pm

Interested to see if there are other people who work in rural areas who only teach from 5-8 and kids do not have access to continuing on into yr 9 etc are considering using the 7-10 pathway rather than the F-10 pathway???
had lots of conversations about this at our conference today

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