VICTORIAN SCHOOL OF LANGUAGES

Family & Staff Bulletin 6 September 2017 From the Principal New classes introduced Each new Term brings With the growing new challenges. number of This year the Department new arrivals of Education and coming to live Training is introducing in Victoria from additional ‘architecture’ South Asia the to support practice demand for the change across the VSL to provide education system in line language classes with the 2015 Education Ms Naela Chohan visiting the stall increases. State reform agenda. The latest request comes from the Urdu-speaking The initiatives are intended to build the capacity community. Urdu is the official language and of Victorian Schools to deliver more effective lingua franca of and of six States of teaching, improved learning and improved student India (and one of its 22 official languages), and a outcomes. These include: version of it is also spoken in Fiji. There are over • Professional Learning Communities 100 million native speakers of Urdu in Pakistan • Victorian Curriculum F-10 and India although, given the similarity between • Framework for Improving Student Outcomes Urdu and Hindi, estimating the exact number is (FISO) . difficult. In Pakistan, Urdu is mostly learned as These are the foundation documents of our a first language and is spoken in some form or current Strategic and Annual Implementation another by the vast majority of . Plans and they all contribute towards achieving the Education State targets. The VSL was approached by Mr Atif Khan in 2016 and the language was first taught this year at In addition, the Victorian Curriculum and primary levels at three of its Centres, namely Assessment Authority (VCAA) is undertaking one of Roxburgh College, Suzanne Cory HS in Weribee its periodic reviews of the VCE Study Designs for and Dandenong HS. twelve Second Languages. Our school participated in the consultation process and made a number of According to Mr Khan: “Our community is submissions. delighted that the VSL has listened to us and Once the VCAA makes the final changes, we have decided to open classes in not one but three one year to update our courses in time for the Centres in the metropolitan area. We hope that 2019 school year. The changes will also involve the word spreads the re-writing or updating of all of our Year 11 and and more parents Year 12 VCE Workbooks in the Distance Education encourage their section of the school. This will be a significant children to study personnel and financial challenge for us. the language.” On 12 August On the administrative side, the new Victorian the Urdu staff Government Schools (Industrial) Agreement at the VSL commenced on 22 August and we are Roxburgh and Urdu stall at Roxburgh centre systematically implementing the relevant sections. Werribee centres held an open day to mark the 70th Independence Day of Pakistan. The Urdu As we come towards the end of Term 3, our VCE faculties set up stalls providing information on the teachers in particular are focusing on completing Urdu language, including newly published Urdu the remaining sections of their courses and textbooks.The Pakistani High Commissioner, Ms preparing the students for the end exams. Naela Chohan, visited the Roxburgh Centre and Thank you to all of our staff for their teaching and appreciated the efforts of the VSL teachers and for assisting in the implementation of the tasks she also took the opportunity to speak to the listed above. parents and students. Frank Merlino We wish the Urdu students and teachers well. Principal PAGE 2 FAMILY & STAFF BULLETIN 6 September 2017 Australian Network of Government Language Schools celebrates 20th Anniversary On 14-15 August the Australian Network of Network were sad to hear that Tom Campbell. the Government Language Schools (ANGLS) held its former Principal of the NSW Saturday School of annual conference at the Open Access College in Community Languages, passed away on 6 January Adelaide. of this year. Tom was a French teacher, who served in a range of education positions and transformed The highlight of the the SSCL into an efficient and professional Conference was the organisation. He was a foundation member of list of high profile ANGLS. presenters from the South Australian Participants appreciated hearing about the Department of new developments in the Education and Government schools in other Child Development States/Territories, to swap (DECD). ideas and considering possible These included joint projects. Welcome to Country Executive Director Susan Cameron who spoke about the DECD The idea for the Network priorities and the Languages Strategy; Dr Michelle came about in 1997 when Kohler from Flinders University who spoke on Frank Merlino, the Principal the Review of national Languages policies; Kate of the Victorian School of Cooper from the SACE Board who spoke on ‘What’s Languages, contacted Tom new in Languages at senior secondary level’; Campbell in NSW and Sylvan Tom Campbell Mari Terreri, who spoke on the Implementation Talbot in SA, who managed of Australian Curriculum in DECD Schools; and similar schools in their States. They decided that it Associate Professor Angela Scarino who gave the would be good to meet, swap ideas and network. In main presentation on ‘Key concepts underpinning subsequent years, they were joined by the Northern the Australian Curriculum – Languages’. Territory School of Languages, the Alice Springs Language Centre, the (NSW) Open High School and Dr Scarino is one of others….and the rest is history. The latest positive ’s leading development is the participation of Language academic on faculties from State distance education schools. language teaching One of the Networks successes was that the and her insights will schools worked as ‘sister schools’ that were part of have an influence one nation instead of eight separate ‘jurisdictions’. across Australia. The Since then, of course, the move towards a National South Australian Curriculum has taken place, although for a range contingent was of matters (eg interstate student enrolments) the rounded off by Lia SA Executive Director, Ms Susan Departments still operate as separate entities. Tedesco (Principal Cameron of the School of Since the establishment of ANGLS the schools Languages) and Julie Taylor (Principal of the Open have shared ideas on curriculum, administration, Access College). It’s very impressive when all of the marketing, technology and enrolment processes. key players in the State are working together as a They have celebrated student success in an area team. (Languages) that does not always have widespread community/parental support in Australia; shared The conference also welcomed Susan Moore curriculum documents and resources; and co- who is the new Principal of the Alice Springs operated on individual projects. Language Centre, replacing Dominique Castle, and there was also an observer from the Canberra The ANGLS members have definitely made a Academy of Languages. The members of the contribution to Language education in Australia.

Ass. Professor Angela Scarino Cutting the ANGLS 20th Some of the participants Anniversary birthday cake Quality language programs since 1935 PAGE 3 FAMILY & STAFF BULLETIN 6 September 2017

VSL implementing the Education State Vision, Initiatives and Reform Agenda The Education State Vision, Initiatives and Reform agenda outlines the government’s goal of supporting Victorian schools to promote an environment of excellence and pride. The Department of Education is cascading support to schools by building the capacity of our education system to offer students a world class education. In order for schools to deliver more effective teaching, improved learning and improved student outcomes, the Education State outlines key initiatives to facilitate the paradigm shift for our schools and students. Some key initiatives that the Victorian School of Languages is prioritising for implementation are: Victorian Curriculum F-10 Framework that identifies the key knowledge and skills all students are expected to develop throughout their schooling and beyond in work and life.These are: ‘Literacy, numeracy, scientific knowledge and skills, resilience, respectful relationships, the use of digital technologies and the capacity for critical and creative thinking and expression’. Since 2015, in consultation with VCAA, the VSL has been scaffolding the changes through extensive professional development. This has provided teachers with the framework and knowledge required to audit their current teaching programs for the 50 languages offered by the school. At professional development sessions since 2015 VSL teachers have had the opportunity to collaborate informally so as to develop and review teaching and assessment strategies for their language classroom. Engaging teachers in high quality professional learning is the most successful way to improve teacher effectiveness. This has also given teachers the opportunity to plan together in language faculties, to transition to the Victorian Curriculum and to develop curriculum plans to reflect the achievements of students against the Standards, stages of learning and student backgrounds and needs. Framework for improving student outcomes (FISO) This is the ‘unifying framework for improvement in Victorian schools’. Through the FISO Continua of Practice schools identify practices and behaviours to strategically plan for student improvement. This provided us with the foundation to develop our VSL Strategic Plan for 2016-2019 which is evaluated at 6 months and 12 month stages against Annual Implementation Plan Key Improvement Strategies and Targets. The key improvement priorities the VSL is addressing are ‘Building practice excellence, Curriculum Planning and Assessment and Building Leadership teams’. High Impact Teaching Strategies (HITS) HITS is a key document to promote excellence in teaching and learning. It documents whole school pedagogical practice, which is evidence based with high impact teaching strategies embedded in the teaching and learning program. These strategies integrate with a detailed sequential plan to ensure personalised learning. HITS provides teachers with a common language for evaluating and discussing professional practice, and through that knowledge effectively implement the strategies. The 10 HITS are ‘Setting Goals, Structuring lesson, Explicit teaching, Worked Examples, Collaborative Learning, Multiple Exposures, Questioning, Feedback, Metacognitive Strategies and Differentiated teaching’. Professional Learning Communities (PLC) PLC’s provide the architecture that teachers need to collaborate, reflect and evaluate the impact of their teaching on student learning to drive improvements of their professional practice. This is demonstrated by collective efficacy – a belief that teaching can make a difference and lead to improved student learning progress and achievement. On 31 August Anita Calore (NWVR Manager for PLC ) spoke to the VSL Leadership Team about planning strategies required to implement a PLC at the school. We are now investigating possible initiatives to achieve quality and consistency of practice. For the VSL to continue to effectively offer the best possible language programs that allow all students to maximise their full potential, it is imperative that we implement all these high impact resources, improve professional practice in curriculum, assessment, instructional and pedagogical content so as to deliver continuous improvement for teachers and students. Angela Natoli Assistant Principal

Quality language programs since 1935 PAGE 4 FAMILY & STAFF BULLETIN 6 September 2017 2017 Premier’s VCE Awards - VSL receives highest number of Awards in Victoria As our teachers are preparing our students for the upcoming VCE examinations, it’s worthwhile recalling the great results of last year’s students at the 23rd Premier’s VCE Awards. The 2017 Awards were held at Palladium at Crown and were attended by 1,100 guests – composed of students, parents and teachers. 320 individual Awards were given across 83 subjects.

Holger Nord with Alicja Orlowska (Polish) & family Annabelle Lim (Indonesian 2nd Language) with Minister

The Victorian School of Languages was by far the best performing school in Victoria in the individual awards and received the highest number in the State.

The top four Victorian performing schools were: • Victorian School of Languages -14 awards • MacRobertson Girls’ High school -8 awards • Melbourne Girls College – 7 awards • Scotch College -7 awards Diana Avel (Romanian) with Minister Merlino The students who received the 2017 Premier’s were:

Alessia Hysa - Italian Gracia Arwi – Indonesian 2nd Language Ayse Bozdag – Turkish Alicja Orlowska – Polish Patricia Sumargo – Indonesian 2 language Sandeli Loku Narangoda – Sinhala Diana Avel – Romanian Maria Hincapie-Gallego – Spanish Tayebeh Ahmadi – Persian Elsin Tchaba – Arabic Annabelle Lim – Indonesian 2nd Language Tien Phan - Vietnamese Victor Dobre – Romanian Seo Yeon Sohn – Korean 2nd Language

VSL teachers at the Awards Day Alessia Hysa (Italian) with Minister for Education According to the principal, Frank Merlino, “This is a great team effort and I would like to thank all of the teachers of the Victorian School of Languages who have worked with the students over many years to improve their skills and prepare them to achieve their best results. Thank you also to the parents who have encouraged their children to make a great effort and to all of the school principals who directed their students to the classes of the Victorian School of Languages. Our school contributes to Victoria having the highest participation in language study at the VCE level in Australia (namely 18%).” Provided the 2017 VCE Students work hard and systematically, we expect another set of great VSL results this year!

Quality language programs since 1935 PAGE 5 FAMILY & STAFF BULLETIN 6 September 2017 Assisting with Teacher training

Unfortunately Australian Universities are not producing sufficient Languages graduates to meet the growing demand in Victorian primary and secondary schools. This is regrettable as the Government and the Education Department are strongly promoting the study of Languages. The VSL itself is finding it difficult to identify qualified teachers in the outer suburbs and in country Victoria. We are therefore taking our own steps to address the challenge of the teacher shortage. Here are two initiatives: Introductory Languages Methodology courses The Victorian School of Languages School Council has endorsed a proposal for Introductory language teaching methodology short courses tailored for teachers from emerging communities and teachers new to the school who need to upgrade their language teaching qualifications. The shortage is a lot worse in smaller candidature languages where interested students may not be even able to study their language of choice at an Australian University. The task is even more challenging with the languages of new or emerging communities. Through arrangements with RMIT University the participants are undertaking a course over a ten week period. The staff undertaking the course will participate in lectures, workshop activities and complete assessment tasks. Interested staff have been provided with a sample course outline modified to incorporate the introduction of the Victorian Curriculum, and will also receive information on assessment and duty of care. One hundred teachers applied to undertake the Introductory Languages Methodology Course for 2017. This has required us to organise 4 classes, three of which will be delivered at the RMIT city location and one at the VSL Suzanne Cory Centre in Werribee. All of these courses will be conducted by RMIT University. The teachers undertaking these courses are expected to attend all sessions and complete all set assessment in order to receive the Certificate to be presented by RMIT University. A certificate ceremony with RMIT and VSL School Council Representatives, together with the participants, is scheduled at the completion of the courses in December.

Teacher training 1 Teacher training 2

Assisting Universities with their Teacher Training programs We have developed a partnership with several Victorian Universities to offer placements for their trainee teachers. The first is with the Monash University Faculty of Education. Eight of its students offering Chinese, German and Japanese are currently undertaking placements at various VSL Centres, at the VSL insertion classes and a few days in the VSL Distance Education section. Next year they are hoping to undertake a large scale project for the training of Chinese teachers. Monash University has a large number of International students in teacher training and the University feels that our classes may be well suited. Monash wishes to try a new model, based on groups of 2-3 students who would work in VSL Chinese classes over a longer period. Whether we could accommodate large numbers is yet to be seen but we will certainly do as much as we can to support this initiative. A second request has been received from Deakin University to place four of its students (French, Chinese, and Japanese) at our University High Centre. We have also recently had enquiries from two other Universities to see if we can place some of their students next year as well. It is encouraging to see that some Victorian Universities are seeking out the Victorian School of Languages as a good option for their Language trainee teachers for placement training.

Quality language programs since 1935 PAGE 6 FAMILY & STAFF BULLETIN 6 September 2017

Language Studies at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) As well as being one of the great art galleries of Australia, the NGV (founded in 1861) is the 19th most visited gallery in the world! The NGV also offers a series of education programs designed to educate through art, and promote visual literacy, high order thinking, and communication skills in the students’ languages studied to enhance an understanding of themselves and the world in which we live.

An exciting new collaboration between Modern Languages Teachers Association of Victoria (MLTAV) and the NGV was forged in 2015. A Languages Support Educators (LSE) Program was developed to offer Language classes as an opportunity to enhance intercultural understanding through participating in an Exhibition introductory talk. These sessions are presented by an NGV Educator together with an MLTAV LSE volunteer conducting part of the workshop in the relevant language appropriate to the level of the group. The LSE programs are for both temporary exhibitions such as the Van Gogh and the Seasons and from the Permanent Collection. A series of kits have been prepared for students of Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Greek, and Spanish which bring alive the history and culture associated with the students’ language in a Gallery tour including group analysis and discussion of related works of art from different times.

VSL French teacher and LSE volunteer, Veronica Deren, adds: “The NGV Language programs also address sections of the school curriculum ranging from Foundation to VCE. The programs extend the students’ language skills by providing them with the vocabulary and language content to be able to describe and analyse particular paintings. For middle school and VCE students, there are a myriad of interactive workshops, virtual tours, on-line activities, blogs and lectures provided about specific works that are linked to the new strands of Communicating and Understanding in the current Victorian Curriculum”.

Programs are also regularly updated in response to new exhibitions with the latest being the current Van Gogh Exhibition. Last Term our French Distance Education teachers and students from Year 10 to Year 12 visited the exhibition. The students came from across Victoria: Warrnambool, Mt Beauty, Bairnsdale, Kyneton, Gippsland, Colac, Warragul and Benalla…. and there were a few from Melbourne, too! The students and teachers (Helen Rich, Marshall Worthington, Veronica Deren, and Grace Aronfeld) listened to an engaging presentation before viewing the exhibition. One of the students, Katerina, commented “I like the Gallery. I liked the depth of colour, how you could see how he (Van Gogh) used colours. I think it was absolutely brilliant.” Our school has found that the NGV offers invaluable support for students and teachers to add to their professional learning and their cultural understanding of art, sculptures, artefacts and visual media as an adjunct to their language learning journey.

Year 10 - 12 Distance Education French teachers and students Quality language programs since 1935 PAGE 7 FAMILY & STAFF BULLETIN 6 September 2017 Assisting Schools in Timor Leste

When Timor Leste (East Timor) became an independent country on 20 May 2002 it faced enormous challenges, due to the aftermath of the war and a weak economy. With the discovery of offshore oil and gas reserves, the economy is improving but life is still very difficult for much of its population which is around 1.2 million people. The Agreement with Australia on 2nd September 2017on the development of the oil and gas reserves was great news. Commencing in 2012 the VSL Portuguese staff at Brunswick and Collingwood Centres decided to contribute to education and community projects in Timor Leste by organising gold coin fundraiser. The collection then spread to other VSL Centres and this year $8,399 was collected. This is not a large amount but it does make a difference to the Ainaro Community School. The funds are administered by the (Victorian) Teachers4 Timor Inc. who arrange scholarships and the purchase of equipment and curriculum materials. As Portuguese is the official language of Timor Leste, our school was called upon at the end of 2015 to provide assistance for the establishment of VCE Portuguese classes at the Dili International School (DIS). Alda Retre, our Portuguese teacher who has been teaching with the VSL for over a decade, was selected as a mentor for the new VCE Portuguese teacher. In January 2016 Alda was sponsored by Haileybury to visit the Portuguese teacher and students in Timor Leste, to discuss the Portuguese course and establish a weekly planner for the following year. Alda visited the students who had elected to study VCE Portuguese and she took over copies of Portuguese textbooks and dictionaries. In September 2016 students from Timor Leste visited the VSL classes at the Collingwood Centre. Alda returned to Timor Leste in January 2017 to prepare students for Year 12 Portuguese. A change of teacher and new textbooks were implemented and, once again, a detailed plan was outlined for the yearly course of studies. Alda has maintained contact with the DIS Portuguese teacher and has also provided assistance with the school-assessed course work, both in planning and assessment. She will also assist with the preparation of the Year 12 Portuguese students for the final written and oral examinations to take place in October of this year. This will be the very first cohort of Timor Leste students to complete the VCE studies in Portuguese with the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority. Although the Portuguese language is the official language of the country and is present everywhere, (on road signs, at the airport, on restaurant menus, etc.) very few of the local people are able to converse in Portuguese, choosing to speak instead in either English or in the local Tetum language. Those who are able to speak Portuguese are generally the older generation. According to Ms Retre, “This initiative will help to re-introduce the Portuguese language to younger generations in Timor Leste. It will also benefit the situation of the Portuguese language as a VCE subject back here in Australia, since it will lead to an increase of students undertaking the subject and therefore help to keep Portuguese as an accredited VCE language for Australian students.” The Portuguese Faculties of the VSL are therefore very happy to be able to contribute in a positive way to the education of young people in Timor Leste.

Children from Ainaro School Alda Retre (on right) with teachers Students of Portuguese with teacher

Quality language programs since 1935 School Updates www.vsl.vic.edu.au

Key 2017 Term 3 & Term 4 Dates New VSL Publications/Materials 2017 Centre Publications 22 July Centre classes resume • Persian Primary Textbook 6 Aug Macedonian teachers Workshop 23 Aug Distance education Parent-Teacher • Hindi Primary 3 Textbook interviews • Turkish Primary 4 Textbook 31 Aug VETinSchools Moderation Day 16 Sept Arabic students workshop, Melbourne • Arabic VCE – Guide to Text Types University • Tamil Textbook Level 3 16 Sept Last day Term 3 for F-10 classes 23 Sept Centre classes VCE only session • Tamil Textbook Level 4

14 Oct Centre classes resume for Term 4 New VSL Publications/Materials 2017 9 - 31 Oct VCE Languages Oral exam period Distance Education 18 Oct VCE CCAFL Written Exam 1 - 22 Nov VCE Written Exams • French VCE Units 3 & 4 Online course 21 Oct 2017 enrolments for existing • Spanish VCE Units 3 & 4 Online course students commence • Japanese VCE Units 1 & 2 7 Nov 2017 enrolments for new Distance Education online course students commence • Hindi VCE Units 3 & 4 Distance Education course 11 Nov Final day for centre classes (VCE) • Chinese SL VCE Units 1 & 2 25 Nov Final day for centre classes (Years F-10) Distance Education course 22 Dec End of School year • Arabic Year 10 course

MLTAV Awards to VSL Staff On 5th May the MLTAV held its Annual Conference which was attended by Language teachers from around Victoria including a number of VSL staff. The program was wide ranging with topics that included: Assessment in the Victorian Curriculum; Music through language; Collaborative activities; CLIL program; Bringing language teachers together through social media, hashtags, Twitter lists, Padlet and Storify … and much more. Maree Dellora, the Languages Manager at the VCAA, gave two presentations on assessment and Holger Nord (VSL Area Manager) spoke on critical thinking. After the conference the MLTAV held a function to celebrate its 70th anniversary.

Khalaf Greis The MLTAV President, Ms Gabriella Bertolissi gave a life membership to the past president Andrew Ferguson and Certificates of Merit to a number of other individuals that included VSL staff Nancy Posterino, Khalaf Greis, Stuart Miller and Frank Merlino. Congratulations to all of the award recipients.

Nancy Posterino MLTAV President, Ms Bertolissi, Stuart Miller with Frank