Languages
Curriculum Writing Phase
The staging of the language-specific curricula development and the pathways for development was the subject of considerable feedback during the consultation process. At this stage the ACARA Board approved initial work on the Chinese and Italian curricula and the development of a Framework for Aboriginal Languages and Torres Strait Islander Languages.
Writing teams for Chinese and Italian have been appointed together with an overarching Languages Advisory Panel. The Languages Advisory Panel together with Language-specific experts will provide advice in the development of the Australian Curriculum: Languages.
Writing teams for Chinese and Italian have been developing a draft overview and a broad scope and sequence, which will be reviewed by a National Panel in early March, in accordance with ACARA’s curriculum development process. National panels are responsible for providing expert stakeholder advice to ACARA at key points in the shaping and writing phases of the curriculum development process.
It is envisaged that draft curriculum F-10 for both Chinese and Italian will be available for consultation during term 3 2012.
Development of the Framework for Aboriginal Languages and Torres Strait Islander Languages will begin in early 2012 once writing teams and advisory panel members have been finalised.
Discussions are continuing with state and territory curriculum authorities on the languages for which other F-10 curriculum will be developed. These discussions will focus on the following languages: Arabic, Auslan, Chinese, Classical languages, French, German, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Modern Greek, Spanish, and Turkish.
It is expected that a schedule for the development of language-specific curricula will be finalised by ACARA in May. At this time, ACARA will appoint language-specific writers, and language-specific experts. All of the people who applied in 2011 will be notified of the outcome of their application at this time.
Shape of the Australian Curriculum: Languages
The Shape of the Australian Curriculum: Languages is now available. The shape paper provides broad directions for the development of languages curriculum. Writing of languages curriculum will now commence, starting with F-10 Chinese and Italian and a Framework for Aboriginal languages and Torres Strait Islander languages.
The Shape of the Australian Curriculum: Languages was endorsed by the ACARA Board after revisions were made following consultation. Stakeholder consultation on the draft Shape of the Australian Curriculum: Languages was conducted from 31 January 2011 to 11 April 2011. ACARA received 2,150 survey responses from a wide range of stakeholders representing many languages including teachers, principals, parents, students, academics, professional associations, state and territory education authorities and the general public. The consultation report provides analysis of the feedback received in the surveys along with more than 140 formal submissions.
Click here to view the Shape of the Australian Curriculum: Languages
Click here to view the Consultation Report
Draft timeline for the development of the Foundation to Year 12 Australian Curriculum: Languages
Stage | Activity | Timeline |
Curriculum Shaping | Literature review Position paper Initial Advice Paper | August 2009-September 2010 |
Consultation | National Forum | 25 October 2010 |
Draft Shape of the Australian Curriculum: Languages finalised | December 2010 | |
National consultation | 31 January – 7 April 2011 | |
Publication of the Shape of the Australian Curriculum: Languages | November 2011 | |
Curriculum writing | Broad outline; scope and sequence Content descriptions (and elaborations) and achievement standards | From November 2011 |
Consultation | National consultation | During 2012 |
Online publication | Digital publication | TBA |
Curriculum development process for the Australian Curriculum: Languages
Languages position paper
Languages Initial Advice Paper
