Languages Other Than English Domain P-10

Back to:

Professional Learning

This section contains information, resources and tools to help teachers with their professional learning.

 

Subject associations

Modern Language Teachers’ Association of Victoria – Is a professional association for languages teachers. The website provides information on language associations, advocacy, publications, grants, professional learning opportunities and membership. Action research projects offered through the Strategic Partnerships program include: Interdisciplinary Learning in LOTE; Intercultural Language Learning Prep to Year 12; LOTE in VELS Prep to Year 10; and Assessment for, as and of learning.

Funded subject associations

The following language-specific teacher associations also receive professional development funding:

  • Association of French Teachers in Victoria (AFTV)
  • Association of German Teachers of Victoria (AGTV)
  • Chinese Language Teachers' Association of Victoria (CLTAV)
  • Japanese Language Teachers' Association of Victoria (JLTAV)
  • Macedonian Teachers' Association of Victoria (MTA)
  • Modern Greek Teachers' Association of Victoria (MGTAV)
  • Turkish Teachers' Association of Victoria (TTAV)
  • Victorian Arabic Language Teachers' Association (VALTA)
  • Victorian Association of Teachers of Italian (VATI)
  • Victorian Association of Teachers of Spanish (VATS)
  • Victorian Indonesian Language Teachers' Association (VILTA)
  • Vietnamese Teachers' Association of Victoria (VTAV).

The Modern Language Teachers' Association of Victoria website has further information and links to single language associations (SLAs).

Back to Top

LOTE teaching qualifications

In addition to general teaching qualifications, the recommended qualifications for teaching languages in Victorian Government schools are:

  • a three-year, post-Year 12 major in the language, or four years of tertiary language study in a beginners stream, or a Statement of Equivalence (for language proficiency at Third Year exit level) from a Victorian university which teaches the language, together with
  • an approved LOTE methodology course (including both theory and practicum).

Secondary teachers who were employed in government schools before the beginning of the 1996 school year are considered qualified to teach a language if they had completed a post-year 12 language sub major.

 

Statement of equivalence

Procedures have been developed by the Department in conjunction with Victorian universities to enable universities to assess the oral and written language proficiency of potential teachers, and their understanding of the relevant society, culture and literature. The criteria for judgement are equivalent to those used for assessing students exiting third year, post Year 12 tertiary level. The method of assessment is outlined in the Guidelines for Completion of the Assessment Record (PDF - 63Kb).

The assessment is only relevant to persons interested in becoming LOTE teachers; it is not an alternative means of gaining eligibility for academic awards or teaching qualifications. Moreover, the assessment does not relate to the language method and practicum requirement.

Prospective candidates need to contact the university of their choice to arrange an assessment. Any costs involved will be the responsibility of the candidate. Upon the completion of the assessment, the university will provide the applicant with the results. The applicant should retain the assessment record for use in providing evidence of language proficiency for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT), to prospective employers, or for entry to relevant courses.

View Online: Victorian Universities offering to test for Statement of Equivalence (PDF - 36Kb)

Back to Top

Languages training programs

The Department continues to provide funding to increase the number of fully qualified LOTE teachers available to government schools by enabling currently employed teachers, who have the endorsement of their principal, to undertake credit-bearing language courses.

Language Scholarships
Government school teachers wishing to apply for a language scholarship must contact universities directly to attain information about the relevant courses available (see University courses and contact details) and complete the university enrolment if their application for a languages scholarship has been successful.

Universities around Australia offer language studies in a range of courses, delivery modes and levels. The course undertaken must be credit-bearing and amount to 48 credit points, generally taken part-time over 3 years. The following list provides a starting point for courses currently available: University courses and contact details (Excel - 38Kb).

The Department will cover the cost of tuition and contribute to the support for study days to prepare for class assignments or attend examinations for teachers awarded as a Language Scholarship grant.

For further information about these scholarships contact studentlearning@edumail.vic.gov.au

 

Employment information

The following links provide information on gaining or changing employment within the Victorian Department of Education.

Victorian Institute of Teaching - All teachers must be registered with the Victorian Institute of Teaching before gaining employment in a Victorian government school. VIT Teacher's Hotline 1300 888 067.

Teaching@DEECD - Provides access to information for those considering a teaching career, as well as experienced teachers and graduates seeking employment in Victoria’s government schools.

Recruitment Online - Is aimed at linking the right person with the right position in a government school. It is available to those seeking employment, promotion or transfer to teacher, assistant principal, principal or school services officer vacancies. You can search and apply for current vacancies, set up job alerts to be notified of vacancies matching your search criteria, and choose to be included in the Job Seeker Pool (talent pool).

Back to Top

Cultural organisations

Alliance Française - An Australian non-profit association dedicated to the promotion of the French language and culture

The Asia Education Foundation - Provides schools and teachers with a range of services which include: curriculum resources, advice for schools, professional learning programs, study tours and conferences in Asia, and an email discussion group.

CO.AS.IT - A community organisation for Italians and Australians of Italian descent. Education services include the provision of network leaders; a secondary schools advisor; language assistants; language classes; education officers, and a resource centre to support Italian school programs.

The Confucius Institute - Is based at the University of Melbourne and aims to promote Chinese culture and language and provide support for the teaching of Chinese.

Goethe Institut-Melbourne - The cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany which provides a range of services and resources to support the teaching and learning of German.

Greek Education Office - this education office is located at the Greek Consulate in Melbourne and provides ongoing support for the teaching and learning of Greek in Victoria at no cost to schools. The Greek government, through the Education Office, places teachers from Greece as language assistants in our schools, distributes resources, provides scholarship and student study tour information and seminars all free of charge to teachers and students of Greek.

Italian Institute of Culture - Is an official body of the Italian State which aims to promote and diffuse Italian language and culture by organising cultural events and language courses.

Japan Information & Cultural Centre - JICC - The cultural institute of the Consulate-General of Japan aims to promote Japanese culture and language through the organisation of events, seminars and international conferences. The JICC library carries a collection of teaching materials that are available for schools to borrow.

The Japan Foundation - Aims to promote cultural exchange between Japan and other nations. They organise a diverse range of cultural activities introducing art, culture and society, coordinate various programs and resources to support Japanese language education.

Melbourne Centre for Japanese Language Education - Provides a variety of activities, resources and programs for teachers of Japanese in Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. There is a focus on developing teaching skills, creating teaching materials and encouraging the enhancement of professionalism among teachers.

Spanish Education Office - This education office offers support for the teaching of Spanish as a foreign language at all levels. It provides: professional learning activities; information and advice on educational resources; information about scholarships; a journal for teachers of Spanish and offers and an exchange mailing list.

 

Regional project officers

Regional project officers assist schools and teachers with effective provision of Languages other than English. LOTE project officers, located in each region, assist schools by promoting the benefits of learning languages, facilitating the operation of LOTE specific teacher networks, organising professional learning programs, advising schools with the logistics of establishing a quality LOTE program and assisting with teacher supply issues.

Contacts

Southern Metropolitan Region
Lisa Dowse
Email: dowse.lisa.l@edumail.vic.gov.au

Barwon South Western Region
Viviana Golding
Email: golding.viviana.vm@edumail.vic.gov.au

Eastern Metropolitan Region
Lili Cvetkovic
Email: cvetkovic.lili.l@edumail.vic.gov.au

Western Metropolitan Region
Christine Bozin
Email: bozin.christine.c@edumail.vic.gov.au

Northern Metropolitan Region
Lidia Faranda
Email: faranda.lidia.l@edumail.vic.gov.au

Grampians Region
Peter Shaw-Truex
Email: shaw-truex.peter.p@edumail.vic.gov.au

Loddon Mallee Region
Marlene Dingle
Email: dingle.marlene.m@edumail.vic.gov.au

Hume Region
Keith Fletcher
Email: fletcher.keith.h@edumail.vic.gov.au

Gippsland Region
Robyn Young
Email: young.robyn.m@edumail.vic.gov.au

Back to Top

Language advisors

Language specific advisors for Chinese, Indonesian, Spanish, Japanese and German, in conjunction with their governments, are available to support schools through professional learning activities and advice about program implementation and development.

Advisors work closely with their relevant language teacher associations which have received funding from the Department to provide professional learning activities and other support for language teachers.

Chinese Advisor
Ms Wei Hongxia
Email: Wei.hongxia.h@edumail.vic.gov.au

Greek Advisor
Mr Manos Tzimpragos
Email: tzimpragos.emmanouil.e@edumail.vic.gov.au

Indonesian Advisor
Ms Julie Newnham
Email: newhnam.julie.m@edumail.vic.gov.au

Spanish Advisor
Rosa Prieto
Email: prieto.rosa.m@edumail.vic.gov.au

German Advisor
Mr Torsten Schulz
Email: torsten.schulz@melbourne.goethe.org

Japanese Advisor
Ms Jennifer Swanton
Email: swanton.jennifer.j@edumail.vic.gov.au

Back to Top