Languages Other Than English
Australia is one of the most multicultural countries in the world and there are a vast number of languages spoken and learned through a mix of methods including schools, community language schools, ethnic schools and associations, colleges and universities. At least 69 are indicated as being taught [Community Languages Australia], though there are several which dominate. Some European and Asian languages have been designated as core languages.
Indigenous Languages and the Australian Deaf Sign Language [Auslan] are addressed separately.
This page looks at Languages Other Than English learning in all states & territories. It includes programs, places including schools, government support, national strategies, more.
States & Territories
Australian Capital Territory
- Updated !
Languages
‘To speak to someone in a language other than English please telephone the Telephone Interpreter Service 13 14 50. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week’. - Updated !
Languages
in Schools
Languages being taught, a listing of bilingual schools in the ACT. - Updated ! Language Pathways Plan
New South Wales
-
Languages
NSW Department of Education, Curriculum. ‘Welcome to the Languages section where educators can find resources to support and enhance languages programs in NSW public schools’.Sections include :
- Additional Programs
‘The Department of Education, through its Learning and Teaching Directorate, offers a number of initiatives in languages programs’. - Early Stage 1 to Stage 3
- Further Information
Contact information for learning teams, general support, specialist centres, more. -
Stages 4 and 5
‘The study of 100 hours of one language over one continuous 12 month period is mandatory between Years 7-10, but preferably in Years 7-8 [Stage 4]’. - Stage
6
Years 11 and 12. ‘In Stage 6, there are 34 languages offered. There are up to five courses of study available in Languages at Stage 6 level : Beginners, Continuers, Extension, Language in Context [formerly Heritage] and Language and Literature [formerly Background Speakers]’. - Study tours, Sister Schools and Exchange Programs
NESA
- Languages in Kindergarten to Year 10 NESA
-
Languages Stage 6 NESA
Years 11 and 12. Alphabetical listing of Language syllabuses.
- Languages NSW
‘The Languages team at the Learning and Teaching Directorate [part of the NSW Public Schools Portfolio] has officers to support both primary and secondary languages teachers’. - Updated !
Saturday School of Community Languages
Background information, locate schools, enrolment, curriculum, more. A list of New ! their centres [with the languages taught at each] is found here.
Northern Territory
- Alice Springs Language Centre
- Indigenous
Languages and Culture
72 page document covering relevant information. - What Works
‘A discussion of languages policy for Northern Territory schools’.
Queensland
- After Hours Ethnic Schooling
‘Community language classes outside regular school hours’. - Ethnic Schools Association of Queensland Inc
‘Community-based, public organisation whose members provide after hours language and cultural education for all students’. - New !
Global
Schools Through Languages
‘Learning a language is part of equipping young people to succeed in a globalised world’. Linked with the Advancing Education Action Plan. See New ! this page also. - Languages other than English
Past curriculum documents in this area. Links to other resources and guidelines. QCAA. - P-10 Languages Australian Curriculum and
Resources [QCAA]
‘The Australian Curriculum: Languages is available for use. In the Australian Curriculum, The Languages learning area comprises a Framework for Aboriginal Languages and Torres Strait Islander Languages and 13 subjects’. - Queensland LOTE Library
‘The Queensland LOTE Library provides resources, reference and alerting services to practising teachers and instructors in Queensland Government, Independent and Catholic schools, Queensland Universities, TAFE institutions and After Hours Ethnic Schooling programs’. - Years 1-9 Languages [QCAA]
‘Resources on this page support planning within and across year levels for the Languages key learning area. Resources to support integrated curriculum planning by year juncture are also available’.
South Australia
- Ethnic Schools Association
‘The umbrella body representing 97 ethnic schools authorities teaching 48 different languages.’ - Investigating Pedagogies
for Language and Culture Learning
‘Outlines the relationships between Australian policy framework for Teaching and Learning, the Teaching for Effective Learning Framework, the Australian Curriculum : Languages and the Shape of the Australian Curriculum : Languages’. - Languages offered at Government Schools
Schools offering languages, Specialist language providers, Contact. - National Statement and
Plan for Languages Education
[PDF 142KB]. - SACSA - Framework Learning Areas
Select “Languages” from the menu. - School of Languages
⁼The School of Languages is a specialist government school. Our classes are held in 18 teaching centres across the Adelaide metropolitan area. All lessons are delivered after hours, usually in the 5 to 8 time slot.’ - Schools
offering a Aboriginal Language Program for all Students
Listing with school and language taught. There is a listing for Anangu schools offering English as a Language Program - Teaching and Learning Languages : A Guide
From UniSA.
Tasmania
-
Tasmanian Curriculum K-10 - Languages - Chinese
The document, as with those below, has an overview on Why Teach Languages ?, practices, core standards, the syllabus, support materials. Other languages include French; German; Indonesian; and Italian, as Japanese and Chinese as non-alphabetic languages.
Victoria
- East Melbourne Language Centre
Multiple languages, workshops and exam preparation. - Ethnic Schools Association of Victoria
‘Represents over 200 community languages schools in Victoria. Community Languages Schools provide quality languages educational and cultural maintenance programs to over 34 000 students in a range of 55 languages in Victoria’. - Languages
Policy, funding, support, school programs, assessment, reporting, professional learning, research and the Victorian Languages Strategy. - New ! Languages Provision in Victorian Government Schools, 2017
- Languages Teaching Resources
‘Links to web sites, online resources and tools that provide learning and teaching support for teachers’. -
Professional Learning
‘Information, resources and tools to help teachers with their professional learning.’ - Updated !
Promoting the Benefits of Language Learning
‘A research paper outlining the benefits of learning a language based on research findings’. Automatic download [.docx]. - Research and Evaluation of the Content and Language Integrated Approach to Teaching and Learning Languages in
Victorian Schools
2013. ‘The report on the trial includes findings from surveys of parent, student and staff attitudes, and case studies of the six participating schools’. - Running a Language Program
‘This section includes guidance to set up and manage a language program in your school. Schools must provide a language program for students from prep to year 10. This is a legislative requirement’. - Teaching languages : quality counts
‘The Victorian Government’s Vision for Languages Education requires all government schools to teach a language at Prep level, at a minimum, by 2015. This is the first step towards providing high-quality languages programs from Prep to Year 10 by 2025’. - VCAA - VCE
Studies
Links to all language studies via an alphabetical subject listing.
Western Australia
- AISWA Languages
‘All about teachers sharing their stories to inspire, encourage and support the learning and teaching of languages’. -
Curriculum Guide - Languages other than English
‘Identifies the outcomes all students should achieve as a result of the learning programs they undertake in Western Australian schools’. -
Languages
Overview of the proposed implementation of Languages studies under the Western Australian curriculum, starting in 2016. This is for the years P-10. A copy of the Minister’s letter to schools about this program at the beginning of 2016 can be downloaded here. - School Curriculum and Standards Authority - Courses
Covers courses for the West Australian Certificate of Education. Language courses are detailed in the listing. Note that Aboriginal Languages of Western Australia are also listed under Year 12.
Other Information
Commonwealth
- Asian
Languages Research and Reports
Reports and research documents. - Early Learning Languages Australia
‘Testing the effectiveness of providing preschool children with early exposure to a language other than English through online learning programs’. Trial program in 2015. - Language Learning Space
‘View the latest Professional Learning topics for language teachers. Log in to explore the Chinese, Indonesian and Japanese sites’. Australian Government site. - Languages [ACARA]
‘Designed to enable all students to engage in learning a language in addition to English’. Background, Languages development, downloads, other information. - NALSAS Strategy
National Asian Languages and Studies in Australian Schools. Professional Learning, curriculum materials, reports, publications, bibliography, What’s New ? and a Links page. - Student Achievement in Asian Languages Report
‘The Student Achievement in Asian Languages Report was released on 6 February 2012. The aim of the project was to conduct research to describe the achievements of students in learning particular languages [Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese, and Korean] at Year 6/7, Year 10, and Year 12’. Available as one PDF document or in 4 separate sections
General Sites
- Asia link [UniMelb]
Events, Professional Learning [study tours, exchanges, courses, conferences], leaders program, fellowships, corporate events, more. - New !
Assessment of Language Competence Certificates
‘An initiative of the Australian Multicultural Foundation, in collaboration with ACER. Includes listening and reading comprehension tasks in a multiple choice format designed to be both challenging and to enable all students to experience success.’ - Community Languages Australia
‘Carrying out a number of crucial roles in the creation, maintenance, and profile of Australia’s over 1 000 community language schools’. - Language Book Centre
Primary and Secondary catalogues of books on multiple languages. - Language Education Guide
‘Your guide to finding language education options for your children. We include ALL languages, ALL organisations - we’re Australia wide - easy !’ - New !
Language Teacher Resources
‘Our products are available for teachers of Japanese, Chinese, Italian, Indonesian, French, German, Spanish and English as a Second Language. Packages contain detailed lesson plans, assessment and behaviour management tips, vocabulary lists, planners for a term and year, as well as a comprehensive guide for teachers full of tips and tricks from our years of language teaching experiences. All resources are available as an instant digital download’. Fee-based. - Languagenut
‘Languagenut is a professional language support tool which helps create interactive and engaging lessons. The tool is designed for students aged 5-14 years’. Free trial available. Costs per individual or school are quite reasonable. - New !
Language Videos
Previously supplied through VEA but now done through ClickView. This page opens to those suitable for secondary students. Those suitable for Primary students are found using New ! this link. - Learning Languages Other Than English : A Texas
Adventure
‘Free five-part [online] video series demonstrates how the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Languages Other Than English [TEKS for LOTE] are being implemented in classrooms across Texas. It is centred around classroom scenes and includes interviews with students, teachers, parents and administrators’. - Updated !
National Digital Learning Resources Network
‘More than 12 000 digital curriculum resources free for use in all Australian schools’. - The LOTE
Bookshop,
‘A language learner’s bookshop and teachers’ resource centre.’