The Professional Standards Project (PSP) is a nationally coordinated professional learning program for Languages teachers, to improve the quality of Languages teaching and thereby improve the learning outcomes of students. It is based on the use of the Professional standards for accomplished teaching of languages and cultures ('the Standards') as a framework. These Standards are available at www.pspl.unisa.edu.au.

In 2008 the MLTAV led an extensive program of PSP Professional Learning in conjunction with the AFMLTA and the Research Centre for Languages and Cultures Education (RCLCE) at the University of South Australia. For further details CLICK HERE.

Funded by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) under the School Languages Programme, the MLTAV is again leading an extensive program of PSP Professional Learning in 2009, especially in conjunction with our DEECD Stragegic Partnerships Program. In addition, we are running a

2009 Workshop for Languages teachers at Victorian Community Languages Schools.

The AFMLTA and the MLTAV, together with the Research Centre for Languages and Cultures Education (RCLCE) at the University of South Australia, are offering a further opportunity to participate in a national professional development program using the Professional standards for accomplished teaching of languages and cultures developed by the AFMLTA as a framework to update and extend your knowledge and skills in languages teaching.

Benefits of the program include:

• ► networking and collaborating with teachers of languages in your state or territory on using the Standards in your professional practice;
• ► having access to ongoing support throughout the professional development program;
• ► learning how to use the Standards in teaching your particular language;
• ► being stimulated by reflecting on professional knowledge and practice and to develop self assessment skills;
• ► increasing your capacity to engage with students in collaborative construction of their learning area knowledge and understanding; and
• ► gaining a greater awareness of how to develop the attributes and capabilities embodied in the Standards.
  

PSP Stream A for Victorian Community Languages Schools

Date: Wednesday 16 September, 1 - 6pm
Venue: Statewide Resources Centre, 150 Palmerston St, Carlton
► This program is open to all teachers in Community Languages Schools free of charge however places are limited.
► Funding is also available for a ½ day of teacher release.
► Stream A is a general ‘awareness raising' stream, consisting of 2x3 hour modules that will familiarize participants with the dimensions of accomplished languages and cultures teaching, as listed in the Standards.

If you have any queries regarding this project, please contact the PSP MLTA Key Contact for Victoria: Kylie Farmer, MLTAV Vice President - This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .
Please send your completed registration form to Kylie Farmer as soon as possible. Final closing date for registrations is 31^st July.  CLICK HERE to download the Registration Form.

Professional Standards Project 2008

This Project was funded by the then Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST), now the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) under the School Languages Programme. It was one of the suite of DEST funded national projects undertaken to support the implementation of the MCEETYA National Statement for Languages Education in Australian Schools and the National Plan for Languages Education in Australian Schools 2005-2008.

The project was developed and implemented by the AFMLTA with the MLTAs of all States and Territories and the Research Centre for Languages and Cultures Education (RCLCE) at the University of South Australia.

To download a report on the MLTAV's involvement in this project  CLICK HERE.

The overarching objective of the Project is to improve the quality of Languages teaching and thereby improve the learning outcomes of students.

The Project aims to:

(a) develop a national professional development programme and support materials using the Standards as a framework;
(b) stimulate self-assessment and self-reflection among Languages teachers about their professional knowledge and practice;
(c) promote and recognise quality Languages teaching; and
(d) promote professional collaboration among Languages teachers and school leaders across Languages and across States and Territories.

The professional learning programme was developed in 2007 and implemented in 2008. It incorporated a train-the trainer model, where educators from each State and Territory were trained to lead the professional learning programme in their particular context. The professional learning programme comprised two streams:

(i) Stream A: a general awareness raising stream, consisting of 2 x 3 hour modules that familiarises participants with all the dimensions of the Standards; and
(ii) Stream B: builds on Stream A and consists of a further 8 x 3 hour modules that focus on the dimensions of educational theory and practice, language and culture and language pedagogy. Participants in this Stream were selected by application and undertook a professional investigation as part of the programme.

Approx. 400 teachers nationally participated across both streams. The target group was teachers of all Languages (including Indigenous languages) across Australia, in all sectors, across all levels of experience, and including those in mainstream schools, Government Schools of Languages, distance education, and ethnic/community schools. The materials and professional learning programme developed will be relevant to all Languages and programmes.

The participants and trained educators will be a significant ongoing resource to support further work and professional learning by State/Territory MLTAs and individual jurisdictions.

Overall project outcomes include:

o enhanced quality Languages programs through enabling teachers to develop the attributes and capabilities embodied in the standards
o greater leadership density and expertise at state/territory and national levels and across all sectors and all language groups
o a national training package and support materials;
o language specific annotations of the professional standards for teachers of Chinese, French, German, Italian and Japanese.

All the professional learning resources and processes of this project are now available online for use by individuals and groups in their local contexts. For further information CLICK HERE