The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) has announced that the next phase of the Languages curriculum review is now underway.
ACARA has released proposed revisions to the Auslan language curricula and the Framework for Aboriginal Languages and Torres Strait Islander Languages for public comment.
Public feedback is sought via the consultation website by 7 November 2023.
The review of the Australian Curriculum commenced in 2020 and while the updated Australian Curriculum, Version 9.0 that resulted was released on a new website in May 2022, the review’s terms of reference provided for the Languages curricula to be reviewed and endorsed in phases.
“We’re pleased to release the draft revisions to the Auslan language curricula and the Framework for Aboriginal Languages and Torres Strait Islander Languages,” ACARA’s Executive Director, Curriculum, Ms Sharon Foster said.
“They comprise a large and important part of the languages learning area of the Australian Curriculum.”
The Auslan curriculum has two pathways and caters for both students who are learning Auslan as their first language (Years F-10 and Years 7-10) and for hearing students learning Auslan as a second or additional language (Years F-10 and Years 7-10).
Practising primary and secondary teachers and language users, both deaf and hearing, assisted ACARA’s curriculum specialists in reviewing and drafting refinements to the curriculum.
The review has resulted in the volume of content in the curricula being reduced and elaborations have been added to the content including new illustrations and examples of how it can be taught in the classroom.
The Framework for Aboriginal Languages and Torres Strait Islander Languages provides three pathways (Years 7-10) that can be used flexibly by jurisdictions or schools to develop local curriculum or programs:
- L1 is for students learning their own language that is in everyday use in their community
- L2 is for students learning a language as a second or additional language
- LR is for students learning a language that is in the process of revival
The review of the Framework for Aboriginal Languages and Torres Strait Islander Languages has included advice from practicing teachers and language users from across Australia and the Torres Strait Islands.
This advice ensured that the framework had practical application for teachers, schools and communities involved in developing local language programs and included reducing the volume of content in the framework and reviewing how the content specified in the curriculum can be taught in the classroom.
“This public consultation marks the last phase of the review of the Australian Curriculum Version 9.0 which originally began in June 2020. We encourage the community to give their feedback through a survey on our consultation website. It is your final chance to help shape an Australian Curriculum for the next generation of children,” Foster said.
