Transcript MLTAQ Awards for exemplary practice in languages 2014

MLTAQ AWARDS FOR
EXEMPLARY PRACTICE IN
LANGUAGES 2014
Secondary Teachers
SUSIE FENTON
JAPANESE COORDINATOR
TAMBORINE MOUNTAIN SHS
Susie uses an eclectic blend of theoretical educational
methods and approaches – with a special focus on J Pop,
J movies and Cool Japan – with an overarching emphasis
on the Communicative Approach in which students are
encouraged to “take risks” and use whatever Japanese
they have internalised in order to get their message across
and build communicative competency in a range of
situations.
This enthuses students and fosters personal commitment
and retention in Languages one effect being that the
school regularly comes first for Japanese in the Language
Perfect World Champs.
The school’s eight biennial Japan Tour looms, with not only
a school exchange, but also a stay at Asia Pacific
University,Beppu.
Beyond the school, Susie co-convenes the MLTAQ GC GU
Japanese Language Speech Competition, presents multimedia workshops and liaises richly with APU.
ELKE JACKEL
LANGUAGES COORDINATOR, ORMISTON COLLEGE
Elke applies current theories and a variety of approaches to
inculcate higher order thinking with clear learning intentions in a
continuum of learning in German. .
Elke differentiates student learning by offering choice in the way
students present work and using technology such as OneNote for
collaborative learning. She uses flipped classroom methods to
orientate students to new learning before they discuss it in school.
Her students’ animated film reached the finals of the Goethe
Institut Film Competition; students share their illustrated fairy tales
with their families and perform fractured fairy tales for younger
grades – all real-world audiences.
Elke runs tours to Germany which further enhance student
capacity. Team work is central to Elke’s work as mentor to new
staff, member of the school Dimensions Of Learning team and part
of the Learning Innovations Leadership Committee. Through
active involvement with the MLTAQ German Teachers’ Branch and
as a district and state QCAA Panel member, Elke aims to instil a
passion for intercultural learning and reflection.
KERSTIN LIEBCHEN-MEADES
ST AIDANS AGS
Three words describe Kerstin’s practice – innovation,
reflection, leadership.
As an early adopter of intercultural and gesture-based
methodology and of technology-enhanced language
learning, she links student learning to current news and
authentic online learning, assuring a high level of student
motivation and German language use.
Parents and students alike appreciate Kerstin’s spirit,
enthusiasm and skills, and this is reflected in the retention
rate of students into Year 12 then tertiary German.
Kerstin is actively engaged in big-picture Languages
learning and shares her professional expertise both within
her school and with the wider community.
SHANNON MASON
Shannon Mason - a committed advocate and Languages
educator - has applied her well-honed teaching
methodology via extensive contribution to teachers’
professional learning in areas of innovative use of
technologies and explicit teaching of literacy within
Languages programmes.
Her collegial approach has extended to the establishment of
the Japanese Teachers’ Resource Network website, active
engagement with the Modern Language Teachers’
Association (MLTAQ) email lists and ongoing branch
activities, and the establishment of her active Languages
Teachers blog. Shannon has coalesced all of these elements
in her Ph D research into Languages teacher attrition, and
the improvement of teacher conditions and student
outcomes.
MLTAQ AWARDS FOR
EXEMPLARY PRACTICE IN
LANGUAGES 2014
Secondary Leaders
PAUL BANCROFT
PRINCIPAL
A MAN OF VISION AND ACTION
Taking Languages from understated, poorly resourced area
with poor retention rate to the jewel in the crown at Cleveland
District SHS, Paul has transformed the profile of language study
in the school and the community. Languages are a valued
and respected part of the curriculum, taught in state of the art
facilities and supported enthusiastically at an administrative
level.
Under Paul’s guidance and visible, active support, the
languages program is actively valued both in the school and
local community, with multiple languages taught through
Redlands primary schools through to adult classes in a variety
of models.
With well timetabled, well resourced programs, a global
perspective has been developed across the whole school.
International exchanges are rich and myriad.
JESUS BERGAS-PAZ
HEAD OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, INDOOROOPILLY SHS
Combining the roles of HOD Languages and IB
coordinator, Jesús is a teacher who
•
creates a culture of learning which
approaches languages, culture and learning
with respect, empathy, commitment,
enthusiasm and personal responsibility
and who
•
demonstrates a strong advocacy for
languages education, a commitment to the
empowerment of languages teachers and a
dedication to the leadership and facilitation
of the improvement of highly successful
languages programs
Supporting students of Chinese and Spanish and
their teachers, he developed the three-year Spanish
immersion program which culminates in a study tour
of Spain in semester two of Year 10. He is also
actively involved in growing the profession beyond
the school.
CATHRYN BRUTON
HOD LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL
BENOWA SHS
“Cathryn leads an established team of language
teachers at Benowa State High School, who collectively
continue to influence teaching and learning across the
school.” Mark Rickard, Principal
“Under Cathryn’s leadership, the Languages department
has flourished. She has overseen the inclusion of two new
languages (Spanish and Italian), the large growth in the
number of students studying a language beyond Year 8,
and the development of a sister school relationship with a
Japanese school. We have developed strong links with
the languages community beyond our school by
participating in (and dominating!) the Language Perfect
Languages World Championships, as well as the various
MLTAQ competitions that enable our students to shine.
…multiple staff members attend the Gold Coast MLTAQ
meetings each month, at which Cathryn holds the
position of Treasurer. “ Lisa Moller, teaching colleague
RICHARD FAIRLEY
PRINCIPAL, TOWNSVILLE GRAMMAR SCHOOL
The School supports the study of languages because we consider
this a fundamental aspect of a broad educational approach to
knowledge acquisition in the 21st century.
Townsville Grammar School is in the unique position of offering five
languages (French, Japanese, Indonesian, Italian and Spanish)
taught in the classroom, as well as Chinese by Distance Education.
They offer both QSA and IB courses for popular Senior classes and
the study of a second language from Year 4.
Richard actively promotes and encourages the importance of the
study of a second language in many ways such as:
•
Biennial language tours for French, Italian, Japanese and
Indonesian
•
Generous Languages budgets
•
Introduction of the IB Diploma course in 2010 (TGS is one of the
few regional schools offering IB)
•
Retention of Indonesian, offering it as a compulsory subject in
Year 4-6
SELLINA MCCLUSKEY
HEAD OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL
PROGRAMS
Sellina was instrumental in establishing Australia’s
only secondary immersion program in Japanese.
She is actively engaged across her school and in her
local MLTAQ branch and fosters vigorous
international programs.
“As a result of Sellina's leadership and active
promotion of language in this school community, we
have a clear school culture around the benefits of
language study which is reflected in our
participation rates, our outcomes and the
relationships we have forged with the wider
community…
Sellina delivers a program which is current,
engaging and in line with latest research around
pedagogy to support best practice in language
instruction.
She has changed the lives of many young people
and is a complete inspiration to the staff and
students of Robina SHS.”
Julie Warwick, Principal
MAUREEN NOAKES
LEARNING MANAGER, LANGUAGES
ST. PAUL’S SCHOOL
“Maureen is constantly looking for innovative ways to
engage students in meaningful learning experiences.
This includes constantly pursuing her own PD and also
supporting colleagues in trialling new pedagogies for
deeper learning and the use of assistive technologies.
She works to create a culture of collaboration and
professional sharing of resources and decisionmaking.
Through leading systematic and rigorous evaluation of
work programs and learning experiences, Maureen
has supported her team in the development of
engaging experiences for their students ... and
spread and share[d] best practices.”
Jon Andrews, Deputy Principal
MARK RICKARD
EXECUTIVE PRINCIPAL BENOWA SHS
Mark’s advocacy of Languages and international education at Benowa
SHS is evident through delivery of four languages (French, Japanese,
Spanish and Italian – this includes the founding French Immersion
Program in the State) which employ 10 full time Languages teachers.
Mark had the vision to introduce two additional European Languages
(Spanish and Italian), since witnessing the growth and development of
international partnerships including:
-
very strong relationships with two sister-schools in France
-
Memorandum of Understanding with Yokosuka High School, Japan
-
visits from Convitto Nazionale Umberto I in Italy.
Mark gives generously of his time to be involved in community events,
including his support of the Gold Coast MLTAQ and Griffith University
Languages speech contest year after year.
KAREN SPILLER
PRINCIPAL
ST AIDANS AGS
The school is regarded as a school of excellence for Languages and
this is a direct result of Karen Spiller’s support and foresight in all
matters concerning the study of Languages.
Karen actively and publicly supports both the professional
development endeavours of Languages’ upkeep and pedagogical
knowledge of her staff as well as the promotion of Languages in the
wider community. She has supported community Languages’
learning initiatives, special and innovative language learning and
teaching programmes and publishes in the St Aidan’s newsletters
insights about the connection of brain development and language
learning.
Karen supports all four Languages’ exchange programmes in an
active and ongoing manner. She promotes and recognises that
connecting students to the wider world in real and meaningful ways
is a vital component of 21st Century life. Her support of learning
languages and gaining skills of intercultural competence is
recognised by her as a way to assist students to engage as members
of many communities.
MARIA WOODS
PRINCIPAL
SUNSHINE COAST GRAMMAR SCHOOL
“Under the leadership of Maria Woods for the
past two years, Languages at Grammar are
supported and given every opportunity to
develop.
With a growing international exchange
program retention in the senior classes has
improved and both Senior Japanese and
French classes have been non-composite for
the first time.
To have a Principal of this mindset and calibre
is inspiring and motivating for every member of
our school.”
Elizabeth Suzuki, Japanese teacher
OMEDETOU GOZAIMASU! ZHUHE!
HERZLICHEN GLÜCKWUNSCH!
FELICITATIONS! ENHORABUENA!
SELAMAT!
THE MLTAQ SALUTES YOU.