Policies & Curriculum
Teaching - Policies & Curriculum

Education in Australia Schools
All students in Australian schools deserve the right to languages education for life in our plurilingual and multicultural community in Australia and beyond.
Government Responsibilities in Education
Under the Commonwealth Constitution, the state and territory governments are responsible for providing schooling to all school-age children. They have the major financial responsibility for government schools, contribute supplementary funds to non-government schools and regulate school policies and programs. They determine curricula, course accreditation, student assessment and awards for both government and non-government schools. State and territory governments are also responsible for the administration and major funding of vocational education and training (VET) and for legislation relating to the establishment and accreditation of higher education courses.
The Commonwealth government has special responsibilities in education and training for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, migrants, international partnerships in education, and providing financial assistance for students. It is principally responsible for funding non-government schools and higher education institutions, and provides supplementary funding for government schools and VET. (Source: ABS)
IDT2017: Language Policy Resolutions
At the international German teachers' association (IDV) biennial conference in Fribourg/Freiburg in Switzerland (IDT2017), eleven theses were proclaimed for the strengthening and further development of learning German as a foreign (DaF) and second language (DaZ). As a member of IDV, the AGTV was represented at the conference and contributed to the debate.
CURRENT LANGUAGE POLICY IN VICTORIA
Victorian Department of Education and Training
All Victorian schools are required by legislation, the Education and Training Reform Act 2006, and as a condition of their registration with the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority to provide instruction in all learning areas, including languages.
- Legislative Context and Requirements - for Languages (DET website)
- What makes a quality Languages Program - DET website
- Languages - DET website - see further below for other specific DET links
Past planning document.
- Expanding your world - Plan to Implement the Vision - PDF document - (16 September, 2015)
PROTOCOLS FOR KOORIE EDUCATION IN VICTORIA
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture has existed in this land for around 50,000 years. The uniqueness of these cultures and the wisdom and knowledge embedded in them, are things to be highly valued by all Australians. To this end, these protocols seek a way to protect the integrity of these cultural expressions and a way in which all Australians can engage respectfully and feel connected to this identity.
Protocols and principles for working with Victorinan Koorie communities:
- Teaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture - DET, Victorian Government 2019
- Indigenous Culture and Intellectural Property Rights - Smartcopying 2019
Victorian Curriculum and Senior Curriculum in Victoria
The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) are an idependent statuatory authority responsible for the curriculum for Victorian Government education from ages 0 to 18.
- VCAA Homepage
- Victorian Curriculum advice for German
- VCE Advice for teachers of German - revised VCE
- Performance Desciptors for Units 3 and 4 - revised VCE (under Advice for teachers)
Victorian Curriculum: Foundation to Year 10
VCAA is responsible for setting the curriculum i.e. the 'what' is to be taught, not the 'how' it is to be taught.
- Subscribe to Curriculum Updates
- VCAA Professional Learning
- Navigating the website
- Frequently asked questions
The Victorian Curriculum F-10 incorporates the Australian Curriculum and reflects Victorian priorities and standards. Independent schools can choose to use the Victorian Curriculum as a model and resource for the effective implementation of the Australian Curriculum (see further links below for the Australian Curriculum).
Governmnent and Catholic schools in Victoria are requred to implement the Victorian Curriculum, and any Independent schools choosing to follow this curriculum.' (VCAA)
General Capabilities' are known as 'Capabilities' and are less in number in the new Victorian Curriculum. There are also no organising 'threads' in the Victorian Curriculum.
- Victorian Curriculum Foundation to 10 - launched in Sep 2015, from 2017 the curriculum in all Government and Catholic schools
- Revised Curriculum and Planning Guidelines - Download the PDF Revised Curriculum and Planning Guidelines
- Curriculum Area Advice - videos, academic vocabulary, curriculum mapping templates
- Insight Assess - Understanding Individuals - NEW website for teachers re assessment and feedback
- Formative Assessment
- Guide to Formative Assessment Rubrics - PDF document published in 2019
- Consolidated Glossary
German Curriculum area advice from VCAA
Archived Curriculum in Victoria
Includes AusVELS and CSF
VCAA Senior Curriculum
NEW: The new Study Design for German was released in April 2018. Units 1 and 2 will be implemented in 2019 and Units 3 and 4 in 2020.
- Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) – Index to VCE Curriculum info relevant for all Studies
- VCE German - landing page with Study Designs (old Unit 3/4 until 2019, revised until 2023)
- Advice for Teachers - German
- Performance Descriptors for Units 3 and 4 (Revised VCE)
- Past Exams and Examination Reports
- Extended Investigation - this VCE Study could be related to German-speaking communities
- Small Group Partnerships - If you have fewer than 5 enrolments, you need to cross-mark
Information about how to qualify for the VCE Bacculaureate introduced in 2013
- VCE Baccalaureate - must include the study of a Language in VCE Units 3 and 4
Other Senior Curriculum related to Languages
International Baccalaureate - IB
There are Primary (PYP), Middle Years (MYP), Diploma Programme and Career-related Programme
- Asia-Pacific Region - download curriculum outline
- International Baccalaureate (IB) - All about the IB program offered in some schools in Victoria (and Australia)
Vocational Education and Training (VET)
Higher Education
- VCAA Higher education page
- University of Melbourne Extension Program - University of Melbourne offers German
Victorian Department of Education and Training
The Victorian government values the diverse range of languages learnt and spoken in schools.
The DET Languages Homepage has important information for all teachers of languages.
Specific areas from the Languages Homepage:
- Funding and Resourcing - policy and funding for languages in government schools
- Research and Data - including Languages (formerly LOTE) Reports
- Languages and Cultures - professional learning and resources
- Teaching materials and methods - with further subheadings
- Assessment - advice and tools
- Student Reporting - Foundation (Prep) to Year 10
- Promote learning a language - video testimonials, downloads and advice
- Sister school partnerhships - DET - including Resource Kit
- Student Exchanges - DET
Other DET links:
- Note 19: Koorie cultural inclusion
- Multicultural Education Homepage
- School Dates
- Term Dates
- DET Research - General list of research
- Digital learning
- Schools and Cyber Safety
- ePotential - Showcase for ICT and learning
- Victorian teaching and learning model
- Practice principles for excellence in teaching and learning
- Pedagogical model
Other
Literacy and Numeracy Across the Curriculum
Older documents from 2009 that are still useful in thinking about literacy and numeracy across the curriculum.
- Key Characteristics of Effective Literacy Teaching P-6
- Key Characteristics of Effective Literacy Teaching 7-10
- Key Characteristics of Effective Numeracy Teaching P-6
- Key Characteristics of Numeracy Teaching 7-10
Australian Policies
The Melbourne Declaration was agreed to in 2008 by the Ministerial Council for Education, Early Childhood Development and Youth Affairs (MCEECDYA) on goals for the next 10 years.
- Education Council - national council for education
- Melbourne Declaration on the Educational Goals for Young People
- Federal Department of Education - name checked in July 2019
Australian Curriculum
A national approach to curriculum has been agreed to by all Ministers for Education resulting in ACARA developing the Australian Curriculum. The implementation of the Australian Curriculum remains the responsibility of the states and territories.
- ACARA Homepage - Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority
- Australian Curriculum
Australian Curriculum for Languages: German
The curriculum for German is now on the Australian Curriculum website and has been endorsed by ACARA. Independent schools determine their own curriciulum and choose if they follow the Australian or Victorian Curriculum.
- AC Languages German - endorsed in Sep 2015
NB: In Victoria, Government and Catholic schools are required to follow the Victorian Curriculum. Independent schools can choose to follow the Victorian curriculum or use it as a resource.
The term 'Languages' has replaced 'LOTE' ,and 'Foundation' has replaced 'Prep' to align with the Australian and new Victorian Curriculum. Domains have gone back to 'Learning Areas'.
A pathway in the Australian Curriculum Languages refers to whether the student is a first, second or background language learner. For German, the Australian (and Victorian) curriculum is designed for second language learners.
Definitions of terminology-
- Second language learners - These students are introduced to learning German at school as an additional, new language. The first language used before they start school and/or the language they use at home is not German.
- First language learners - These students are users of the language who have undertaken at least primary schooling in the language. They have had their primary socialisation as well as initial literacy development in the language and use it at home.
- Background language learners - These students may use the language at home, not necessarily exclusively, and have varying degrees of knowledge of and proficiency in the language. These students have a base for literacy development in the language.
Other Australian States and Territories Curriculum Boards
- South Australian Certificate of Education
- Western Australia School Curriculum and Standards Authority
- Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority
- New South Wales Education Standards Authority
- Tasmanian Assessment, Standards and Certification
- Australian Capital Territory Board of Senior Secondary Studies
- Northern Territory School Curriculum
American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages
European Policy and Curriculum
- European Commission - Education and Training
- Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
- Sprachenportfolio - Austria
- Using the European Languages Portfolio -
- ELP - Junior Portfolio - PDF download
- ELP - Teachers Advice - PDF download
* A portfolio is a document in which language learners can record their language learning and cultural experiences. All levels of language ability are valued.
- Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung - Germany
- Bildung, Wissenschaft und Kultur - list for each German state
- Bundesministerium für Bildung und Frauen - Austria
- Bildungssystem Schweiz - Switzerland
- Bildungsförderung - South Tyrol, Italy
UK Curriculum
New Zealand
Singapore
Organisation for Cooperation and Development (OECD)
ARCHIVED
VCAA - Archived VELS
- VELS - archived
- VELS Domains - archived
- Cross-Curriculum Perspectives in the VELS - archived