Caroline david how to motivate students and make languages central - no photos

Stories of success

Caroline DavidHead Teacher, Teaching and Learning

Smith’s Hill High School

• 120 students per year

Year 8 – mandatory 100 hours - 45 students studying a second language

Year 9 – 105 elective students Year 10 – 75 elective students Year 11/12

French, German, Japanese Continuers French, German, Japanese Extension Italian Beginners

My context

100 high school students were surveyed about their motivation for learning language and ..

1. Overseas Study Tours * 2. Interesting classes 3. Passionate teachers 4. Sense of achievement 5. Choice of language 6. Contact with native speakers

Connect early

First impressions

Letter home with enrolment information Homestay program Overseas Study Tours In trust payments Fundraising program

Smoke and mirrors??

Rapport and connection

Dear Year 6 student,

Welcome to our school.

Due to the overwhelming demand for those

wanting to host a student from our sister school,

we are offering Year 6 students the first

opportunity to participate in this well established

and valuable program.

Sign the attached form and return it to the

school with your enrolment form and your child

will be able to choose their b

uddy at Orientation

Day in December.

Make the Principal look good Open invitation to visit Language classrooms

Keep them up to date with happenings in Language

Invite them down for ‘coffee’

Give them reasons to keep (or start!) supporting Language ATAR bonus National priority

Start at the top

Push for authentic representation at Exec level

Year Adviser

Curriculum team

Mentor

Camps

Be involved

Make engaging spaces

Going to the

library??

Reject Shop $10

Curtains? Kimonos?

Laminate, laminate

Library at lunchtime?

Going through the front foyer?

Going to Science??

More engaging spaces

Use funds to buy things for all languages

Support those departments that support you

for commercial groups

Play dress ups

Exploit it

Patrice the crepe man

The Wind Rises

Bratwurst cook-offs

What floats kid’s boats?

Media – here and there and everywhere

Open night – be interactive , visible and attractive

Staff morning tea – bring exotic food

Certificates signed by the Principal for anything

Dress up and present anything to the Principal at assembly

PR, PR and more PR

School open night

In class

Buy saucepans/crepe makers/utensils

Get kids to bring ingredients

Menu in target language

Get Principal / Senior Exec to come and judge best dish

Food, food, food

Use Narrative

Normalise bilingualism

Many Language teachers are highly qualified Have higher degrees Have worked overseas Have worked outside schools Didn’t become a teacher because they couldn’t do

anything else

Exploit your expertise

Exploit your connections 1

Exploit your connections 2

Endeavour fellowships

Donation programs

Travel posters

Language Uni Days – free food!

Exploit freebies

Set user generated content

Inclusivity

Show students you are a lifelong learner

Do something with technology – don’t just use it for entertainment Cloze task with a song / TV interview Review of vocab learnt

Exploit the digital native

Ask not“Why is learning languages important”

but ask“What’s in it for me?”

Makes you smarter – higher performance in other subjects Bonus ATAR points Comparative advantage in the job market Can work overseas Flexibility and choices later in life Love? Food?

Why is learning languages important?

Distance education

Students enjoy a sense of achievement Make it realistic

Second language speakers - gift of languages SSCL

Pitching for achievement

Engagement for students

Great sense of achievement

Play it on loop at Open Night in the corridor

Invite the Principal to Sydney for the finals

MLTA film competition

Seed early Take late Only language students – not a Contiki tour but a Study Tour

Early planning Clear and regular communication

Teacher not Tour Guide so design is paramount

The book

Overseas Study Tours

Smith’s Hill High School

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