Australia is one of the most multicultural countries in the world and there are a vast number of languages spoken and learned through a mix of methods including schools, community language schools, ethnic schools and associations, colleges and universities. At least 69 are indicated as being taught [Community Languages Australia], though there are several which dominate. Some European and Asian languages have been designated as core languages.

Indigenous Languages and the Australian Deaf Sign Language [Auslan] are addressed separately to this topic.

This page looks at Languages Other Than English learning in all states & territories. This includes programs, places including schools, government support and encouragement, national strategies and more.

Also check the LOTE Resources and the Other Languages pages for further information.

The Other Information section needs expanding. Any suggestions or additions are welcome and will be given consideration.

States & Territories

Australian Capital Territory

• Languages
  Program information, links, National Plans, other sources of information including resources, associations, etc..
• Languages Other Than English Surveys
  Bulletins from 1999 to 2003. PDF documents. Scroll down to find these.

New South Wales

• Board of Studies - K-6 Languages
• Board of Studies - 7-10 Languages
• Board of Studies - 11-12 Languages
  Select from the alphabetical listing or the Languages section.
• Languages 7-10
  Basic information, related links.
• Languages K-6
• Languages Methodology Online
  Department of Education & Training.
• Saturday School of Community Languages
  Background information, locate schools, enrolment and more.

Northern Territory

• Alice Springs Language Centre
• Indigenous Languages and Culture
  72 page document covering relevant information.
• Languages Learning Area
  Information, framework and more.
• Teaching Multilingual Learners Program

Queensland

• After Hours Ethnic Schooling [AHES]
  ‘Programs provide community language classes outside regular school hours’.
• Ethnic Schools Association of Queensland Inc
  ‘Community-based, public organisation whose members provide after hours language and cultural education for all students irrespective of their linguistic background.’
• Intercultural Investigations
  ‘Intercultural Investigations [ICIS] is a subject that aims to help students learn about languages and cultures and how they connect and work together’.
• Languages Other than English [LOTE]
  Curriculum support, programs, resources, LOTE Library.
• Mandatory Languages in Years 6, 7 and 8
  ‘Our goal is that the majority of schools [approximately 90 per cent] will offer Key Learning Area [KLA Languages at the commencement of school in 2011 in Years 6, 7 and 8’. You can download a Fact Sheet about this policy here.
• Queensland LOTE Library
  ‘The Queensland LOTE Library provides resources, reference and alerting services to practising teachers and instructors in Queensland Government, Independent and Catholic schools, Queensland Universities, TAFE institutions and After Hours Ethnic Schooling programs’.
• Queensland Studies Authority
  Guidelines and Modules. Information, presentations in PDF format.
• Queensland Studies Authority - Languages
  ‘The resources on this page support planning within and across year levels for the Languages key learning area. Resources to support integrated curriculum planning by year juncture are also available’.
• Virtual Schooling
  ‘New patterns of teaching students using flexible delivery strategies and a range of learning technologies’. Two languages, Chinese [Mandarin] and Japanese are offered in senior years.

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South Australia

• Australian Indigenous Languages
  ‘Specific support for Australian Indigenous Languages’.
• Curriculum Services Moodle
  Includes Languages component. You need to create an account to gain full access.
• Ethnic Schools Association
  ‘The umbrella body representing 97 ethnic schools authorities teaching 48 different languages.’
• Information for Language Teachers
  Includes Language specific support; Languages initiatives/resources; Programming tools; Languages promotion; Links for language teachers.
• Languages Policy Context
  ‘A number of key policy documents provide the rationale and direction for the learning of languages nationally and in South Australian schools’. Access them here.
• National Statement and Plan for Languages Education
  [PDF 142KB].
• SACSA - Framework Learning Areas
  Click Languages in the menu.
• School of Languages
  ⁼The School of Languages is a specialist government school. Our classes are held in 18 teaching centres across the Adelaide metropolitan area. All lessons are delivered after hours, usually in the 5 to 8 time slot.’
• Schools that Teach Specific Languages
  Information for parents.

Tasmania

• Department of Education - Community Languages
  ‘Community language programs have benefited students in providing literacy in their first language for some participants and in maintaining linguistic skills for all’.
• English-literacy [including LOTE]
  Tasmanian curriculum information. Includes PDF files for major languages, other links.
• Tasmania : LOTE
  ‘A core resource for teachers of LOTE [languages] in Tasmania.’. Included among the related pages are the following, many of which contain documents and further links.

• Assessing
  Includes Proficiency Outcomes and How to Use the Proficiency Outcomes documents.
  You must now be able to log in to access this site.
• Intercultural Language Learning
• LOTE Literacy
• Professional Learning
• Resources
• Thinking
• Links & Contacts

Victoria

• Assessment and Reporting - LOTE
• East Melbourne Language Centre
  Courses in multiple languages, workshops, corporate training and exam preparation at all levels.
• Ethnic Schools Association of Victoria
  ‘Represents over 200 community languages schools in Victoria. Community Languages Schools provide quality languages educational and cultural maintenance programs to over 34,000 students in a range of 55 languages in Victoria’.
• Languages Online
  ‘For students learning French, German, Indonesian or Italian.’ Notes, activities, games, assessment tasks, print activities, flashcards, video, rubric maker and more. You can also access the Languages Online and the Victorian Essential Learning Standards which ‘shows links between Languages Online activities and the Victorian Essential Learning Standards’.
• Learning and Teaching Support
  ‘Contains links to web sites, online resources and tools that provide learning and teaching support for teachers.’
• LOTE
  Links to Policy, funding, support, school programs, assessment, reporting, professional learning, research, NASSP, LOTE and the Victorian Essential learning Standards.
• Professional Learning
  ‘Information, resources and tools to help teachers with their professional learning.’
• Promoting the Benefits of Language Learning
  ‘A research paper outlining the benefits of learning a language based on research findings. It was commissioned by the LOTE Unit and compiled by the Research Unit for Multilingualism and Cross Cultural Communication.’
• Report : Languages for Victoria’s Future
  Background information and report.
• Student Learning Programs
  Contains brief descriptions and links to a range of programs including several linked to LOTE such as Community Language Schools and Languages and Multicultural Education Resource Centre.
• The Government’s Plan for a Multicultural Victoria
  This has replaced the Victorian Languages Strategy. Scroll down this page to find initial details.
• VCAA - VCE Studies
  Links to all language studies via an alphabetical subject listing.

Western Australia

• Languages
  About languages, curriculum, assessment, reporting, support and associations.
• Benefits of LOTE Learning
  Listing of perceived benefits.
• Community Languages [WA]
• Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting
  Includes a link to a Teaching and Learning Languages : A Guide.
• Support for Teachers
  Resource Centres, Language Assistants Program and Native Speaker Tuition Program.
• Which Language Where
  Find which schools teach what languages [12 priority languages included]. Excel sheet.

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Other Information

Commonwealth Support

• Language Education Support
  Sections on Languages Education and Additional Support, especially for Asian language education [see below, NALSAS].
• NALSAS Strategy
  National Asian Languages and Studies in Australian Schools.Professional Learning, curriculum materials, reports, publications, bibliography, What’s New ? and a Links page worth visiting.
• Prospects for The Future of LOTE Education in Australia
  Why Study LOTE ?, Issues, Role for the Commonwealth, Future Options.
• The Asian Languages Professional Opportunities
  Events, Professional Learning [study tours, exchanges, courses, conferences], leaders program, fellowships, corporate events, more.

General Sites

• Assessment of Language Competence Certificates
  ‘Designed to celebrate and enhance the learning of Languages in Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific region. The program is an initiative of the Australian Multicultural Foundation, in collaboration with ACER. The skills testing program includes listening and reading comprehension tasks in a multiple choice format designed to be both challenging and to enable all students to experience success.’
• Community Languages Australia
  ‘Carrying out a number of crucial roles in the creation, maintenance, and profile of Australia’s over 1 000 community language schools, who provide language maintenance in 69 languages to in excess of 100 000 school age children.’
• Language Book Centre
  Primary and Secondary catalogues of books for multiple languages.
• LOTE & ESL Teaching Resources
  Links compiled by James Cook University. Enter LOTE in the search engine.
• Learning Languages Other Than English : A Texas Adventure
  ‘This five-part [online] video series demonstrates how the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Languages Other Than English [TEKS for LOTE] are being implemented in classrooms across Texas. It is centred around classroom scenes and includes interviews with students, teachers, parents and administrators’. Free.
• MyLanguage Travel
  If interested in learning a language and willing to travel overseas to do so, this could be helpful. Lists language schools in multiple countries. Considerable information for each. Fee-based, plus travel/living costs.
• National Digital Learning Resources Network
  ‘More than 12 000 digital curriculum resources that are Free for use in all Australian schools’.
• The LOTE Bookshop,
  ‘A language learner’s bookshop and teachers’ resource centre.’

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