Master of Indigenous Languages Education/Graduate Diploma/Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Languages Education
The Master of Indigenous Languages Education is a one-year full time degree open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers who want to develop their skills in Indigenous language teaching.
This course equips Indigenous educators with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively implement the NSW Aboriginal Languages Syllabus from Kindergarten to Year 10, and syllabi from other states and territories.
Graduates may fulfil a variety of roles in Indigenous languages education contexts and languages revitalisation generally.
Students can choose to complete the master, graduate diploma or graduate certificate.
Units are delivered in block mode in three separate intensive weeks in each semester.
Course Accreditation
The NSW Department of Education & Communities acknowledges the availability of the Master of Indigenous Languages Education offered at the University of Sydney and accepts this program as providing appropriate training for qualified Aboriginal teachers seeking additional approval to teach an Aboriginal language. The Master of Indigenous Languages Education does not substitute a standard teaching qualification, but does provide professional development to teachers in Indigenous Languages in Education, training for others to assist teachers or work in community education in Indigenous Australian languages.
Master of Indigenous Languages Education
To qualify for the award, candidates are required to complete a total of 8 units of study (48 credit points), including
- 4 core units of study (24 credit points) in their first semester as shown in core unit table before proceeding to
- 3 compulsory Elective units of study (18 credit points) as shown in elective units table and
- 1 capstone unit (6 credit points) from capstone units of study table.
Capstone experience
The capstone experience is completed in the last semester of the award course. It provides an opportunity to integrate ideas and understandings drawn from units of study taken in the course. The capstone experience is a compulsory requirement of the masters.
Candidates may elect to undertake a research project in Indigenous languages education on an approved topic relating to one of the many Indigenous languages worthy of further documentation, investigation and research. Candidates may also choose to learn an Indigenous language outside the masters program.
External studies must be equivalent to 36 hours of face-to-face teaching and candidates must satisfy the Faculty of Education and Social Work's standards and thoroughness of the nominated language teaching.
Graduate Diploma in Indigenous Languages Education
To qualify for the award of Graduate Diploma in Indigenous Languages Education, candidates are required to complete a total of 6 units of study (36 credit points), including
- 4 core units of study (24 credit points) in their first semester as shown in Core Unit Table before proceeding to
- 2 elective units of study from the Elective units table.
Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Languages Education
To qualify for the Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Languages Education, candidates are required to complete a total of 4 core units from the Core Units of Study Table
Course convenor
Mr John Hobson
T 02 9351 6994
Room 711, Building A35
E
Units of study table
| Unit of study | Credit points | A: Assumed knowledge P: Prerequisites C: Corequisites N: Prohibition | Session |
|---|---|---|---|
Indigenous Languages Education |
|||
Core Units for Graduate Certificate/Graduate Diploma and Master of Indigenous Languages Education |
|||
| KCIL5610 Sounds & Writing in Indigenous Languages |
6 | C KCIL5611 and KCIL5612 Available to students enrolled in block-mode courses only. |
Int January |
| KCIL5611 Words & Meanings in Indigenous Languages |
6 | C KCIL5610 and KCIL5612 Available to students enrolled in block-mode courses only. |
Int January |
| KCIL5612 Sentences & Text in Indigenous Languages |
6 | C KCIL5610 and KCIL5611 Available to students enrolled in block-mode courses only. |
Int January |
| KCIL5613 Theories & Methods in Language Learning |
6 |
Available to students enrolled in block-mode courses only. |
Int January |
Elective Units for Graduate Diploma in Indigenous Languages Education |
|||
| KCIL5622 Learning an Indigenous Language |
6 | P 18 credit points, including KCIL5613 N KCIL5621 Available to students enrolled in block-mode courses only. |
Int July |
| KCIL5623 Language Curriculum Development |
6 | P 18 credit points, including KCIL5613 Available to students enrolled in block-mode courses only. |
Int July |
| KCIL5624 Technology and Language Learning |
6 | C KCIL5623 Available to students enrolled in block-mode courses only. |
Int July |
Elective Units for Master of Indigenous Languages Education |
|||
| KCIL5620 Research Methods in Languages Education |
6 | P 18 credit points, including KCIL5613 Available to students enrolled in block-mode courses only. |
Int July |
| KCIL5623 Language Curriculum Development |
6 | P 18 credit points, including KCIL5613 Available to students enrolled in block-mode courses only. |
Int July |
| KCIL5624 Technology and Language Learning |
6 | C KCIL5623 Available to students enrolled in block-mode courses only. |
Int July |
Capstone Units for Master of Indigenous Languages Education |
|||
| KCIL5621 Research Project in Languages Education |
6 | C KCIL5620 N KCIL5622 Available to students enrolled in block-mode courses only. |
Int July |
| KCIL5622 Learning an Indigenous Language |
6 | P 18 credit points, including KCIL5613 N KCIL5621 Available to students enrolled in block-mode courses only. |
Int July |
Units of study listing
Indigenous Languages Education
Core Units for Graduate Certificate/Graduate Diploma and Master of Indigenous Languages Education
KCIL5610 Sounds & Writing in Indigenous Languages
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: John Hobson Session: Int January Classes: Block Mode Corequisites: KCIL5611 and KCIL5612 Assessment: phonetics (20%) and phonology (30%) and exam (40%) and orthography (10%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Block Mode Associated degrees: Grad Cert Indig Lang Ed.
Note: Available to students enrolled in block-mode courses only.
The study of any language requires an understanding of its sounds and the ways in which they relate to each other so that they can be written down. This unit of study introduces students to the production, perception and classification of speech sounds and their organisation into meaningful systems with particular reference to Indigenous Australian languages. It also provides an understanding of the development of writing systems and contemporary approaches to Australian orthography design.
KCIL5611 Words & Meanings in Indigenous Languages
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Susan Poetsch Session: Int January Classes: Block mode Corequisites: KCIL5610 and KCIL5612 Assessment: language analysis exercises (30%) and exam (30%) and learner's guide (40%). Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Block Mode Associated degrees: Grad Cert Indig Lang Ed.
Note: Available to students enrolled in block-mode courses only.
Words are the principal vehicles for conveying meaning in most languages. This unit of study gives students a foundation in the description of meaning and the structure and function of words with particular reference to Indigenous Australian languages. It also provides students with the skills to classify words and their component parts and describe the ways in which they combine sound and meaning to make verbal communication possible.
KCIL5612 Sentences & Text in Indigenous Languages
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Sally Dixon Session: Int January Classes: Block Mode Corequisites: KCIL5610 and KCIL5611 Assessment: in-class activities (10%) and exam (30%) and between block tasks/handbook (60%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Block Mode Associated degrees: Grad Cert Indig Lang Ed.
Note: Available to students enrolled in block-mode courses only.
Sentences and texts are the major units of human language. This unit of study provides students with the understanding and skills to describe these longer strings of language and make generalisations about them. It also considers the relationships between the many varieties of Australian languages that occur for different purposes, in different places and at different times.
KCIL5613 Theories & Methods in Language Learning
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Susan Poetsch Session: Int January Classes: Block Mode Assessment: community language learning case study (25%) and lesson observation and analysis (30%) and micro-teaching (20%) and resource development (25%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Block Mode Associated degrees: Grad Cert Indig Lang Ed.
Note: Available to students enrolled in block-mode courses only.
This unit of study introduces students to theories of language acquisition and to methods employed in effective language teaching. It provides students with the foundations to successfully choose from a range of different approaches and strategies that will best cater to the teaching of Indigenous languages in revitalisation contexts. It will include methods used in the teaching of the macro (listening, speaking, reading and writing) and micro skills; determining teacher and learner roles; and effective language lesson planning. The unit will provide students with the skills to assess present and prospective teaching and learning and implement constructive changes in their own language contexts
Elective Units for Graduate Diploma in Indigenous Languages Education
KCIL5622 Learning an Indigenous Language
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: John Hobson Session: Int July Classes: Block Mode Prerequisites: 18 credit points, including KCIL5613 Prohibitions: KCIL5621 Assessment: critical analysis and reflective journal x 5000wd Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Block Mode Associated degrees: Grad Dip Indig Lang Ed.
Note: Available to students enrolled in block-mode courses only.
In order to teach an Indigenous language it is essential that the teacher has greater fluency than their students. This unit of study provides an opportunity for students to undertake study outside the degree program to develop their ability to speak an Australian language. Students may access courses offered by the University of Sydney, another tertiary institution, a TAFE college, school, community language centre, or similar. To obtain credit under this unit of study the external studies must be equivalent to 36 hours of face-to-face teaching and satisfy MILE staff regarding its standard and thoroughness. Students who are already fluent or cannot access an external unit in a language of their choosing should undertake KCIL5621 Research Project in Indigenous Languages as a means to enhance their skills.
KCIL5623 Language Curriculum Development
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Susan Poetsch Session: Int July Classes: Block Mode Prerequisites: 18 credit points, including KCIL5613 Assessment: situation & needs analysis (20%) and test (20%) and teaching program (40%) and assessing language competency (20%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Block Mode Associated degrees: Grad Dip Indig Lang Ed.
Note: Available to students enrolled in block-mode courses only.
Preceding any successful formal teaching or learning situation is effective programming and planning determined by curriculum parameters. Language curriculum development involves more than just the content to be taught in any given teaching situation. It involves establishing goals and outcomes often defined by external organisations; performing ongoing needs analysis of learning and teaching situations; programming and planning against external and internal factors; designing programs that best address all factors; choosing and designing resources; and determining appropriate assessment and evaluation procedures. The goal of this unit is to examine these issues against authentic situations and apply knowledge gained towards developing effective language curriculum for quality teaching in Indigenous languages education contexts and across all key learning areas.
KCIL5624 Technology and Language Learning
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: John Hobson Session: Int July Classes: Block Mode Corequisites: KCIL5623 Assessment: essay (30%) and evaluations (30%) and resources (40%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Block Mode Associated degrees: Grad Dip Indig Lang Ed.
Note: Available to students enrolled in block-mode courses only.
Learners no longer acquire knowledge by means of the written word and the pen alone. Technology and multimedia play a large role in people's lives and facilitate language use in many and diverse forms. This unit demonstrates how technology can be effectively used in the contemporary language classroom to enhance the proficiency of second language learners across all the macro skills. It introduces students to technology that will provide them with the basic skills to design their own materials and to develop multimedia materials and sites that can be adapted or modified for their own classroom use.
Elective Units for Master of Indigenous Languages Education
KCIL5620 Research Methods in Languages Education
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Susan Poetsch Session: Int July Classes: Block Mode Prerequisites: 18 credit points, including KCIL5613 Assessment: research project rationale and outline (20%) and research project presentation and proposal (60%) and test instrument (20%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Block Mode Associated degrees: M Indig Lang Ed.
Note: Available to students enrolled in block-mode courses only.
Conducting research in the teaching of Australian languages requires an understanding of diverse issues, including: languages education research methods, the history of research on Indigenous people and languages, locating existing records, practical techniques for obtaining and managing data, project planning, Indigenous research ethics and community consultation. It is also important for students to understand the role of research in high-quality teaching and to gain experience in a range of research methodologies and their potential for application to likely teaching situations in this field. This unit of study allows students to explore these issues and develop practical skills that will allow them to become effective researchers in Indigenous languages education. Students will be expected to directly apply their learning in this unit of study to their activities in KCIL5621 Research Project in Languages Education or KCIL5622 Learning an Indigenous Language.
KCIL5623 Language Curriculum Development
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Susan Poetsch Session: Int July Classes: Block Mode Prerequisites: 18 credit points, including KCIL5613 Assessment: situation & needs analysis (20%) and test (20%) and teaching program (40%) and assessing language competency (20%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Block Mode Associated degrees: Grad Dip Indig Lang Ed.
Note: Available to students enrolled in block-mode courses only.
Preceding any successful formal teaching or learning situation is effective programming and planning determined by curriculum parameters. Language curriculum development involves more than just the content to be taught in any given teaching situation. It involves establishing goals and outcomes often defined by external organisations; performing ongoing needs analysis of learning and teaching situations; programming and planning against external and internal factors; designing programs that best address all factors; choosing and designing resources; and determining appropriate assessment and evaluation procedures. The goal of this unit is to examine these issues against authentic situations and apply knowledge gained towards developing effective language curriculum for quality teaching in Indigenous languages education contexts and across all key learning areas.
KCIL5624 Technology and Language Learning
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: John Hobson Session: Int July Classes: Block Mode Corequisites: KCIL5623 Assessment: essay (30%) and evaluations (30%) and resources (40%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Block Mode Associated degrees: Grad Dip Indig Lang Ed.
Note: Available to students enrolled in block-mode courses only.
Learners no longer acquire knowledge by means of the written word and the pen alone. Technology and multimedia play a large role in people's lives and facilitate language use in many and diverse forms. This unit demonstrates how technology can be effectively used in the contemporary language classroom to enhance the proficiency of second language learners across all the macro skills. It introduces students to technology that will provide them with the basic skills to design their own materials and to develop multimedia materials and sites that can be adapted or modified for their own classroom use.
Capstone Units for Master of Indigenous Languages Education
KCIL5621 Research Project in Languages Education
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: John Hobson Session: Int July Classes: Block mode Corequisites: KCIL5620 Prohibitions: KCIL5622 Assessment: Research project report x 5,000 words Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Block Mode Associated degrees: M Indig Lang Ed.
Note: Available to students enrolled in block-mode courses only.
Although some Indigenous Australian languages have undergone substantial documentation and are currently being taught, many are in great need of further research and all require more investigation. This unit of study provides students with an opportunity to exercise the skills and knowledge provided in the course to generate new knowledge about particular languages and their teaching. The content and nature of tasks completed in this unit of study will vary depending on existing research and students' abilities and experience in chosen languages, and will be subject to negotiation between students and lecturer on an individual basis. However, all students will be required to base their research in their own teaching of Indigenous languages in a school, TAFE, university, language centre or similar setting.
KCIL5622 Learning an Indigenous Language
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: John Hobson Session: Int July Classes: Block Mode Prerequisites: 18 credit points, including KCIL5613 Prohibitions: KCIL5621 Assessment: critical analysis and reflective journal x 5000wd Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Block Mode Associated degrees: Grad Dip Indig Lang Ed.
Note: Available to students enrolled in block-mode courses only.
In order to teach an Indigenous language it is essential that the teacher has greater fluency than their students. This unit of study provides an opportunity for students to undertake study outside the degree program to develop their ability to speak an Australian language. Students may access courses offered by the University of Sydney, another tertiary institution, a TAFE college, school, community language centre, or similar. To obtain credit under this unit of study the external studies must be equivalent to 36 hours of face-to-face teaching and satisfy MILE staff regarding its standard and thoroughness. Students who are already fluent or cannot access an external unit in a language of their choosing should undertake KCIL5621 Research Project in Indigenous Languages as a means to enhance their skills.
Master of Indigenous Languages Education
These resolutions must be read in conjunction with applicable University By-laws, Rules and policies including (but not limited to) the University of Sydney (Coursework) Rule 2000 (the 'Coursework Rule'), the Resolutions of the Board of Studies in Indigenous Studies, the University of Sydney (Student Appeals against Academic Decisions) Rule 2006 (as amended) and the Academic Board policies on Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism.
Course resolutions
1 Course codes
| Code | Course title |
|---|---|
| XG007 | Graduate Certificate of Indigenous Languages Education |
| XF010 | Graduate Diploma of Indigenous Languages Education |
| XC033 | Master of Indigenous Languages Education |
2 Attendance pattern
0.
The attendance pattern for these courses is full time, with mixed mode including block attendance.
3 Master's type
0.
The master's degree in these resolutions is a professional master's course, as defined by the Coursework Rule.
4 Embedded courses in this sequence
(2)
Providing candidates satisfy the admission requirements for each stage, a candidate may progress to the award of any of the courses in this sequence. Only the longest award completed will be conferred.
5 Admission to candidature
(1)
Available places will be offered to qualified applicants based on merit, according to the following admissions criteria. In exceptional circumstances the Dean may admit applicants without these qualifications who, in the opinion of the faculty, have qualifications and evidence of experience and achievement sufficient to successfully undertake the award.
(3)
Admission to candidature for the Graduate Certificate of Indigenous Languages Education requires:
(a)
completion of the Diploma in Education (Aboriginal) of the University of Sydney, or an equivalent qualification; or
(4)
Admission to candidature for the Graduate Diploma of Indigenous Languages Education requires completion of the embedded Graduate Certificate of Indigenous Languages Education of the University of Sydney, or an equivalent qualification.
(b)
(i) a bachelor's degree and a graduate diploma in Education from the University of Sydney, or an equivalent qualification; and
(ii) one year of relevant professional experience in education.
6 Requirements for award
(1)
The units of study that may be taken for the courses are set out in the Graduate Certificate / Graduate Diploma / Master of Indigenous Languages Education Table of units of study.
(2)
To qualify for the award of the Graduate Certificate of Indigenous Languages Education a candidate must complete 24 credit points of core units of study, as listed in the Table.
(3)
To qualify for the award of the Graduate Diploma of Indigenous Languages Education a candidate must complete 36 credit points of units of study, including 24 credit points of core units and 12 credit points of units chosen from the list of elective units in the Table.
(4)
To qualify for the award of the Master of Indigenous Languages Education a candidate must complete 48 credit points of units of study, including 24 credit points of core units and 24 credit points of units chosen from the list of elective units in the Table.
7 Course transfer
0.
A candidate for the master's degree or graduate diploma may elect to discontinue study and graduate with a shorter award from this embedded sequence, with the approval of the Director, and provided the requirements of the shorter award have been met.
8 Transitional provisions
(1)
These resolutions apply to students who commenced their candidature after 1 January, 2014 and students who commenced their candidature prior to 1 January, 2014 who elect to proceed under these resolutions.
(2)
Candidates who commenced prior to 1 January, 2014 may complete the requirements in accordance with the resolutions in force at the time of their commencement, provided that requirements are completed by 1 January, 2019. The Faculty may specify a later date for completion or specify alternative requirements for completion of candidatures that extend beyond this time.