Sydney Institute of Community Language Education

Sydney Institute of Community Languages Education (SICLE) provides a number of NESA-accredited professional learning programs for teachers in NSW government-funded Community Languages Schools. Each of the programs cater for a different level of experience within the community language school hierarchy. SICLE also delivers quality teaching and language specific workshops and hosts a repository of shared teaching resources for community language teaching and learning.

Community languages teaching program

It is important for community language teachers to be trained whether they are paid or voluntary. The Community languages teaching program, a course delivered by SICLE, helps participants become more effective classroom teachers. It covers practical aspects such as lesson planning, teaching activities and classroom management. Participants observe classes in primary schools. The program also provides an introduction to:

The program also provides an introduction to:

• the mechanisms by which children learn
• recent approaches to education
• teaching approaches suited to students of different ages and abilities
• how to engage students who have special needs.

The assignments are practical and involve preparing resources and classroom activities. Programs are offered in various venues around Sydney and Wollongong, as well as via mixed mode/online delivery.

We subsidise this program so your teachers can complete the course. It runs over one semester every year.

Courses and workshops for your school

Program education officers offer a range of education and training activities either online or at your community language school or at an outside venue, together with other community languages schools.

Workshop topics include:

• managing the classroom
• improving spoken language
• planning lessons
• using language syllabuses
• designing a unit of work
• assessing and reporting student achievement
• scope, sequence and programming
• developing relationships with your host school
• teaching mixed ages and abilities improving students' reading and writing
• using and teaching text types
• using technology for lesson preparation.

Contact your Program education officer for more information