Planning, programming and assessing languages 11-12
Resources to support you with implementation of the languages syllabuses in Years 11 and 12.
The study of a language in Stage 6 enables students to develop skills in the areas of communication, intercultural understanding, literacy, cognitive and social development and general knowledge. It also helps to deepen students' understanding and appreciation of the diverse attitudes within the wider Australian community and beyond.
Language study in Stage 6
In Stage 6, there are 34 languages offered.
There are up to 5 courses of study available in languages at the Stage 6 level (not all languages have all 5 courses available):
- Beginners
- Continuers
- Extension
- [Language] in Context
- [Language] and Literature.
Languages Stage 6 (NESA) gives you information about:
- Stage 6 languages syllabuses
- student eligibility for each course
Schools with eligible students can develop a School Developed Board Endorsed Course for a Stage 6 Life Skills course in any language.
Applications for these courses are submitted to NESA via Schools Online.
Objectives, outcomes and modules are pre-filled in the application form. Schools determine the topics they will deliver (in relation to the modules provided) and the content that will be taught in each topic (suggested content is provided in supporting documentation attached to the application form).
The objectives and outcomes within the application are based on the Stage 6 Beginners Languages courses.
Once endorsed, the course can be delivered by the school and count as 2 units towards a student’s pattern of study.
For more details, including timelines for applications, refer to NESA.
Other options for language study in Stage 6
If a particular language course is not available at their school, students can access language courses via Secondary College of Languages, if eligible, or via distance education, including NSW School of Languages.
Secondary College of Languages offers students in Years 7-12 from government and non-government high schools the opportunity to study their background language if it is not available for study in their weekday school.
The school operates on Saturdays during the school term in 14 centres located in Sydney, Wollongong and Newcastle.
If a language is not available for study at a student's home school, students in Years 9-12 enrolled at either a government or non-government high school can study a language via distance mode learning through a specialist distance education school.
The department has 5 distance education schools located across NSW which offer students in Years 9-12, subject to quota restrictions, the opportunity to study a language as a single subject if it is not available to study at their registered school.
Distance education schools providing single subject language provision:
- Camden Haven High School Distance Education (Port Macquarie)
- Dubbo School of Distance Education (Dubbo)
- Finigan School of Distance Education (Queanbeyan)
- NSW School of Languages (Petersham)
- Southern Cross School of Distance Education (Ballina).
Language specific support
Select a course name to find resources such as scope and sequences, units and assessment tasks, with marking guidelines.
Arabic
Chinese
French
German
Indonesian
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Latin
Modern Greek
Spanish
Assessment in Stage 6
Assessment in Stage 6 (NESA) contains Information on school-based assessment requirements, principles of assessment, assessment in practice and awarding grades.
Stage 6 Continuers – answering listening and reading questions
In Stage 6 [Language] Continuers courses for modern languages, students are required to answer different types of listening and reading questions, depending on the outcome(s) being assessed. This document explores a range of question keywords used in Stage 6 [Language] Continuers courses, a range of questions that address outcomes 3.1-3.6. and a range of sample answers to demonstrate ways to effectively answer these questions.
Stage 6 Continuers – answering listening and reading questions (DOCX 394 KB)
Developing a notice of assessment
A notice of assessment is the formal written advice you provide to your students about the assessment requirements of each assessment of learning task for their language course.
We have developed a guide for teachers of Stage 6 languages (Stage 6 languages – developing a notice of assessment (DOCX 2.6 MB)) providing information on the thinking, intentions and design that go into a notice of assessment. The guide:
- highlights the importance of backward mapping
- outlines suggested considerations which can impact planning, programming and assessment
- includes 3 sample notices of assessment, which include NESA’s school-based requirements.
Stage 6 school-based assessment in languages e-learning
This e-learning guides you through approaches to setting non-HSC-style tasks. The course is interim accredited for 3 hours of professional learning.
Please contact coreena.allen@det.nsw.edu.au if you would like to enrol in the course.
HSC monitoring
To learn about HSC monitoring, please visit Stage 6.
HSC hub
The HSC hub for Languages provides advice documents for each of the course levels.
Professional teacher associations, foreign government agencies and universities have provided support for many language courses.
We have language-specific support available here – access the language and course level from the left-hand menu to find:
- practice speaking questions for most Beginners and Continuers courses
- sample listening and reading activities for most Beginners and Continuers courses.