Aboriginal Languages Stage 6 Syllabus (2015)

Aboriginal languages are the first languages of New South Wales. Aboriginal Elders and communities are the custodians and caretakers of these languages and of the cultures and Country to which they are connected. This course encourages all students to develop a strong sense of identity and belonging through a deep appreciation of language, culture, identity and Country, as future custodians, caretakers and advocates of Aboriginal languages.

Students learn about a range of approaches to maintain and revive Aboriginal languages and cultures, and explore innovative resources. Study of this course could lead to an increased use of Aboriginal languages in the home and community as well as provide a foundation for further education and/or career pathways.

This course allows schools to develop programs that respond to student and community needs and interests. The modules studied are dependent upon the course structure.

There are 2 core modules:

• Core Module A: Language of Country
• Core Module B: Building local Aboriginal language capacity (240-hour course only)

Students may also study one or more of the following elective modules:

1. Reclamation, Revival and Maintenance of Aboriginal Languages in Australia
2. Family and Kinship Connections
3. Country, Waterways and Sky
4. Stories and Storytelling
5. Language and Performance: Song and Dance
6. Speeches and Speechmaking
7. Protocols and Language
8. Comparative Aboriginal Languages Study within Australia
9. International Experiences in Indigenous Languages Maintenance and Revival
10. Aboriginal Languages and Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
11. School-developed module

Content Endorsed Course

Course number(s):

• 35240 Aboriginal Languages (1 unit – Preliminary)
• 35241 Aboriginal Languages (2 units – Preliminary)
• 35242 Aboriginal Languages (1 unit – HSC)
• 35243 Aboriginal Languages (2 units – HSC)

Prerequisites: Nil

Corequisites: Nil

Eligibility: Nil

Study via self-tuition: No

Exclusions: Nil

Students may undertake either 1 unit or 2 units of study in Aboriginal Languages in Stage 6. Courses are structured in the following ways:

• 1 unit 60-hour course (1 year – Preliminary or HSC)
• 1 unit 120-hour course (2 years – Preliminary and HSC)
• 2 unit 120-hour course (1 year – Preliminary or HSC)
• 2 unit 240-hour course (2 years – Preliminary and HSC)

After completing Core Module A, schools select from the 11 elective modules. Core Module B will be completed within a 240-hour course, directly after 120 hours of study.

Each core module should be a minimum of 30 indicative hours, and elective modules between 15 and 30 indicative hours.

Across a course, ONE or TWO school-developed modules may be studied, comprising no more than 25 percent of the total course time.

The table below explains the requirements for each course.

The knowledge and skills developed in this course can be applied across a range of career pathways.

Industries related to this course include, but are not limited to, the following outlined on the Your Career website:

• Arts and Recreation Services
• Education and Training
• Health Care and Social Assistance
• Information Media and Telecommunications
• Public Administration and Safety

The typical performance in this band:

• demonstrates extensive knowledge and understanding of content
• displays comprehensive understanding of content, processes, concepts
• critically analyses, synthesises and interprets information
• demonstrates high-level competence in particular skills, processes
• demonstrates high-level skills in critical judgement, reasoning, prediction, inference, evaluation, problem solving, interpretation
• demonstrates high-level skills in the use of appropriate technologies
• demonstrates outstanding performance and technique
• effectively communicates in a coherent, creative, succinct, logical, sophisticated manner with precision, originality or flair using terminology extensively and appropriately.

The typical performance in this band:

• demonstrates thorough knowledge and understanding of content
• displays detailed understanding of content, processes, concepts
• analyses, synthesises and interprets information
• demonstrates competence in particular skills, processes
• demonstrates competent skills in critical judgement, reasoning, prediction, inference, evaluation, problem solving, interpretation
• demonstrates competent skills in the use of appropriate technologies
• demonstrates accomplished performance and technique
• competently communicates in a coherent, creative, succinct, logical, sophisticated manner with control or originality using appropriate terminology.

The typical performance in this band:

• demonstrates sound knowledge and understanding of content
• displays clear understanding of content, processes, concepts
• analyses and interprets information
• demonstrates ability in particular skills, processes
• demonstrates skills in critical judgement, reasoning, prediction, inference, evaluation, problem solving, interpretation
• demonstrates skills in the use of appropriate technologies
• demonstrates sound performance and technique
• communicates in a creative, succinct, logical, manner with coherence, control or originality using appropriate terminology.

The typical performance in this band:

• demonstrates basic knowledge and understanding of content
• displays basic understanding of content, processes, concepts
• interprets information
• demonstrates basic ability in particular skills, processes
• demonstrates basic skills in judgement, reasoning, prediction, problem solving, interpretation
• demonstrates basic skills in the use of appropriate technologies
• demonstrates basic performance and technique
• communicates with adequate control or originality using some appropriate terminology.

The typical performance in this band:

• demonstrates elementary knowledge and understanding of content
• displays simple understanding of content, processes, concepts
• interprets information
• demonstrates elementary ability in particular skills, processes
• demonstrates elementary skills in argument and problem solving
• demonstrates elementary skills in the use of appropriate technologies
• demonstrates elementary performance and technique
• demonstrates limited communication abilities.

Performance reported in this band indicates that the minimum standard expected was not demonstrated.