Asia Literacy for every young Australian The implementation imperative

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Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for
Young Australians (MCEETYA 2008)

• Major changes in the world
• rapid global integration and international
  mobility
• environmental, social and economic pressures
  extend beyond national borders requiring
  countries to work together in new ways

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In the flat world, where everything is
interconnected, the ability to communicate
effectively across cultures will be essential to
individual and national success.

• Report Asia Society
• New York, June 2007

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Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for
Young Australians
India, China and other Asian nations are growing
and their influence on the world is increasing.
Australians need to become Asia literate,
engaging and building stronger relationships with
Asia

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• Asia literacy is foundational and deep
  knowledge, skills and understandings about the
  histories, geographies, societies, cultures,
  literatures and languages of the diverse
  countries that make up our region.

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Indonesians Australians main fear?
Indon No1 worry Separatists. (And Aussie
meddling) Aussie No1 worry Climate. (Not
enough Indons care).
Source Roy Morgan Research, August 2008
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PricewaterhouseCoopers Melbourne Institute
Asialink Index
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Direction of Australia's merchandise exports, 1983
Direction of Australia's merchandise exports, 2008
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Which reason most resonated with you as a
principal and why?
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What do you think would most resonate with
your teaching staff? your students parents?

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Whats the most compelling reason overall?

• Global citizens and good neighbours?
• Harmonious Australia?
• Creative Australia?
• Prosperous Australia?

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• To achieve Asia literacy requires the
  systematic integration of Asia-focused core
  content in History, English, Science, Maths,
  Geography and The Arts for every student and
  substantially increasing the number of young
  Australians fluent in an Asian language.

The revolution whats required to achieve this?
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Young Australians should be able to Understand
the diversity of Asia and its global
importance Develop informed attitudes and values
about Asian peoples, events, issues and
lifestyles Know about contemporary and
traditional Asia That they should recognize the
connections between Australia and Asia, and Be
able to communicate through language and
intercultural understandings. National Statement
for Engaging Young Australians with Asia in
Australian Schools.
Students from a small rural school visit a
Buddhist temple as part of program to broaden
their world view
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What do you see are the key implications of the
call for Asia literacy for your school?

• Take a few moments to write down your thoughts
• Share your responses with the person next to you.

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How many of you talked about implications for

• curriculum?
• teacher professional learning?
• your own professional learning?
• curriculum resources?
• Asian languages?
• your school community?
• funding?
• leading change?

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Year 12 English

• Common to all states is that where texts with an
  Asia focus are listed, they are most often older
  established texts like Graham Greens The Quiet
  American or Pearl Bucks The Good Earth or relate
  to war and conflict

ACER study on the proportion of Year 12 students
studying about Asia in English, History,
Geography, International Studies, Politics and
Art.
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Year 12 Modern History

• Typically, Modern History includes many
  opportunities for an Asian focus however most
  students dont choose them.
• In one state
• 2 chose China
• 4 chose India, Japan, Indonesia and Australia
  combined
• 65 chose Germany
• 19 Russia/Soviet Union
• ACER study on the proportion of Year 12 students
  studying about Asia in English, History,
  Geography, International Studies, Politics and
  Art.

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Queensland

• Ancient History mandatory that one inquiry topic
  must focus on Greece or Rome some study of
  Australian content is encouraged. No mandatory
  Asian focus.
• English Literature no specific or mandatory
  Asian content. S Rushdie The Satanic Verses, Ruth
  Prawer Jhabvala, Heat and Dust, Jung Chang Wild
  Swans and 3 post colonial writers included in
  text lists.
• Geography inclusion of a range of geographical
  contexts including Asia Pacific is mandatory.

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Importance of Speaking a Foreign Language for
your Future Working Life
Q How important do you think it is to speak a
foreign language for your future working life?
Not Important
Important
Total
USA
UK
Germany
Czech Republic
Spain
Brazil
Saudi Arabia
China
India
Nigeria
Base All respondents (4,170) October 2007
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• 84,000 students studying Chinese K-10
• reduced to 4700 students by Year 12
• 94 of Yr 12 students Chinese first language
  speakers
• 240 Yr 12 students learning Chinese who are not
  of Chinese background

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Chinese

• Why the drop out?
• competition with background speakers
• hard
• teacher quality training
• teacher conditions retention
• too little time in the classroom
• pedagogies
• role models champions
• attitudes

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• Clip from web page

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Achieving Asia literacy leading change in
schools

• Read the case study
• Share with your partner
• which school initiatives appeal to you most?
• how feasible are they for your school?

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Strategic Leadership Leading 21st Century
Schools
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Leading Change Tool Kit

• Indicators of an Asia literate school
• Audit tools
• Parent resources
• Curriculum resources
• 2010 program
• New on-line discussion group
• 2009 participant network
• Principals Australia L5 free on-line module

www.asiaeducation.edu.au
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National Asian Languages and Studies in
Australian Schools Program (NALSSP)62.4
million over three years 2009 - 2011

• Flexible delivery enabling schools
  strengthening strategic partnerships
• Increasing teacher supply and support
• Stimulating student demand

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www.deewr.gov.au/schooling/nalssp
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www.asiaeducation.edu.auw
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www.asiaeducation.edu.au
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Asia Scope and Sequence for English, Asia
Education Foundation, 2005
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English Access Asia
resources
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Teacher Professional Learning
Julie Morgan visits Xiehe Bilingual School in
Shanghai, AEF Study Tour to China
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Endeavour Language Teacher Fellowships
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• 91 of the parents surveyed believed that an
  ability to communicate across cultures was an
  important skill for all Australians.

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It is impossible to conceive of a future
Australian education system that does not take
the study of Asia seriously. The Hon Julia
Gillard MPDeputy Prime MinisterMay 2008 vital
importance of equipping
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Year 12 English student draws on contemporary
politics and traditional Indonesian culture
Year 10 students learn Balinese dance
Primary student participates in ICT Teddy Bear
exchange with school in Pakistan.
Year 6 student learns Taiko drumming in Music
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• The rise of the West transformed the world. The
  rise of Asia will bring about an equally
  significant transformation. The New
  Hemisphere, The Irresistible Shift of Global
  Power to the East, Kishore Mahbubani, 2008