Asia Literacy – imperatives for the Australian Classroom Pre-service teachers Melbourne University

The moral imperative….

I am future’s child… I am future’s child. I am 16 years old. I will be alive and well in My children will see the 22nd century. Can you even imagine what the world will be like for them? Wherever I live and work I will certainly be mixing in a multi national, multi cultural and multi faith setting; white people may be the ethnic minority. Are you confident you can design a curriculum that will equip me to live in my world? I am sixteen years old and I am sitting in one of your classrooms today.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard said “It is impossible to conceive of a future Australian education system that does not take the study of Asia seriously.” Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd wants: “Australia to become the most Asia- literate country in the Western world.” Speech to Asia Society 11th Annual Dinner, 6 April 2008, New York The Hon Julia Gillard MP, Speech, AEF National Forum, Adelaide 19 May 2008

“India, China and other Asian nations are growing and their influence is increasing. Australians need to become ‘Asia literate’, engaging and building strong relationships with Asia.” Goal 2: All young Australians become successful learners, confident and creative individuals, and active and informed citizens “active and informed citizens…are able to relate and communicate across cultures, especially in relation to cultures and countries of the Asia-Pacific.”

Global and regionally- engaged Asia-literate young Australians

Physical, Personal and Social Learning Discipline-based Learning Interdisciplinary Learning What are the Victorian Essential Learnings on Asia?

Essential learnings on Asia Humanities - History Understanding of cultural groups in Australia Investigations of Asia Pacific Region Investigate Ancient (China) and Medieval societies (Asia or Islamic society) Consider Australia ’ s social, political and cultural structures and traditions Investigate events leading to multiculturalism Learn about global interconnections Impact of key events in twentieth and twenty first century Consider key leaders Humanities - Geography Investigate characteristics of Asia and the Pacific Region Investigate environmental issues such as forest use and global warming Interaction of human activities with natural environment and study issues such as global warming, climate change, land degradation and desertification, and air and water pollution. Impact of globalisation Humanities - Economics Develop understandings of how Australian economy is managed in international context Examine role of globalisation in influencing Australia ’ s standard of living

Essential learnings on Asia The Arts Discuss artists from different cultural contexts Work as an ensemble to explore cultural diversity Learn and present dance sequences from different cultures English Many opportunities exist to integrate studies of Asia perspectives across the English Domain. This can be achieved through selecting a range of culturally diverse texts. Civics and Citizenship Consider experiences of diverse cultural groups Consider values important in a multicultural society Compare legal processes to those of other cultures Research global issues Investigate concept of human rights Explore Australia ’ s multicultural society – consider refugee problem

So what is an Asia-literate young Australian?? How Asia-literate are YOU??

Fast facts of Asia…. ?% of the world’s population ?% of the earth’s land Fastest growing economies? Some religions practiced in Asia? 2 most populous nations? World’s most widely spoken first language? Australia’s largest trading partner? World’s largest democracy? Where in Asia can snow be found? 60% 30% China and India Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Shintoism China and India Mandarin China India Mongolia, China, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Japan, Korea, Pakistan

Countries of Asia?

What is an Asia-literate student? Understand ‘Asia’ Explain ‘Asia’ – geography, history, culture, economy Understand diversity – environments, cultures, beliefs, societies Understand importance of economic, strategic, cultural links with world and Australia.

What do you see??

Understand ‘Asia’ Developed informed attitudes and values toward Asian people, events, lifestyles, ideas Of plurality, interdependence Critically analyse stereotyped views of Asia What is an Asia-literate student?

Inspirations Where do these images come from? What period of time do they come from?

Where did it come from? Write down the origin of each invention on your sheet.

Understand ‘Asia’ Developed informed attitudes and values Know about contemporary and traditional Asia Cultures, societies, beliefs Contributions of Asia to human endeavour Know about events and issues to explain the history and added to world development. What is an Asia-literate student?

What’s the news across the nation….

Understand ‘Asia’ Developed informed attitudes and values Know about contemporary and traditional Asia Connect Asia to Australia Current trends common to Australia, Asia, the world Increasing cultural diversity has added to Australian society and culture Historical and current Australia-Asia engagement, co- operation tensions and friendship What is an Asia-literate student?

Culture as layers

Culture is like an apple The Skin – Observed: Language, Food, Architecture, Fashion, Art The Flesh – Norms & Values: Beliefs, attitudes and conventions The Core – Basic Assumptions: Unquestioned behaviour - tradition

Iceberg of culture

Layers, Iceberg and Apples Select the model you resonate with most. Discuss what resonates and why. Human Graph

Understand ‘Asia’ Developed informed attitudes and values Know about contemporary and traditional Asia Connect Asia to Australia Communicate Develop intercultural skills and understandings to engage in diverse cultures at home and abroad Communicate in one or more Asian languages What is an Asia-literate student?

Features of an Asia-literate school 4 An Asia Literate school can be summarised as: - The school community acknowledges the place of the Studies of Asia and Australia (SOAA) in the school documents and has a policy of incorporating these studies across learning areas in accordance with the National Statement on Engaging Young Australians with the Studies of Asia in Australian schools. POLICY *Audit curriculum, resources and staff to identify baseline and identify areas for improvement. *School action plan being developed by an interested group of educators using the National Statement as a guide. *There is a school action plan to implement the SOAA as set out in the national statement and it is being implemented. CURRICULUM SOAA is delivered in small, occasional unrelated tasks. SOAA occur in some learning areas presented through various topics. SOAA are sequential and inter-related with multiple entry points for students. The curriculum has some Asian content or stand-alone Asian studies. SOAA is found in several learning areas and year levels. The curriculum reflects the integrated scope & sequence of SOAA across the learning areas and the year levels. IMPLEMENTATION Some teachers working in an isolated approach in some learning areas or across the curriculum. Some teachers working together in learning areas or year levels across the curriculum or year levels. There is a team commitment to a whole school, across the curriculum approach to the SOAA. STUDENT OUTCOMES Student learning is typically around food, flags, festivals and folktales of Asia. Student learning develops positive values, attitudes and skills enabling them to develop intercultural understandings of and about Asia. Student learning involves deep and rich learning tasks and intercultural understandings.

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Contact: Lindy Stirling