Asia Literacy – imperatives for the Australian Classroom All teachers supporting languages and Asia literacy

The moral imperative….

Prime Minister Julia Gillard said “Asia has never been of greater global significance and as global economic and strategic weight shifts from west to east, global institutional frameworks reflect this in turn. It is impossible to conceive of a future Australian education system that does not take the study of Asia seriously.” Speech to AsiaLink and Asia Society Lunch, Melbourne 28 September 2011 and 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.”

Australian Curriculum General Capability – Intercultural Understanding Cross curriculum priority – Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia Organising ideas: Asia and its diversity Achievements and contributions of the peoples of Asia Asia-Australia engagement

Asia and its diversity Achievements and contributions of the peoples of Asia Asia-Australia engagement

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

Asia Skills ‘Taster’

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??

Countries of Asia?

What is an Asia-literate student? Asia and its diversity OI.1 The peoples and countries of Asia are diverse in ethnic background, traditions, cultures, belief systems and religions. OI.2 Interactions between diverse environments and human activity shape the countries of Asia and its region and have influence globally.

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

What is an Asia-literate student? Asia and its diversity Achievements and contributions of the peoples of Asia OI.3 The achievements of the peoples and countries of Asia have contributed and continue to contribute to world history and human endeavour, and their participation is fundamental to the well being and progress of the world. OI.4 The arts and literature of Asia have significant influence on the aesthetic and creative pursuits of people and societies in Australia, the region and globally.

What do you see??

Culture as layers

What’s the news across the nation…. #India_Newsfeeds #Japanese_newsfeeds #Indonesia_Newsfeeds #China_news Asian Newspapers online asian-newspapers.htm asian-newspapers.htm

What is an Asia-literate student? Asia and its diversity Achievements and contributions of the peoples of Asia Asia Australia engagement OI.5For Australians to be good regional and global citizens we need to understand, learn from, and engage and communicate with our Asian neighbours. OI.6Australia is located in the Asia region and our histories from ancient times to the present are linked. OI.7 Australians have played and are playing important roles in major events and developments in the Asia region. OI.8 Australians of Asian heritage have influenced Australia’s history and continue to influence its dynamic culture and society.

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.

Netvibes

Netvibes – Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Indonesia….

gokorea/index1.html

sign_up.html com/NEWSLETTER

Contact: Lindy Stirling