*2025 AGM on 15.11.25
From 6:00 to 7:30pm in Room 2.1 Jenny Florence on 247 Flinders Lane
Agenda
2025 delegations’ report. Growth statistics. Committee roles vacant. Professional development survey (curriculum, instructional, assessment, engagement and wellbeing in the Spanish language classroom), nominate delegations for ongoing initiatives (VCE Oral and written preparation)
We are bringing forward the VCE Spanish Oral exam preparation session to Friday, September 6th from 5:30pm to 8:00pm
This will be a hybrid session: Online for registrants who are in regional areas and face to face for students from metropolitan located schools. From 5:00pm to 8:00pm, a delegation of teachers will prepare a set of topic based-sample questions for Part 1 and Part 2 of the oral exam. .Analysis of the oral exam format and key language elements ∙Detailed study presentation ∙ Practical interaction with other VCE students and teachers. Year 11 (and 10) students will be put in a different group from Year 12 students to customised practice for the external exam
WANTED: Volunteeer teachers to contribute with practice.
Language immersion opportunities for F-10 students: Hablemos español Immersion day on Saturday, September 14th from 9am to 12pm
Multi-age language immersion session: fete-like event hosted by a local School where students can apply four macro language skills. VATS will contribute with the curriculum-based activities and rotational set of age appropriate workshops delivered in Spanish by qualified Spanish language teachers.
Participants will analyse the reflection, role of language and language variation and change sub-strands through cultural activities with a multinational perspective . This aims at informing teachers to be multicultural ambassadors in their classroom and apply this global knowledge and understanding to create and select resources that can be used to implement a Spanish language program through integrated content.
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Developing and embedding literacy strategies in the languages classroom on Demand August 17th
The content of this hybrid session will be available on Demand from the stated date for 3.5 hours
Theoretical component: Connections between conventions (Grammar, spelling/Phonological awareness and punctuation), text structure and organisation, creating texts substrands of the English and the systems of language substrand from Spanish will be established to identify and link literacy-driven components of both curriculum
'Casa Abierta' at Froebel Carlton, 13 April, 10amAt this event, they will show interested families around at their centre, explain their educational program for children aged 6 months to 5 years and how the Spanish language is embedded in their daily routines at our Early Learning Centre.
Accommodation subsidy available for regional school teachers.
Subsidy available - Applications close on Sun 26.03.2023
7-10 April - Easter holiday
*There are music, dance and cooking workshops run by the event organisers.
*A lot of interactions are programmed by organisers on the day.
*Families, partners, children and pets are welcome.
*Each participant will need to organise their own camping facility, food and extras.
*Please ensure you keep on track with the teaching meetings while enjoying the activities organised by Abancay camp.
*Entry fee will be subsidised for all teachers and their families.
****Teachers from regions areas can apply for further subsidy by email on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Please state your school name.
Distance from your school to Melbourne CBD (notice the camping site has a different location) for reference of regional requirement.
List what extra support you required.
Teaching component of the event
While enjoying yourself together with your family to the maximum, please be aware that your attendance and subsidy is conditional to attending the teaching component of this cultural immersion event. Please, separate the teaching meeting times around your general program to be provided by the Abancay camp organisers.
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“Hablamos espanol”.Big kudos to Evelyn Soto, Andrea Gomez, Ana Manonellas, Grace Salinas, Carlos Franco and Paola Pinzone who have been making a mammoth effort to release support resources. As we did all around the many versions of online learning, we are currently working on easy-to adapt specific unit and lesson planners. In the meantime, accessible at this LINK are some unit samples including:
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A unit sample for foundation focusing on the AS-related theme "My house and my school" for foundation students who may have already done my house in Term 3. This 0-F Unit planner Term 4 2021 is still under construction to be updated/released on Wednesday.
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An entire unit of work aligned with the 3-4 AS with detailed lessons.
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A multi-grade F-6 unit planner with rubrics
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An additional multi-grade F-6 unit planner with suggested activities for the learning intentions covering the first 7/10 lessons
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Slides samples to deliver on the spot and/or to use as templates to format your own online lessons
Before diving into the process we need to familiarise ourselves with Depth of Knowledge Wheel (picture. Get familiar with DOK levels and the verbs)
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Protocol-based process to unpack standards to develop Learning Progressions and align assessment (13 minute video)
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Check standard Deconstruction with a sample to notice how a CLP got established for level 9-10 AS 1-3 (27 minute video)
”Language variation and intercultural knowledge"
The ”Language variation and intercultural knowledge" session aims at unpacking the curriculum components required to be implemented within your language program. In alignment with the reflection, language variation and change and role of language and culture sub-strands of the Victorian Curriculum, this event also provides participants with an opportunity to explore cultural elements from various countries where Spanish is spoken. We will examine linguistic components through the identification of themes and topics connected with cultural artefacts and multinational manifestations of the Arts, music, dance, cooking and traditions to guarantee a viable curriculum that incorporates artefacts and intercultural knowledge and understanding.
Registrations will open by the end of week 2 Term 3
*There is a possibility of running an additional language immersion activity for teachers as an extension of the 'language variation and intercultural knowledge' category event. A co-designed program may have a combined focus slightly different for the customary VATS language maintenance and immersion activity. Stay tune for further details.
"Comprehensible mentor texts"
Based on cognitive development and the teaching comprehensible input approach, there is a series of resources on the make to be release during our annual congress on October 16 & 17. If you are interested in taking part of this initiative and wish to trial the resources, send us an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
You can find a sample here 'Partes de la cara' Grade 2 for the F-2 band.
VATS-LAP - Language Assistantship and mentoring program
New and experienced teachers can benefit of the LAP by hosting and showing eagerness to share expertise with a trainee teacher or VIT applicant. A number of dedicated and hungry to learn colleagues has been rolling their sleeves supporting teachers and learning from the implementation of their high performing programs. First round has been done by invitation, Stay tune for round 2.
*Notice that this initiative is slightly different in lengths and commitments from the DET language assistantship program.
*VATS-LAP is a volunteer like program whereas the DET language assistantship is a contract-based program.
*DET is supporting schools in 2021 and 2022 to recruit their own language assistants. It is a great opportunity for teachers and students to benefit from the presence and collaboration of assistants from as many as possible Spanish speaking countries.
"Language immersion day for students: iHablamos español!"
The "Language immersion day for students" will be as usual held in Term 4. Let us know should you have any amazing activities you would like to deliver on the day.
VCE Preparation sessions
VCE Spanish Oral E.O.Y. Exams Preparation session. Friday, 10 September 5pm to 8pm. Registrations here.
VCE Spanish Written E.O.Y. Exam preparation session. Friday, 15 October from 5pm to 8pm. Registrations here.
