Title
Evaluating and developing current curriculum design for Persian heritage learners in Persian community schools in Sydney, Australia
By Mojgan Mokhatebi Ardakani & Dr. Robyn Moloney1This study will evaluate and develop current curricula used in different Persian community schools running in Sydney, Australia in primary level (K-5).
Primary school Persian heritage learnerThe most important group of learners in terms of their ageThey have been neglected in community language studies
The main purpose of this study To examine diverse factors associated with improving the quality of language teaching and learning of heritage learners of Persian to formulate theory, to develop classroom activities
to create enlightened programs for students who bring knowledge of Persian language as their home language into the classroom.
2Persian heritage learners will be asked about their:demographic information
home-language use
previous language learning experience
motivation and attitudes toward language learning
life experiences age and the place that they have started Persian language learning
needs and concerns
Goal
proficiency levels
Data collected will be used in crafting a purposeful study to examine diverse factors associated with improving the quality of Persian language teaching and learning among Persian heritage learners.
A brief history of community languages program in Australia
Australian context : Community language
American context : Heritage language
Baldauf (2005) : community language developed and funded after World war II
Clyne (1991) : Australian primary schools started to teach languages from early 1973
Early 1980s: community language teaching within regular schools through insertion classesAfter- hours programs According to NSW community languages program website, Languages programs in NSW are delivered through:
School programs provided in government and non-government primary and secondary schools
The Open High School and Distance Education centers
The outside tutor system Programs conducted outside of school hours by the Saturday School of Community Languages
Saturday School of Community Languages
The Community Languages Schools Program
The community languages school programoutside of mainstream school hours Heritage language learnersNon-heritage language learnersNon-for-profit organizationGovernment provides free use of mainstream school facilities outside of school hours to these schoolsper capita funding of $60 per annum
Saturday schools of community languages : year 11/12 (HSC)(Oguro & Moloney, 2009)
Lack of support from Community, Family, Government
Consequences for heritage learners loss of ancestral languageweaker connections with their community and culture and even their immediate family loss of self-esteem.
Consequences for society and government (Christian, 2008, p.257)loss of these heritage language learnerslack of potential sources of language professionals needed for trade, diplomacy, security and defence
Regarding the inevitability role of families and government and their support in heritage language learning, this study also seeks to promote their support and involvement in heritage language learning and bilingualism in primary school as it is the foundation for language learning throughout the rest of learners life.
Why is family motivation, expectation and support important in Community language learning?Christian (2008)Lynch (2008) refers to Conference (UCLA, 2001)unless the heritage language community is motivated and supportive of programs, these programs are doomed to failure.Hornberger (2005)Zhang (1997)A list Parents expectations
The role of Australian government in supporting community language programs
Diaz (1997) : role of government support is a matter of great urgency.Recommendation: full recognition of young childrens bilingual and biliteracy development during the first years of school Lynch (2008)
Community support and government funding in formal program evaluationa better understanding by government as to how such schools manage to survive under so many constraints and, while giving out grants, have more reasonable expectations on them
Need AnalysisLynch (2008) different program evaluation audiences, leads to a discussion of needs analysis as the traditional basis for establishing and evaluating language program objectives. audiences such as Persian heritage learners, their family, their community and Australian government, their needs analysis as a basis for evaluating and developing language program objectives.
Need Analysis concept1. The Council of Europe distinguished between objective needs and subjective needs (Richterich, 1975; Richterich & Chancerel,1980; Richterich, 1983)2. Berwick (1989)Perceived needs and felt/expressed needsvarious stakeholders in the program design and planning stage3.Brindley (1989)Teacher/expert- defined needs and learner-defined need
Why are primary school learners the focus of this study?Au(2008)Childhood as special status in language acquisitionchildhood language memory can remain accessible through adulthood. For example, Penfield (1959)Diaz (1997)Sirens (1991) research on language maintenance and shift in early childhood that shows the crucial role of day care and school settings lack of research into early childhood language maintenance and shift in AustraliaChristian (2008)the elementary and secondary school years as foundation of language proficiency and public/private school programs can incorporate that goal into their curriculaLo Bianco (1986)learning in the mother tongue from the beginning of school for infants as greater time exposure to the language than most second language learners are likely to enjoy.Clyne(1991)an understanding of other languages and cultures from the early years of primary school
An introduction to Iranian community in Sydney
2006 census: 22 550 (Australia) 11 940 (Sydney)
1980s , 1990s
To studyAs refugees
7.6% 0-14
66.7% Iran-bornA brief description of four Persian community schools in Sydney pilot study, four school principals were interviewed
School #1Under supervision of DET in IranUses the same curriculum and assessment 9 AM-1 PM
Iranian students, Afghan students
Students who are in Sydney for a short period of time and those who want to come back to Iran
Teacher qualification
The emphasis is on reading and writing
School # 2
School follows their curriculum, flexible at the same time
Dual language program, material is written by school principal
The focus is on Farsi and Mathematics
20 students in primary school
Student placement based on their level of proficiency not their age
Emphasis on reading and writing Students from Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Tajikistan
Experience of learning Persian language in Iran and its impact
Australia-born learners as slow learners
Lack of Parents involvement in childs learning process
School number # 3
78 students in 2009 (including HSC learners)
4-18 years old (40% male, 60% female)
Most of them are born in Iran
Their own curriculum, Farsi and Mathematics
Geography and history are taught through showing documentaries
CDs and non-Persian learners material provided from Iran
Persian songs and movies as teaching material
Debate classes, emphasis on reading and writing, no attention to listening
Teacher qualification
Lack of relationship between parents and school
Time devoted to homework during the week
School #4
60 learners in 2009, female more than male (5-15), Australia-born
Kindergarten, year 1 (two years), beginner, intermediate, HSC, adultLearners started by speaking at home, then reading and writing at schoolLearners who had schooling in Iran are more capable in understanding abstract meaningsExtracurricular programs such as book-reading competition, theatre, choir and poster-makingSearching internet to do homework, dictation is emphasizedParents lack of time to involve in child learning
Teachers qualification
Parents as teachers
Issues and concernsTime constraints for learning Persian language in Persian community schoolsLack of parents involvement and support in school activities
Years of schooling in Iran and its effect on learners perception and understanding of abstract meaning.
Place of birth as a factor in language proficiency in early years of schooling and its impact on the pace of learning
Shortness of time devoted by students in doing their homework
Kids lack of interest and resistance in communicating in Persian language in Persian community schools during class and in recess time
Lack of attention to listening skill and resources for developing this ability and focusing on reading and writing
Lack of standard curriculum among these schools
The aim of this ongoing research:
An ethnographic approach: interview and observationSurvey questionaire
To examine the possibility of designing a model for a standard curriculum and To provide new resources respectively in order to improve the quality of Persian Language learning among Persian heritage learners.
A glimmer of hope in promoting Persian language learning among Persian heritage learners lies in the development of a curriculum which satisfies all various stakeholders.ReferencesAu, T. K. (2008). Salvaging Heritage Languages. In D.M. Brinton, O. Kagan & S. Baucks (Eds). Heritage Language Education: A New Field Emerging (pp. 337-351). New York: Routledge.
Baldauf, R.B. (2005). Coordinating Government and Community Support for Community Language Teaching in Australia: Overview with Special Attention to New South Wales. International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, 8(2), 132-144.
Christian, D. (2008). School-based programs for Heritage Language Learners: Two-Way Immersion. In D.M. Brinton, O. Kagan & S. Baucks (Eds). Heritage Language Education: A New Field Emerging (pp. 257-269). New York: Routledge.
Clyne, M. (1991). Community Languages: The Australian Experience. Cambridge:Cambridge University Press.Community Information Summary: Iran-born (2006). Retrieved at October, 2009 from: http://www.immi.gov.au/media/publications/statistics/comm-summ/_pdf/iran.pdf
Diaz, C.J. (1997). Bilingualism, Biliteracy and Beyond. In C.J. Diaz (Ed.), Bilingulism: Building Blocks For Biliteracy (pp. 1-20). Australia: Language.
Hornberger, N.H. (2005). Heritage/Community Language Education: US and Australian Perspectives. International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, 8(2), 101-108.
Kagan, O. (2009). The Heritage Language Learner Survey: Report on the Preliminary Results. Retrieved August, 2009 from http://www.International.ucla.edu/languages/nhlrc
Lo Baianco, J. (1987). National Policy On Languages. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Services.Lynch, B.K. (2008). Locating and Utilizing Heritage Language Resources in the Community: An Asset-Based Approach to Program Design and Evaluation. In D.M. Brinton, O. Kagan & S. Bauckus (Eds). Heritage Language Education: A New Field Emerging (pp. 321-337). New York: Routledge.
NSW Community language program (2008). Retrieved at September,22 from:http://www.det.nsw.edu.au/eas/commlang. Oguro, S. & Moloney, R. (2008). Falling through the Gap: An analysis of the provision for Heritage Japanese Learners for students at senior secondary level. 2nd International free Linguistics Conference: University of Sydney.
Tucker, J.R. (2008). Learning Other Languages: The Case for Promoting Bilingualism within our Educational System. In D.M. Brinton, O. Kagan & S. Bauckus (Eds). Heritage Language Education: A New Field Emerging (pp. 39-53). New York: Routledge.
Zhang, X.F. (1997). Community Saturday School (Datong Chinese School), Its Positive Roles and Constraints. In C.A. Diaz (Ed.). Bilingulism: Building Blocks For Biliteracy(pp. 55-67). Australia: Language.
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