Asia Literacy
– imperatives for the
Australian Classroom
All teachers supporting
languages and Asia literacy
The moral imperative….
“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
www.australiancurriculum.edu.au
• 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’
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??
What’s the news across the nation….
http://www.netvibes.com/studies-of-asia
#India_Newsfeeds
#Japanese_newsfeeds
#Indonesia_Newsfeeds
#China_news
Asian Newspapers online
http://www.onlinenewspapers.com/
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.5 For Australians to be good regional and global citizens we
need to understand, learn from, and engage and communicate
with our Asian neighbours.
OI.6 Australia 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.
https://studiesofasia.wikispaces.com/
Features of an Asia-literate school
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
IMPLEMENTATION
levels.
The curriculum reflects the integrated scope &
sequence of SOAA across the learning areas and the
year levels.
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
4
and intercultural understandings.
https://studiesofasia.wikispaces.com/
Netvibes
Netvibes – Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Indonesia….
https://studiesofasia.wikispaces.com
www.asiaeducation.edu.au
www.asiaeducation.edu.au
https://studiesofasia.wikispaces.com
https://studiesofasia.wikispaces.com
Contact: Lindy Stirling
9637 3620
9637 2040
stirling.lindy.j@edumail.vic.gov.au