Postgraduate study
Block-mode programs (away-from-base)
Please note: these courses are for Indigenous Australian students only. Students attend University for six one-week blocks each year.
Introduction
The Koori Centre offers a suite of postgraduate qualifications designed to meet the need for qualified Indigenous Australian instructors to participate in the delivery of Indigenous Australian languages education programs in a range of educational settings.
The Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma and Master of Indigenous Languages Education equip Indigenous educators with the knowledge and skills necessary to implement the NSW Aboriginal Languages K-10 Syllabus and syllabi from other states. The graduate certificate is completed in one semester, the graduate diploma in one and a half while the master's degree takes a full year.
Course content is arranged into linguistics, theory and practice strands and is applicable to all Indigenous Australian languages. Students do not need to be fluent in an Indigenous Australian language to enter the courses and may undertake external study in one as part of the graduate diploma or master.
Entry to the Graduate Certificate of Indigenous Languages Education requires that candidates have successfully completed two years towards a teaching qualification, such as a Diploma in Education (Aboriginal), or equivalent. The graduate certificate is completed in one semester full-time and consists of four units of study:
- KCIL5610 Sounds & Writing in Indigenous Languages
- KCIL5611 Words & Meanings in Indigenous Languages
- KCIL5612 Sentences & Text in Indigenous Languages
- KCIL5613 Theories & Methods in Language Learning
Students who complete the requirements for the graduate certificate may extend their study and qualify for the Graduate Diploma of Indigenous Languages Education by undertaking a further two units of study in the second semester, chosen from the following:
- KCIL5622 Learning an Indigenous Language
- KCIL5623 Language Curriculum Development
- KCIL5624 Technology & Language Learning
Entry to the Master of Indigenous Languages Education requires that candidates have completed either:
- a four-year teaching qualification, such as a Bachelor of Education, or a three-year degree and a Diploma of Education, or,
- the Graduate Certificate of Indigenous Languages Education with an average mark of 70% or higher.
To qualify for the award of the Master of Indigenous Languages Education students must complete four units of study chosen from the following (in addition to completing all four units offered in the first semester):
- KCIL5620 Research Methods in Languages Education
- KCIL5621 Research Project in Languages Education (elective)
- KCIL5622 Learning an Indigenous Language (elective)
- KCIL5623 Language Curriculum Development
- KCIL5624 Technology & Language Learning
In some cases it may be possible for candidates with similar, but different, qualifications to be granted admission.
Units of study
| Unit of study | Credit points | A: Assumed knowledge P: Prerequisites C: Corequisites N: Prohibition | Session |
|---|---|---|---|
Postgraduate units of study |
|||
Graduate Certificate/Diploma and Master of Indigenous Languages Education |
|||
| KCIL5610 Sounds & Writing in Indigenous Languages |
6 | C KCIL5611 and KCIL5612 Available to students enrolled in Koori Centre block-mode courses only. |
Semester 1 |
| KCIL5611 Words & Meanings in Indigenous Languages |
6 | C KCIL5610 and KCIL5612 Available to students enrolled in Koori Centre block-mode courses only. |
Semester 1 |
| KCIL5612 Sentences & Text in Indigenous Languages |
6 | C KCIL5610 and KCIL5611 Available to students enrolled in Koori Centre block-mode courses only. |
Semester 1 |
| KCIL5613 Theories & Methods in Language Learning |
6 |
Available to students enrolled in Koori Centre block-mode courses only. |
Semester 1 |
| KCIL5620 Research Methods in Languages Education |
6 | P 18 credit points, including KCIL5613 Available to students enrolled in Koori Centre block-mode courses only. |
Semester 2 |
| KCIL5621 Research Project in Languages Education |
6 | C KCIL5620 N KCIL5622 Available to students enrolled in Koori Centre block-mode courses only. |
Semester 2 |
| KCIL5622 Learning an Indigenous Language |
6 | P 18 credit points, including KCIL5613 N KCIL5621 Available to students enrolled in Koori Centre block-mode courses only. |
Semester 2 |
| KCIL5623 Language Curriculum Development |
6 | P 18 credit points, including KCIL5613 Available to students enrolled in Koori Centre block-mode courses only. |
Semester 2 |
| KCIL5624 Technology and Language Learning |
6 | C KCIL5623 Available to students enrolled in Koori Centre block-mode courses only. |
Semester 2 |
Postgraduate units of study
Graduate Certificate/Diploma and Master of Indigenous Languages Education
KCIL5610 Sounds & Writing in Indigenous Languages
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: John Hobson Session: Semester 1 Classes: Block Mode Corequisites: KCIL5611 and KCIL5612 Assessment: reading exercises(15%), in-class activities(15%), major assignment(30%) exam(40%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Block Mode Associated degrees: Grad Cert Indig Lang Ed. Faculty: Other
Note: Available to students enrolled in Koori Centre block-mode courses only.
The study of any language requires an understanding of its sounds and the ways in which they relate to each other so that they can be written down. This unit of study introduces students to the production, perception and classification of speech sounds and their organisation into meaningful systems with particular reference to Indigenous Australian languages. It also provides an understanding of the development of writing systems and contemporary approaches to Australian orthography design.
KCIL5611 Words & Meanings in Indigenous Languages
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: John Hobson Session: Semester 1 Classes: 9.00am-5.00pm for 3 x 1week blocks Corequisites: KCIL5610 and KCIL5612 Assessment: reading exercises(20%), in-class activities(40%), exam(40%). Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Block Mode Associated degrees: Grad Cert Indig Lang Ed. Faculty: Other
Note: Available to students enrolled in Koori Centre block-mode courses only.
Words are the principal vehicles for conveying meaning in most languages. This unit of study gives students a foundation in the description of meaning and the structure and function of words with particular reference to Indigenous Australian languages. It also provides students with the skills to classify words and their component parts and describe the ways in which they combine sound and meaning to make verbal communication possible.
KCIL5612 Sentences & Text in Indigenous Languages
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: John Hobson Session: Semester 1 Classes: Block Mode Corequisites: KCIL5610 and KCIL5611 Assessment: reading exercises(20%), in-class activities(30%), between-block tasks(15%), major assignment(35%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Block Mode Associated degrees: Grad Cert Indig Lang Ed. Faculty: Other
Note: Available to students enrolled in Koori Centre block-mode courses only.
Sentences and texts are the major units of human language. This unit of study provides students with the understanding and skills to describe these longer strings of language and make generalisations about them. It also considers the relationships between the many varieties of Australian languages that occur for different purposes, in different places and at different times.
KCIL5613 Theories & Methods in Language Learning
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: John Hobson Session: Semester 1 Classes: Block Mode Assessment: reading tasks(5%), lesson observation and analysis (30%), teaching methodology comparison(30%), teaching program(35%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Block Mode Associated degrees: Grad Cert Indig Lang Ed. Faculty: Other
Note: Available to students enrolled in Koori Centre block-mode courses only.
Teachers in the language classroom are often confronted with the dilemma of choosing the right method or approach to adequately develop the proficiency of their students. What many do not realise is that there is no one perfect method or approach; what might work in one language teaching situation might not necessarily work in another. Over the last two centuries, a number of methods and approaches have emerged each determined by the social, cultural, economic and political factors of the day. Given this scope, there are teaching situations that have demanded a focus on the development of written proficiency whilst others that of oracy.
The goal of this course is to introduce students to theories of languages education methodology and provide them with the foundations to successfully choose methods and/or approaches that will best cater the teaching of Indigenous languages in Australia. It will include significant methods used in the teaching of the macro (listening and responding, speaking, reading and responding, and writing) skills and the micro (lexico-grammatical) skills; determining teacher and learner roles; and effective language lesson planning.
The goal of this course is to introduce students to theories of languages education methodology and provide them with the foundations to successfully choose methods and/or approaches that will best cater the teaching of Indigenous languages in Australia. It will include significant methods used in the teaching of the macro (listening and responding, speaking, reading and responding, and writing) skills and the micro (lexico-grammatical) skills; determining teacher and learner roles; and effective language lesson planning.
KCIL5620 Research Methods in Languages Education
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: John Hobson Session: Semester 2 Classes: Block Mode Prerequisites: 18 credit points, including KCIL5613 Assessment: readings(15%), review(20%), research project(65%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Block Mode Associated degrees: M Indig Lang Ed. Faculty: Other
Note: Available to students enrolled in Koori Centre block-mode courses only.
Conducting research in the teaching of Australian languages requires an understanding of diverse issues, including: languages education research methods, the history of research on Indigenous people and languages, locating existing records, practical techniques for obtaining and managing data, project planning, Indigenous research ethics and community consultation. It is also important for students to understand the role of research in high-quality teaching and to gain experience in a range of research methodologies and their potential for application to likely teaching situations in this field. This unit of study allows students to explore these issues and develop practical skills that will allow them to become effective researchers in Indigenous languages education. Students will be expected to directly apply their learning in this unit of study to their activities in KCIL5621 Research Project in Languages Education or KCIL5622 Learning an Indigenous Language.
KCIL5621 Research Project in Languages Education
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: John Hobosn Session: Semester 2 Classes: 9.00am-5.00pm for 3 x 1week blocks Corequisites: KCIL5620 Prohibitions: KCIL5622 Assessment: research project x 5,000 words Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Block Mode Associated degrees: M Indig Lang Ed. Faculty: Other
Note: Available to students enrolled in Koori Centre block-mode courses only.
Although some Indigenous Australian languages have undergone substantial documentation and are currently being taught, many are in great need of further research and all require more investigation. This unit of study provides students with an opportunity to exercise the skills and knowledge provided in the course to generate new knowledge about particular languages and their teaching.
KCIL5622 Learning an Indigenous Language
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: John Hobson Session: Semester 2 Classes: Block Mode Prerequisites: 18 credit points, including KCIL5613 Prohibitions: KCIL5621 Assessment: critical analysis x 5000 word, reflective journal Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Block Mode Associated degrees: Grad Dip Indig Lang Ed. Faculty: Other
Note: Available to students enrolled in Koori Centre block-mode courses only.
In order to teach an Indigenous language it is essential that the teacher has greater fluency than their students. This unit of study provides an opportunity for students to undertake study outside the degree program to develop their ability to speak an Australian language.
Students may access courses offered by the University of Sydney, another tertiary institution, a TAFE college, school, community language centre, or similar. To obtain credit under this unit of study the external studies must be equivalent to 36 hours of face-to-face teaching and satisfy MILE staff regarding its standard and thoroughness. Students who are already fluent or cannot access an external unit in a language of their choosing should undertake KCIL5621 Research Project in Indigenous Languages as a means to enhance their skills.
Students may access courses offered by the University of Sydney, another tertiary institution, a TAFE college, school, community language centre, or similar. To obtain credit under this unit of study the external studies must be equivalent to 36 hours of face-to-face teaching and satisfy MILE staff regarding its standard and thoroughness. Students who are already fluent or cannot access an external unit in a language of their choosing should undertake KCIL5621 Research Project in Indigenous Languages as a means to enhance their skills.
KCIL5623 Language Curriculum Development
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Susan Poetsch Session: Semester 2 Classes: Block Mode Prerequisites: 18 credit points, including KCIL5613 Assessment: pre-block readings(15%), suituation & needs analysis(20%), exam(20%), teaching program(45%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Block Mode Associated degrees: Grad Dip Indig Lang Ed. Faculty: Other
Note: Available to students enrolled in Koori Centre block-mode courses only.
Preceding any successful formal teaching or learning situation is effective programming and planning determined by curriculum parameters. Language curriculum development involves more than just the content to be taught in any given teaching situation. It involves establishing goals and outcomes often defined by external organisations; performing ongoing needs analysis of learning and teaching situations; programming and planning against external and internal factors; designing programs that best address all factors; choosing and designing resources; and determining appropriate assessment and evaluation procedures.
The goal of this unit is to examine these issues against authentic situations and apply knowledge gained towards developing effective language curriculum for quality teaching in Indigenous languages education contexts and across all key learning areas.
The goal of this unit is to examine these issues against authentic situations and apply knowledge gained towards developing effective language curriculum for quality teaching in Indigenous languages education contexts and across all key learning areas.
KCIL5624 Technology and Language Learning
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: John Hobson Session: Semester 2 Classes: Block Mode Corequisites: KCIL5623 Assessment: worksheet(5%), essay(25%), evaluations(30%), resources(40%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Block Mode Associated degrees: Grad Dip Indig Lang Ed. Faculty: Other
Note: Available to students enrolled in Koori Centre block-mode courses only.
Effective language teaching and learning can be enhanced by technology. This unit of study introduces students to the diverse technological aids that can enhance their teaching practices and their own language learning. It provides them with samples and models from which they can develop their own multimedia resources.
Course rules
Master of Indigenous Languages Education
These resolutions must be read in conjunction with applicable University By-laws, Rules and policies including (but not limited to) the University of Sydney (Coursework) Rule 2000 (the 'Coursework Rule'), the Resolutions of the Board of Studies in Indigenous Studies, the University of Sydney (Student Appeals against Academic Decisions) Rule 2006 (as amended) and the Academic Board policies on Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism.
Course resolutions
1 Course codes
| Code | Course title |
|---|---|
| XG007 | Graduate Certificate of Indigenous Languages Education |
| XF010 | Graduate Diploma of Indigenous Languages Education |
| XC033 | Master of Indigenous Languages Education |
2 Attendance pattern
0.
The attendance pattern for these courses is full time, with mixed mode including block attendance.
3 Master's type
0.
The master's degree in these resolutions is a professional master's course, as defined by the Coursework Rule.
4 Embedded courses in this sequence
(2)
Providing candidates satisfy the admission requirements for each stage, a candidate may progress to the award of any of the courses in this sequence. Only the longest award completed will be conferred.
5 Admission to candidature
(1)
Available places will be offered to qualified applicants based on merit, according to the following admissions criteria. In exceptional circumstances the Dean may admit applicants without these qualifications who, in the opinion of the faculty, have qualifications and evidence of experience and achievement sufficient to successfully undertake the award.
(3)
Admission to candidature for the Graduate Certificate of Indigenous Languages Education requires:
(a)
completion of the Diploma in Education (Aboriginal) of the Universit of Sydney, or an equivalent qualification; or
(4)
Admission to candidature for the Graduate Diploma of Indigenous Languages Education requires completion of the embedded Graduate Certificate of Indigenous Languages Education of the University of Sydney, or an equivalent qualification.
(b)
a bachelor's degree and the Diploma in Education from the University of Sydney, or an equivalent qualification; or
(c)
completion of the embedded Graduate Certificate of Indigenous Languages Education of the University of Sydney, with an average mark of 70 or higher, or an equivalent qualification.
6 Requirements for award
(1)
The units of study that may be taken for the courses are set out in the Graduate Certificate / Graduate Diploma / Master of Indigenous Languages Education Table of units of study.
(2)
To qualify for the award of the Graduate Certificate of Indigenous Languages Education a candidate must complete 24 credit points of core units of study, as listed in the Table.
(3)
To qualify for the award of the Graduate Diploma of Indigenous Languages Education a candidate must complete 36 credit points of units of study, including 24 credit points of core units and 12 credit points of units chosen from the list of elective units in the Table.
(4)
To qualify for the award of the Master of Indigenous Languages Education a candidate must complete 48 credit points of units of study, including 24 credit points of core units and 24 credit points of units chosen from the list of elective units in the Table.
7 Course transfer
0.
A candidate for the master's degree or graduate diploma may elect to discontinue study and graduate with a shorter award from this embedded sequence, with the approval of the Director, and provided the requirements of the shorter award have been met.
8 Transitional provisions
(1)
These resolutions apply to students who commenced their candidature after 1 January, 2011 and students who commenced their candidature prior to 1 January, 2011 who elect to proceed under these resolutions.
(2)
Candidates who commenced prior to 1 January, 2011 may complete the requirements in accordance with the resolutions in force at the time of their commencement, provided that requirements are completed by 1 January, 2016. The Faculty may specify a later date for completion or specify alternative requirements for completion of candidatures that extend beyond this time.