• Semester 1 (Day)
• Semester 1 (External)
• Semester 2 (External)

Synopsis

Since   the   early 80's in Australia, a number of schools in  various
states  and territories have begun experimenting with the teaching  of
content  areas  such  as Mathematics, Science, Social  Sciences,  etc.
through  a second language.  In  most cases  the teachers within  such
bilingual  or immersion programmes have had  very little knowledge  of
the  theories and methodologies appropriate to such teaching. Although
such  teaching has existed overseas for some decades, the  concept  is
still  relatively  new  to  Australia  and  practising  and  potential
teachers  have  not been  able to obtain any extensive  and  intensive
professional  development as  no tertiary  institution until  now  has
offered   a   unit  specifically  targeting   the  needs   of   such
individuals.

The  unit  will introduce the students to the concept  of  immersion
teaching, its historical  roots in various countries, bilingualism and
cognitive  development, the  results  of  international research  into
the  effectiveness  of  immersion, appropriate teaching strategies and
methodologies  and  how  they can be  used   for  particular   content
areas  and age levels, early and late immersion  programmes,  resource
and teaching materials development.