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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

These FAQs have been developed to address some of the more common questions raised by practising languages teacher applicants.


To be eligible for an ELTF Award an applicant must:

  • be an Australian citizen or have permanent resident status in Australia;
  • be of good character and conduct;
  • be currently employed as a teacher in an Australian primary or secondary school for the year, in an ongoing part-time or full-time position, and be teaching the language of the nominated study program;
  • have the written support of his/her school principal;
  • provide certified documentary evidence of his/her Australian citizenship or permanent resident status in Australia; and
  • not have participated in an ELTF program previously.

The 2010 ELTF Awards will be offered to practising languages teachers of Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean and Spanish.

To submit an application for the 2010 ELTF Awards, complete the application form and forward the signed original of the completed application together with four copies, each with supporting documentation, to the ELTF Coordinator in your State/Territory.  Applications must include your school principal’s endorsement.

Application forms and ELTF Coordinator contact details are contained in the Application Pack available at www.endeavour.deewr.gov.au/language_teachers_fellowships/.

The deadline for applications is 5.00 pm (local time) Friday, 29 May 2009  in all states and territories. Applications that are not received at the offices of the state/territory ELTF Coordinator by this deadline may not be accepted.

“Intermediate level of language proficiency” generally means that applicants would have successfully completed at least two years of tertiary language study (approximately 300 hours) or its equivalent (eg intensive re-training initiatives or in-service language courses which may have been conducted in some states and territories).

Each in-country overseas study program will include costs of international return air travel (economy class), mid-range twin-share accommodation and/or home stays, some meals (as advised in briefing materials), language tuition fees and field trip costs. 

The onshore Bahasa Indonesia study program in Darwin will include costs of return domestic air travel (economy class), mid-range twin-share accommodation or equivalent, some meals, language study program fees and field trip costs.

Domestic travel will be covered for Awardees who are residing 250km or more from a major (capital city) airport.

Awardees will be responsible for the costs of approximately a meal a day and tips, their own out-of-pocket expenses such as laundry, telephone and Internet, travel and medical insurance, health checks and inoculations, visa fees and other incidentals (as advised in pre-departure briefings).

It is a requirement that all ELTF Awardees have valid comprehensive insurance for the entire duration of the study program, covering expenses that may arise in connection with injury or illness (including any pre-existing medical condition), emergency repatriation costs, personal liability, loss of or damage to personal effects, cancellation, and additional expenses incurred that relate to any of the above risks.

The study programs will take place between 30 December 2009 – 23 January 2010.

The Awardees will be teachers of the target language of the nominated ELTF study program, and will come from a mix of education sectors and primary and secondary schools across Australia.  For programs to China, Japan, Jordan, Korea and the Bahasa Indonesia Program in Darwin, the Awardees will also include trainee languages teachers from universities across Australia.

Each study program will be assigned a group leader who will accompany and work with Awardees to support and extend their learning, thereby ensuring that Awardees gain the most from their experience. Group leaders will also assist in managing program logistics, finances, liaison with program deliverers and travel providers, to assist in the smooth running of the program.

Family members and partners are not permitted to accompany Awardees on the program.

No.  Awardees will be provided with a schedule of activities by November 2009. The ELTF study programs are designed to maximise opportunities for Awardees to improve their language skills and cultural knowledge, and group activities are a feature.

Awardees will have limited time off between language classes and organised group activities.

The language study component of the  in-country overseas study programs will focus primarily on improving Awardees’ proficiency in the language, not on teaching methodologies.  The language study programs will be conducted at language training institutions with experience in delivering similar programs to language teachers from Australia or other countries.

The Bahasa Indonesia program will focus on strengthening language proficiency with opportunity to explore teaching methodology for Indonesian language programs in Australian schools.  Indonesian language specialists, including Indonesian native speakers, will be integral to the program and Awardees will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the language through a range of activities. 

Awardees will be provided with a full briefing prior to commencement of the program. Awardees are expected to read all information on the itinerary, program organisation and country background provided, and participate in comprehensive briefings and opportunities to network with other Awardees via weblogs (electronic discussion groups) and a teleconference.

Due to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade travel advice in relation to travelling to Indonesia, the Bahasa Indonesia immersion program is held in Darwin.  Awardees in this Bahasa Indonesia program held in Australia will be allowed to apply in the future should an  in-country overseas ELTF Indonesian Language study program be offered.

It is anticipated successful applicants will be announced in September 2009.

Detailed information on the ELTF Awards is contained in the Application Pack available at www.endeavour.deewr.gov.au/language_teachers_fellowships/

For further information please contact the ELTF Coordinator in your state or

territory:

State/territory

Coordinator

Postal address

ACT

Ms Elizabeth Courtois

Curriculum Officer, Languages

Ph (02) 6205 7164

Elizabeth.Courtois@act.gov.au

Department of Education and Training

GPO BOX 158

CANBERRA  ACT  2601

New South Wales

Ms Nina Conomos

Senior Curriculum Adviser Community Languages

Ph (02) 9886 7511

nina.conomos@det.nsw.edu.au

Department of Education & Training,

Curriculum K-12 Directorate

3a Smalls Road

RYDE  NSW  2112

Northern Territory

Ms Melissa Kosciuk

Manager

Languages Education

Ph (08) 8922 2124

melissa.kosciuk@ntschools.net

Darwin Languages Centre

Department of Education and Training

2nd Floor, 19 Crisp Street

RAPID CREEK  NT  0810

Queensland

Mr Roger White

Manager

International Services

Ph : (07) 3237 0891

roger.white@deta.qld.gov.au

DET International

Department of Education and Training

PO Box 15033

CITY EAST  QLD 4002

South Australia

Ms Maribel Coffey
Manager

Languages Education

Ph : (08) 8226 1956

Coffey.Maribel@saugov.sa.gov.au

Department of Education & Children’s Services

5th Floor, 31 Flinders St

ADELAIDE  SA  5000

Tasmania

Ms Susan Tolbert

Principal Education Officer

Ph: (03) 6212 3110

Sue.tolbert@education.tas.gov.au

Curriculum Team

Learning Services SE

Department of Education

GPO Box 169

HOBART  TAS 7001

Victoria

Mr Ian Wykes

Endeavour Language Teacher Fellowships Coordinator

Ph: (03) 9651 4499

wykes.ian.j@edumail.vic.gov.au

International Education Division,

Department of Education and Early Childhood Development

GPO Box 4367

MELBOURNE  VIC 3001

Western Australia

Mr Matthew Jones

Manager

Australian Government Quality

Teacher Program

Ph:  (08) 9242 6568

Matthew.Jones@det.wa.edu.au

Professional Learning Institute

Western Australian Department of Education and Training

PO Box 455

LEEDERVILLE  WA 6903