Awardee Profiles

		Dee Crosby 2009 ELTF Bahasa Indonesia Practising Teacher The ELTF experience far exceeded my expectations. My improved confidence in using the language has been evident not just in my Year 7-10 classes, but also in my communication with the Indonesian teacher at our sister school in Makassar, South Sulawesi. Since I’ve returned to the classroom, my students have enjoyed the music, especially Laskar Pelangi by Nidgi, and the warm-up language activities that I learned while immersed in the intercultural program. I have developed a passion for Janur and recently searched all over Melbourne for leaves I could use to demonstrate the cultural art of leaf weaving at the VILTA conference. I am looking forward to teaching Poco Poco to my students next term and I have a video and CD to make this a success. Overall I have so much language and cultural information to use over the year. I still communicate with many of my fellow participants - they have assisted me to overcome language problems and we still share classroom resources. I feel energised by the program and, as an experienced teacher, this was the injection I needed to improve my rather stale language program.

		Janelle May 2009 ELTF Bahasa Indonesia Trainee Teacher As a graduate teacher, the ELTF Bahasa Indonesia Program in Darwin was an invaluable experience and I believe this was the best possible way to spend my time between graduating university and beginning my teaching career. The program gave me the opportunity to be immersed in the language and greatly improved my oral proficiency by providing me with the opportunity and the challenge of using my language in everyday circumstances. This increased language proficiency has given me more confidence to teach upper school Indonesian and explore more complex language skills. Not only did this program bring together the elements of teaching and the language itself, I was also immersed in parts of the Indonesian culture such as gamelan playing, and making batik and traditional janur. Having limited experience in-country, this provided me with valuable experiences, skills and understanding to take into my classroom. I have used many resources gained while on ELTF to enrich and enhance my teaching and make my lessons more culturally engaging, including video footage of interviews with Indonesian film stars, contemporary teen magazines, and a promotional Indonesian tourism DVD which both excited and captivated my students. Most valuable of all, though, was gaining a supportive network of peers from around the country that I can continually share ideas and learn from. On a whole, this experience gave me a renewed motivation and enthusiasm to start my teaching career and gave me a solid foundation of support, resources and networks.

		Wen-Liang Tao 2009 ELTF China Practising Teacher My career in second language education can be traced back to the 1980s, when I was an ESL teacher in China. Since the early 1990s, I have devoted myself to teaching Chinese as a second language at various Australian schools. Having completed a Master’s course in modern languages education years ago, I was delighted to participate in the recent ELTF China Program. The ELTF program enabled me to practise my linguistic and cultural skills in a genuinely sophisticated context. The program also refreshed and updated my knowledge of the Chinese culture. Networking with teachers from various cultural backgrounds is a resourceful process. After meeting a large number of non-background teachers of Chinese, my passion for teaching non-Chinese background students has become ever so strong. I am now encouraging my students to follow these teachers’ examples, as they give convincing evidence that learning Chinese is an achievable task. Updates on HSK, innovative Internet language, contemporary literature, and online pedagogical programs are benefiting my classroom practices in many ways. The ELTF program has motivated me to learn and explore new approaches to the teaching and learning of Chinese. In short, the ELTF program has been an invaluable professional learning experience for me.

		Valerie Moore 2009 ELTF China Trainee Teacher Being a trainee teacher who had never been to China, my confidence in speaking the Chinese language was low and I felt anxious about whether I could successfully make intercultural language learning meaningful for students. The ELTF program gave me an opportunity to go to China, consolidate my language skills and greatly enhance my cultural knowledge. The highlights were establishing relationships with other Chinese language teachers, going to places such as Shanghai, The Great Wall and Beijing, the day-to-day opportunities to use the language, learning more about Chinese history, as well as the food and the bartering! The two weeks’ intensive language training was especially helpful. I now feel more confident to use my Chinese language skills. As a student, I am using this confidence to make friends with Chinese international students here in Adelaide. I am practising my speaking and listening regularly, and writing and reading e-mails in Chinese. The ELTF program has enabled me to make valuable connections between the language learning and the cultural aspects of China. Now I have first-hand experience which I hope to pass on to my future students, including knowledge of the rapidly changing culture in modern China. I am looking forward to my teaching practicum this year where I will teach Chinese for the first time. I hope to use resources, knowledge and experiences from the trip to actively engage and enhance students’ knowledge of China and its language.

		Susan Deprost 2009 ELTF France Practising Teacher The ELTF program in France has challenged me on many levels. The knowledge I gained has inspired me to create an intercultural language experience and to develop innovative teaching strategies in my French classes. For example, I have now developed a strong fascination for tapping into the rich resource of French music and history. This year, my Year 12 students will study Lucie Aubrac, the French female Resistance fighter during the Second World War, as part of the detailed study in the Victorian VCE Program. During the ELTF program I was privileged to visit “Le Musée de la Resistance et de la Deportation” in Lyon where I gathered a lot of information. As a result, I am able to further develop and enhance topics. The opportunity to participate in the ELTF program enabled me to fully immerse myself in French life, language and cultural ideas with greater confidence and reflection. I collected a lot of music and DVDs which will make the language come 'alive' in my classes. I have integrated the ICT component with the Moviemaker program to incorporate text, music and visual images collected on the trip. I am also planning to develop a unit of French popular music, which will incorporate topics of social and environmental issues, as represented in various styles of contemporary French music and linked to topics undertaken by senior French students. Developing this focused intercultural language learning approach and an appreciation for a rich source of material and contacts have been the greatest lasting impressions and impact on my own professional development. The ELTF experience has really influenced my professional practice, innovating and raising French language pedagogy to a higher level.

		Peta Frost 2009 ELTF Germany Practising Teacher Although I studied German at university, and teach at junior secondary level, my language skills had atrophied and, as I live in a small city in Tasmania, I have very little opportunity to hear or speak a language other than English. Therefore, I wanted to move beyond my easy, complacent language level and become more proficient in German and to increase my awareness of German daily life and culture. I cannot emphasise enough how significant an effect the ELTF experience had on me and I encourage anyone who may be hesitating over the application just to go ahead and do it! Not only did I return with increased fluency and confidence, but I can now speak enthusiastically and more accurately about the German way of life, its beautiful landscapes, history and customs. It is the conviction and vividness that now invest my teaching that so appeals to the students. The Endeavour Language Teacher Fellowship also provided me with an opportunity to mix with teachers from other states and education systems, allowing a rich interchange of ideas, philosophies and approaches. The activities and workshops in Germany covered current developments in teaching methodology as well as more traditional approaches which, coupled with the resources I purchased, have given my teaching a refreshing overhaul and my enthusiasm and energy is noticeable in the classroom. In many different ways I am able to use the CDs of contemporary popular groups, the DVDs, the web sites, the games and printed materials I purchased, the photos and videos I took. Reports of my experience in school newsletters have created interest and increased awareness of the potential of language study among colleagues, parents and students in the school community. It is my intention to continue my study of German at a higher level and to further my school’s links with Germany through exchanges and other student activities.

		Pauline Settle 2009 ELTF Italy Practising Teacher I currently teach Italian to students through distance education across Queensland and I found the experience of the ELTF study program to be highly rewarding and of great benefit to my students and to me professionally and personally. The program has brought about a new level of linguistic confidence and cultural knowledge to my teaching. Although I have an Italian background, as a first time visitor to Italy, I have realised that there were many aspects to Italy which had to be 'seen' and 'experienced' in order to be appreciated fully. Relaying things such as intercultural awareness, regional individuality, the close affiliation with art, history and religion in everyday life to my students has been made more genuine through this firsthand experience. As a result of the ELTF study program, I have introduced more songs, photos, authentic realia and real life situations to the curriculum, along with other resources, strategies and ideas shared by my new founded network of Italian teachers. In particular, the ELTF program provided a wide range of situations to use and listen to the language professionally and functionally, on a daily basis. These language encounters will provide sources of real life examples for my students. The interaction and cultural exchange made with students at a local school was one of my most rewarding and memorable moments of the trip. The ELTF program was an unforgettable experience overall and one which every language teacher should have the opportunity of experiencing.

		Stephanie French 2009 ELTF Japan Trainee Teacher My ELTF trip to Japan was incredible, so much so that I have decided to investigate the impact of the program for my upcoming Honours thesis! The trip included so much - a field trip to some of Japan’s most beautiful and culturally significant places, a farm-stay experience, a school visit (where I was given the opportunity to teach a class in Japanese!), an intensive language program at APU, jigokumushi cooking (cooking with hot spring steam), karaoke, calligraphy and much, much more!! All of these activities gave me a fantastic and authentic insight into the Japanese lifestyle and culture that I cannot wait to share with students in Australia when I become a teacher. Without doubt one of the highlights of the trip for me was our two-week stay at a Japanese university. Not only were we required to attend Japanese classes, but also live on campus with the Japanese students. This was an incredible cultural experience and also a wonderful opportunity to practice my speaking skills in a casual environment. The program incorporated many out-of-class activities into the program, including classes downtown, a ‘scavenger hunt’ and a number of excursions. Only since returning to Australia have I truly realised how beneficial this trip has been to me as a pre-service Japanese teacher. Not only have I returned with improved language skills, greater knowledge of the Japanese culture and a new found enthusiasm for Japanese teaching, but unlike my classmates, I now have a network of dedicated and passionate Japanese teachers from all across Australia that I can turn to for assistance, advice or resources, which will undoubtedly help aid my transition from a pre-service to a practicing Japanese teacher. I truly believe that the ELTF was an invaluable experience and would highly recommend it to all passionate Japanese teachers.

		Hawa Zreika 2009 ELTF Jordan Practising Teacher Although I’m an Australian-born Lebanese, my knowledge of the Arabic language and culture was not developed until I engaged in the ELTF program. The program truly was a once in a lifetime experience. In particular, the program in Jordan taught me a lot about the Arabic language, its grammatical make up and its usage. As a result, my language proficiency has improved significantly. In addition, the ELTF program gave me the opportunity to observe and experience the culture of the Arab people, their behaviours and practices in everyday situations. During the course of the program I took part in University language classes, which covered literature, poetry and history studies. These lessons were educational, interesting and beneficial to my teaching career. Further to the study sessions, the ELTF program consisted of well-planned, extremely fun and entertaining field trips, exploring many areas of the country including its historical sites. I can now confidently design tasks that will stimulate my students’ interest and extend their thinking about language and culture. I can clearly create classes that include both linguistic and socio-cultural considerations. Further, having returned richer in resources, my classroom display can be presented with photos, pictures, maps, signs and reading material which all aid in developing a clearer picture of the culture which is intricately interwoven with the language I teach. To summarise, the ELTF program offered me a life enriching, educational opportunity. I have returned linguistically advanced, culturally enriched and firmly networked. I have gained many new friends and am richer in resources. I will never forget this fantastic trip and strongly recommend it to any practising or trainee language teacher.

		Hae-ryun Martin 2009 ELTF Korea Practising Teacher Taking part in the ELTF program has assisted me by opening opportunities for me to improve my knowledge of Korea’s culture and language. In particular, it has developed my understanding of modern Korean language and how this has changed overtime, as well as my awareness of languages technology and the education environment in Korea. The exciting ELTF program gave me opportunities to experience first-hand the different areas of the Korean culture. These included language training from professors who were experts in different areas of the Korean language, various activities ranging from traditional craft to the high-tech resource development skills and over ten different field trips. On the field trips we visited the Korean Cultural Museum, the Korean Broadcasting Company and the Korean Demilitarised Zone (the border between North and South Korea), amongst other places. Arriving on the 31st of December in Korea, I could especially experience the Korean New Year’s Eve celebration! Based on the knowledge, experience and resources I have obtained from the ELTF program, I have reassessed and modified my teaching methods to make them more suitable, interactive, new and exciting for the students to learn.

		Suzanne Lofts 2009 ELTF Korea Practising Teacher I teach in a small country high school and have little chance to use and enhance my Korean language skills. I was finding that this was detrimental to my confidence, particularly when faced with the prospect of talking to a native speaker. I therefore felt that participation in the ELTF program would assist me in this area. The actual program exceeded my expectations and provided me with ample opportunity to study the language and to apply it in a real life situation. The opportunity to meet other Australian teachers of Korean, with whom I had been establishing webcam conferencing, was definitely a highlight of the experience. It provided us with the opportunity to plan for the future implementation of web conferencing to enhance student learning. As a teacher, I had also been experimenting with the implementation of technology to enhance the interest of boys in the class. These ideas were reinforced while at Seoul National University when the lecturers introduced a number of websites that had been developed by staff members for use in the classroom. Consequently, I am now much more confident when introducing innovative teaching techniques using technology, and am experiencing an increased interest in learning on the part of my students. In Korea, the homestay experience definitely enhanced my in-country knowledge and showed the contemporary language trends occurring within modern youth culture. I feel that this was vital for intercultural learning and teaching. The skills and knowledge I acquired during the Endeavour program have taken my classes to new heights. I anticipate that this will be reflected in larger numbers of students at my school continuing to study languages beyond the compulsory stage. I would certainly recommend that all teachers seriously consider undertaking such an invaluable experience as it can only enhance your professional development.

		Adie Price 2009 ELTF Spain Practising Teacher My study trip to Spain was exactly that: a lot of great study plus some excellent side trips! In the first part of the program we visited different Spanish towns, accompanied by local tour guides; this deepened our understanding of the historic context of the language and the culture. Not only did our group live the Spanish lifestyle, but we were able to bring some of it home: posters, books, music, recipes, photos and games, etc. Such material for cultural learning in class always engages the students more directly. At the University of Salamanca, the focussed lessons, which were given in Spanish, cemented the classroom lingo, as well as increased our language competence. For me it has lifted my confidence, so much so that I am attempting the advanced DELE exam this year. Lastly but very importantly, I enjoyed the group of like-minded people who bonded over this time into a comfortable unit. I am grateful for the impromptu lessons on the trip and for the extra professional network that we now have available for sharing ideas and issues. For me, this was a trip with long-lasting benefits. I recommend it whole-heartedly.

Endeavour Language Teacher Fellowships

Awardee Profiles