VU23567 - Investigate features of the education system in Australia

Unit code:VU23567Study level:TAFE

Nominal hours

Location

Footscray Nicholson
St Albans
Sunshine
Werribee

Prerequisites

(Or equivalent to be determined by unit coordinator)
Co-requisites
(Corequisite units must be studied concurrently with this unit)

Overview

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required by EAL learners to examine the Australian education system including its structure and cultural features.
The outcomes described in this unit relate to:

the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF). They contribute directly to the achievement of ACSF indicators of competence in Reading and Writing and Oral Communication at Level 3, and
the ISLPR (International Second Language Proficiency Ratings) descriptors for Speaking and Listening, Reading and Writing. They contribute directly to the achievement of ISLPR Speaking 2+, Listening 2+, Reading 2+ / 3 and Writing 2+ / 3.
This unit applies to learners needing to develop their English language skills to familiarise themselves with the education system and the cultural features of education in Australia to support educational or employment opportunities.This unit is designed for integration and contextualisation with language units to support achievement of English language knowledge and skills.

Assessment

For Melbourne campuses

Assessment tasks will be designed to reinforce & extend knowledge and skill competence within set & controlled parameters in accordance with each unit's learning outcomes & performance criteria requirements, including the setting of work-based practical application tasks designed to provide evidence of competence outcomes, within periodic and scheduled timelines.

Students will be expected to demonstrate the following required skills:

identify and examine key Australian education structures and two cultural features of the education system
access and discuss information on one selected feature of the Australian education system using appropriate strategies to participate in the discussion
write a report on the feature discussed comprising at least two paragraphs and demonstrating appropriate structure, writing conventions and styles.

Students will also be expected to demonstrate the following knowledge:

key terminology used to describe the Australian education system
sentence structures for compound and some complex sentences
paragraph structure, including topic sentence, supporting details and linking devices
verb tenses to convey information about points and actions in time, such as present perfect continuous and past perfect to show continuing actions, passive voice, conditional, such as if and unless
discourse markers, connectives and cohesive devices to link ideas and concepts, sequence and add information or contrast ideas, such as in addition, therefore, as a result
common conventions for note-taking, such as using dot point lists, paraphrasing, mind maps, key words/headings, symbols
adjectives and/or adverbs used to explain and qualify information.
Sociolinguistic and Cultural Knowledge:
register and style used in spoken and written discourse
distinctions between fact and opinion in spoken and written texts
verbal and non-verbal strategies to participate in discussions, such as:

entering a discussion, asking questions to clarify misunderstandings or ambiguous points, leaving a discussion
using paralinguistic features to modify meaning or emphasise information, such as use of voice for effect, intonation and emphasis, facial expressions or gestures.

cultural features of the Australian education system.

Required reading

The qualified trainer and assessor will provide teaching and learning materials as required in the form of workbooks produced by Victoria University and/or via the Victoria University e-learning system.