AddressPurpose
The Victorian School of Languages (VSL) is a government school and state-wide service of the Department of Education and Training which provides language programs from Foundation to Year 12 (VCE) to students from all three sectors (Government, Independent, and Catholic). The school offers Languages in face-to-face and distance education classes to students who cannot study the language at their home school. The key directions are the DET Language policies and the 2015 ¿The Education State¿ document.
Values
The values that underpin the development and delivery of the VSL¿s Languages provision are:
· Respect - understanding that languages are a way to increase lifelong opportunities for learners;
· Commitment ¿
- to students from all communities and socio-economic backgrounds to study a language of their choice;
- to enhancing student well-being
- to improving outcomes for every student, in every class, at every VSL centre and in all communities
· Courage - to continue to ensure the VSL remains a leader in languages as its specialised field of endeavour;
· Teamwork ¿ to support our communities to embrace diversity and strength.
Environmental Context
· The school teaches 51 languages in 42 Centres (campuses) across Victoria. Students come from both Government and non-Government schools. Classes are held outside school hours usually on Saturdays throughout the Melbourne metropolitan area, country and regional Victoria. The VSL Centres are organised in twelve areas, each under the administration of a Leading Teacher (Area Manager) and Centre classes range from Foundation to Year 12.
· The school teachers 13 languages via distance education (Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Punjabi, Spanish and Vietnamese). The levels range from Year 5 to Year 12 (VCE). The teaching is carried out through workbooks, video-conferencing, online courses and regular seminars.
· The VSL School Council, which comprises elected and nominated members, provides expert and broadly based guidance and leadership to the school.
· The school responds to Language needs of new and emerging communities and changing demands/demographics.
