Curricula of ACARA and VELS in LOTE - Essay Example

LOTE is a subject of languages other than English, taught to students based on the designed curriculum of ACARA and VELS (Amery, 2000). Curriculum of both these systems for LOTE has some basic similarities and differences. Part A: Focus Answer: 2) ACARA and VELS’ curricula for LOTE subject seem to focus on the development of students’ skills in terms of additional knowledge about different language. Along with the vision, focused content does also have some similarities as both curricula have divided languages into categories, namely Aboriginal languages, Roman alphabetical language, Non-Roman alphabetical languages, Character languages, Sign language, and Classical languages (VELS, 2009).

These six types of languages are offered in VELS systems, while ACARA curriculum offers Australian languages, world languages, classical languages, and Australian sign language. Answer: 3) VELS and ACARA curricula are closely related to each other in LOTE domain as both these learning curricula focus on preparing students for later years, by teaching some international languages and keep on enhancing their language skills with passing years. This focus is made believing that learning different languages can foster reflective, profound, and critical thinking in particular manners (VELS, 2009).

It is noticeable that with the designed curricula students have to learn these languages for some years, which polish their language skills and even if they do not want to continue in the future. They would have sufficient knowledge to communicate successfully in professional grounds particularly in global organizations, where workforce belongs to diverse ethnic backgrounds (Robertson, 2012). Part B: Messages Answer: 1) VELS curricula include an aspect of history in this domain as the professional working to teach students different languages along with the knowledge of history, geography and shopping aspects of the language spoken in particular regions (VELS, 2007).

VELS curriculum offers a wide range of voices and settings to strengthen written and oral language skills; students are given opportunities to refer to simple history, stories, legends, rhymes, and songs of different language. Also, students following VELS curriculum are encouraged to discover other specific features, natures and tools of the languages. On the other hand, ACARA curriculum also offers similar opportunities with some distinct attributes such as in the ACARA system vocabulary and grammar are highly focused on with a great variety of information through print and electronic sources (ACARA, 2011).

Unlike VELS, this curriculum does not simply help students learn about different languages and their cultural belongings, but ACARA also focuses on providing knowledge about values and laws differing from culture to culture (ACARA, 2011). Answer: 6) Both these curricula explicitly highlight the importance of learning