Prema+Devathas

= = = Prema Devathas, Heathmont College, Melbourne, VIC = I coordinate and teach Indonesian Years 7-12 at Heathmont College, Melbourne. I am involved in this Mentoring project because I see this as a brilliant way to share professional practice, resources and ideas. and young teachers bring fresh breath and perspectives to teaching; and accomplished teachers are able to guide them to reach their potential, whilst also being enriched in the process.

= Action Research Project Planner: = = Stage 1-ANALYSE =
 * || Background information

Mentor teacher’s name: Prema Devathas Mentor’s School: Heathmont College, Waters Grove, Heathmont, VIC Mentee teachers’ names: Ben Mckay and Karissa Beaton Mentees’ School: Highview College, Maryborough, VIC Language: Indonesian SL Year level: 7-12 Highview College is an independent Christian college that offers Indonesian studies from grades 7-12. Both the mentees, Ben and Karissa are fairly new to teaching Indonesian and have identified and requested advice on a number of teacher and program needs.

Goals of this Mentoring project Which area/s of your practice would you like to improve? What will be your focus for this project in 2012?


 * I wish to work professionally and collaboratively with Ben McKay and Karissa Beaton, both Indonesian teachers from Highview College, Maryborough and help them to achieve their goals.
 * To mentor Ben and Karissa in a purposive shared partnership where they are encouraged to reflect on their practices and implement changes to achieve their goals.
 * To keep regular contact with Ben and Karissa via wikispaces and emails
 * Ben teaches Indonesian grades 7-10 and is very dedicated and passionate about advocating for Indonesian studies with the local community. He is energetic and open to trying out new ideas. I hope to share my experiences and advise him on some of the ways to carry out this advocacy.
 * Karissa teaches Indonesian to grades 7-9 and would particularly like to focus on improving the motivation and engagement of Year 8 boys learning Indonesian. At her school, Indonesian is offered as an elective in Year 9 onwards, and moving towards the time for subject selections, the boys' interest in Indonesian declines rapidly.Hence, Karissa wishes to address this issue and to increase student interest and continuity in Indonesian studies. We will discuss ways to motivate boys in language studies. Boys are basically competitive; hence, it is good to incorporate healthy competition whilst learning.
 * Karissa teaches Indonesian to grades 7-9 and would particularly like to focus on improving the motivation and engagement of Year 8 boys learning Indonesian. At her school, Indonesian is offered as an elective in Year 9 onwards, and moving towards the time for subject selections, the boys' interest in Indonesian declines rapidly.Hence, Karissa wishes to address this issue and to increase student interest and continuity in Indonesian studies. We will discuss ways to motivate boys in language studies. Boys are basically competitive; hence, it is good to incorporate healthy competition whilst learning.


 * For myself, I plan to collaborate further with the language teachers from my partner school in Yogyakarta, Indonesia to enhance the language skills and intercultural understanding of students from both schools.
 * I wish to further advocate for Indonesian studies within the school community and in the wider context. ||  ||

Which aspects of the Standards does your project relate to?

This investigation will mainly cover the dimensions on advocacy, educational theory and practice whilst also creating awareness of wider context. This project relates to Advocacy, Professional Relationships, and Active Engagement with Wider Context.
 * = Stage 2 -PLAN =
 * = Stage 2 -PLAN =

Timeline for the project Initial Planning discussed on May 3rd, first day of mentoring meeting: Prema to co-work with Ben and Karissa to achieve their goals and focus for this project, which are:
 * To investigate on developing a sister school relationship with a school in Indonesia. Prema to liaise with Asia Education Foundation to involve Highview College into the BRIDGE program.
 * To create a BRIDGE Project proposal.
 * To plan a Malaysia Study tour.
 * To promote Indonesian within the school and the broader school environment.
 * To develop links between Highview College and their local feeder schools.
 * To increase communication amongst schools in their region that teaches Indonesian.
 * To promote positive discussion in the community about Highview College and language studies.
 * To incorporate more authentic learning trough ICT, authentic resources and incursions.
 * To investigate Year 8 male motivation / engagement in language learning.
 * To resource Year 10 students to plan lessons to teach primary aged students in local feeder schools. This will increase the number of students interested in Indonesian at a Primary school level and also re-energise Year 10 students. It will also increase the positive relationships between Highview College and their feeder schools.
 * To make contact with Maryborough Advertiser about running articles promoting Highview and Indonesian studies.
 * To contribute to college newsletter and update on 'what is going on' amongst the Indonesian classes. ||  ||   ||

What did you do? > Karissa has been looking at attending a workshop on 'Motivating boys in language learning'. We have contacted Sarah Pavy regarding her workshop sessions related to this. > Prema is contacting Asia Education Foundation to look for an Indonesian partner school for Ben and Karissa's school. > We have discussed on how to advocate for languages using every opportunity. > To motivate student learning, especially boys, by enrolling them into the LanguagePerfect World championship competition. > > We have liaised via emails. || To reflect and observe What did you notice? || What would you do the same/differently in the future? ||
 * == Stage 3 – ACT ==
 * Initial Planning and discussions were held on May 3rd.
 * We have met for the first time on May 3rd to discuss and set out the goals in this project.
 * == Stage 4 - OBSERVE ==
 * == Stage 4 - OBSERVE ==
 * == Stage 5 - REFLECT ==
 * == Stage 5 - REFLECT ==