Page 25 - Accents December

Accents
Community Languages School Leadership and Management Program
by Marina Anokhina
Russian language teacher
St. Alexander Nevsky Russian School Homebush
I would like to share my experience of attending the Community Languages School Leadership and Management Program offered by the University of Sydney Institute of Community Languages Education (SICLE).
The course is designed for Head Teachers, Principals, executive and management committee members in NSW government-funded community languages schools. It is a 60-hour face-to-face program that focuses on essential aspects of setting up and running a community language school. Topics cover language curriculum, behaviour management policy, student assessment, supporting staff, legal requirements, financial management and grant applications.
The sessions were run on Thursdays from 5pm-8pm (May-September 2019), or on Sundays from 9am-4pm (June-September 2019). My classes were on Sundays. The study was quite intensive and very interactive. Thanks to the experienced lecturer and meaningful content the sessions were very engaging. There were many opportunities to ask questions, participate in discussions and exchange experiences among attendees. Most of the issues happening at different community schools were familiar to almost everyone in class as they had similar difficulties in learning and teaching, and it was useful to get to know the ways they could be solved.
Our class was divided into groups, and each group got necessary support with the assignments from the mentor principal. All assignments were relevant to me as it involved reflection on the school I work and on the language I teach. For example, one of the assignment tasks involved the analysis of relationship with the host school and the aspects that needed to be improved.
Each session the participants received handouts with the key findings, different activities to be completed in class and useful pieces of advice related to community schools. Overall, the course developed my skills in leadership and management, and equipped me with the knowledge to become a better educational leader.
Volume 23 Number 1 Page 25