UWA Handbook 2025

Unit Overview

Description

Students will work as a language assistant in a primary or secondary school under the mentorship of a qualified teacher. Prior to the practicum they will participate in professional learning provided by the Department of Education (this will be delivered in an intensive format in the week prior to the beginning of semester 2). The practicum will involve roles negotiated with the mentor teacher, for example facilitating group work, preparing/developing resources, one-to-one oral work. Students will create a language learning resource/activity in consultation with the mentor teacher. Over the course of the practicum, students will attend three online check-in sessions with the unit coordinator, at which they will report on the progress of their practicum and reflect on their workplace learning.

The academic objectives of the unit are for students to apply the practical skills and theoretical learning from their language major in this particular workplace setting and to identify and demonstrate transferable skills applicable to any workplace.

This unit is not available for self-enrolment and is only available to high-performing students. Students wishing to apply for the unit must contact the unit coordinator and submit an expression of interest (a form will be supplied for this purpose).

Note that completion of this unit will not be deemed to contribute to pre-service practicum experience for the Master of Teaching or any other teaching qualification.

Credit

6 points

Offering
(see Timetable)

Availability	Location	Mode
Semester 2	UWA (Perth)	Face to face

Details for undergraduate courses

• Level 3 elective

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) apply practical skills and theoretical knowledge learned in their undergraduate degree to a workplace setting (a primary or secondary school classroom); (2) create a language learning resource or activity that meets an agreed requirement negotiated with the mentor teacher; (3) demonstrate a high level of initiative and the ability to work independently where required; (4) critically reflect upon their experience in the workplace (a languages classroom); and (5) apply communication, teamwork and interpersonal skills in the workplace.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) language learning resource or activity; (2) reflective report; and (3) participation in professional learning intensive and online check-in sessions as well as submission of completed timesheets signed by mentor teacher. Further information is available in the unit outline.

This unit is assessed on an ungraded pass/ungraded failed basis. All assessment items must be successfully completed.

Supplementary assessment is not available in this unit.

Unit Coordinator(s)

Associate Professor Kati Tonkin

Unit rules

Prerequisites

Successful completion of

one level 2 Unit(s) from your language major (Chinese, French, German, Indonesian, Italian
or Japanese)

Approved quota: 30—high-achieving students who have completed one level 2 unit in one of the targeted language majors (Chinese, French, German, Indonesian, Italian and Japanese) will be invited to submit an application. The Unit Coordinator together with representatives of the Department of Education will select students and match them with schools. Selection will be based on academic merit and the availability of schools to host students.

Incidental fees

Incidental student fees and charges are costs incurred by students as part of their studies at UWA that are in addition to their tuition fees (further information is available "
Participation in this unit will incur the following incidental fee(s):
Working with Children Check (WWCC) and Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) (estimated cost - $30).

Contact hours

30 hours of instruction delivered in an intensive mode prior to Semester 2.
80 hours of work placement.
3 hours of online check-in sessions during the semester.
All of these contact hours are compulsory.

Note

This unit is not available for self-enrolment. Please contact the Unit Coordinator to express interest.