Macedonian Bilingual Program at Lalor North PS N L S P

Introduction Lalor North Primary School is currently one of fifteen primary schools in the Victorian Government Education system with designated Bilingual Programs. The Macedonian Bilingual Program has operated for 26 years. The Macedonian Bilingual Program operates in four rooms. There are 15 students in grade prep, 23 students in grade 1/2, 26 students in grade 3/4 and 24 students in grade 5/6 – a total of 88 students. There are 4 full time teachers, 2 LOTE teachers and 2 English teachers. Also in the program work 2 full time Multicultural Aides.

How do the Bilingual Program work? Students in grades prep-2 receive approximately 13 hours a week in Macedonian and 9 hours in English. Macedonian classes in the junior levels: -Mathematics -Integrated Curriculum -Literacy (Writing, Reading) -Personal and Social Learning -Interdisciplinary learning Students in grades 3-6 receive approximately 9 hours of Macedonian and 13 hours in English. Macedonian classes in the senior levels: -Integrated Curriculum -Literacy (Writing, Reading) -Interdisciplinary learning Specialist classes (Music, Physical Education and Information Technology) are taught in English across all year levels.

Resources For successful implementation of the Bilingual Program there is a wide collection of resources such as: -multiple copies of guided reading books, -big books, -mathematics resources (Signposts, Rigby Maths, Maths Plus) -You Can Do It Program -Posters (Parking Lot, De Bono’s Thinking Hats etc) -computers, scanners, printers - We use our multicultural aides to make language resources to support curriculum delivery due to a lack of suitable commercial resources in Macedonian.

Student Ability Bilingual Education has many benefits for the students who engage in their curriculum learning activities through both English and Macedonian. The Macedonian teachers provide sustained and consistent models across a range of contexts. Curriculum planing optimises the exploration of cultural understanding. Students are achieving high levels of especially oral proficiency in the target language and are equalling or exceeding “like school” or state bench marks. Last year’s report by the Department of Education and Training shows that the students in the Macedonian bilingual program have advanced problem solving strategies and creativity. They also have enhanced confidence in engaging in unfamiliar or challenging experiences.

Links With the Community Christmas performances for Macedonian Senior Citizens Students performance and Dinner Dance for parents and friends (every second year) Celebration of Macedonian Special Days Visit from Macedonian Foreign Minister and the Ambassador Visit from the Traditional Dancing Ensemble “Koco Racin” from Macedonia Visit from the members of the Professional Theatre from Macedonia Parents are overwhelmingly positive of the program, the way it is implemented and the quality of teaching (last year questioner) All visits to the school by native speakers and representatives from Macedonia enrich the program in a variety of cultural and linguistic ways and serve as a marketing strategy to attract new enrolments.