To: Teachers of Languages in school-based programs in all states and territories
You have been invited to participate in this research project because you are a teacher of a language (other than English) in a school. Your knowledge and experience in this field of education is important to this project. This invitation has been distributed via the communication networks of Language Teacher Associations nationwide. All teachers of languages in schools in all Australian states and territories are eligible to take part.
This Participant Information Sheet tells you about the research project. It explains the processes involved with taking part. This may help you decide if you want to take part in the research. Please read this information carefully. Participation in this research is voluntary. If you don’t wish to take part, you don’t have to.
If you decide you want to take part in this research project, you will indicate your consent to the research team by accessing and completing the online survey. By completing the survey you are indicating that you understand what you have read, consent to take part in the research project, and consent to the use of your information as described.
Teacher Survey 1 relates to language program provision and student participation in your own teaching context.
Completing the online survey should take approximately 10-15 minutes.
Teacher Survey 2 relates to teacher qualifications and experience. Completing the online survey should take approximately 10-15 minutes.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Introduction – What does my participation involve?
Your participation in this phase of the project involves completing an online survey seeking information about your language program and student participation in that program. No personal information about you or your students is collected.
What is the purpose of this research?
The overarching project objective is to support the Australian Government effort to increase the uptake of languages learning in schools.
The specific purpose of the overall project is to develop, for the Australian Government, a National Languages Plan and Strategy for languages education in Australian schools. The Australian Government may use the plan to inform future languages policy design at the national level.
The purpose of this specific phase of the project (the program provision and student participation survey) is to gather some detailed information on how languages programs are delivered and the numbers of students participating in such programs in a range of school sites. All data collected nationwide will be collated and analysed to contribute to developing an overall profile of Languages Education in Australian schools and the community more generally.
What does participation in this research involve?
Participation in this phase of the project involves completing an online survey which requests information about your own particular program. The survey should take no more than 10 minutes to complete.
What are the possible benefits of taking part?
Your input will assist in developing an indicative profile of languages teaching and learning in Australian schools, and in the community more generally.
What are the possible risks and disadvantages of taking part?
The survey is anonymous and seeks to collect general information related to your language program. There are no perceived risks or disadvantages in taking part in this survey.
Do I have to take part in this research project?
Participating in the project by completing the survey is entirely voluntary. You may withdraw from the project at anytime. Your contribution will only be complete when you click the submit button at the end of the survey.
What will happen to information about me?
There is no personal information collected in this survey, the name of your school or teaching site is not collected. All information remains anonymous. All records containing personal information will remain confidential and no information leading to the identification of individuals will be released unless required by law
What if something goes wrong?
There are no anticipated issues in completing the survey. If you are uncertain of an answer or uncomfortable with a question you may leave it blank.
What happens when the research project ends?
A report will be provided to the Australian Government including an indicative profile of languages education in Australia. The survey data will remain confidential, and will be stored on a secure server at the University of South Australia for a period of seven years, as required by the Australian government.
Who is organising and funding the research?
The research is funded by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment, Canberra. The project is managed by the Australian Federation of Modern Language Teachers Associations (AFMLTA)
Who has reviewed the research project?
The ethical aspects of this research project have been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) of the University of South Australia as required by the Australian government research requirements, specified in the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007 – updated 2018). This statement has been developed to protect the interests of people who agree to participate in human research studies.
Further information
If you have any complaints about any aspect of the project, the way it is being conducted or any questions about being a research participant in general, please contact:
Ms Vicki Allen, HREC Executive Officer
University of South Australia Human Research Ethics Committee
P: +618 8302 6330
E: [email protected]
Further information and contacts: Chief Investigators:
Andrew Scrimgeour
University of SA
P: 08 83024705
E: [email protected]
Anne-Marie Morgan
James Cook University
P: 0402978069
E: [email protected]
To download a PDF copy of this Participant Information Sheet L2 TS1 & L2 TS2.
To download the Project Information Sheet CLICK HERE.