Happy New Year! 2011 seems such a futuristic date and yet why have I still not put into action my longtime ambition of moving to Melbourne, Australia? Let's do the checklist for my language teaching wife, my 5 year old son and moi -
- Great weather - check
- Great lifestyle - check
- Sporting opportunities - check
- Great wine (not for the 5 year old obviously...) - check
- Forward thinking education system focussed on learning - check
So what the hell am I waiting for? Well it is much easier to dream than it is to act; at 32 I am doing well in my career as Assistant Head Teacher in one of the country's most innovative schools, I am able to speak at conferences, I organise TeachmeetNE, I have worked on the National Strategies for languages at KS3 and co-authored the KS4 languages strategy swan song before the government closed the National Strategies (a ridiculous decision). That, combined with a wonderful family make for a pretty good life here in Newcastle, so why move?
The tipping point was finding this . The Victorian Languages Strategy for the 21st Century is exactly the direction teaching and learning languages should be going. I can see a strategic plan which is driven by effective pedagogy not a whimsical reflection of a bygone era which seems to be the current British Government's policy on languages. I can see myself working in this context in order to further develop this strategy into a world class beacon for language learning. So, that long term goal in sight now I just have to find a job, get a visa, sell my house and transplant my entire life thousands of miles away... best get started.
