The Importance of Professional Knowledge of Cultural and Linguistic Diversity in Multicultural and Multilingual Early Childhood Education in Australia
For this assignment, you will argue the importance of professional knowledge of cultural and linguistic diversity in Australia. Australia is rapidly becoming a multicultural, multiracial, and multilingual nation. The population of children in early childhood settings is also becoming increasingly culturally and linguistically diverse, which requires early childhood professionals to become more culturally and linguistically responsive to children, their families, and racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. Therefore, you are required to offer evidence about what kinds of knowledge of cultural and linguistic diversity would help early childhood professionals to support culturally and linguistically diverse children and their families and importantly to develop an inclusive curriculum. You are expected to be thoughtful about the ways you incorporate the notion of socially just teaching for young children.
To complete all parts of this assignment, you will need to have completed all readings from Topic 1 to Topic 3 as a minimum. The essay must be supported by literature. The entire assessment should use no less than five references from the unit readings (Topic notes and Policies are not counted in the five references) and extra reading if possible. Remember you need to use literature to support your ideas and argument. Please refer to the Assignment 1 Rubric for further details regarding the assessment criteria.
This assessment task is made up of five parts and additional guides are offered in each part below. Use the following section headings.
Part A: Introduction
Your introduction needs to include and answer the following questions.
1.What are you going to argue?
2.Why is the development of professional knowledge important in current early childhood education?
3.How will you argue in this essay? Provide a brief outline of your essay using the headings below.
Part B: Policies on Multiculturalism and Multilingualism in Australia
Complete Topic Notes and unit readings from Topic 1 to Topic 3, explore other documents and sources ( e.g. Census) and briefly explain how Australia has become a multicultural and multilingual nation. And then, analyse Australia’s multicultural policies and indigenous policies critically and identify how the Australian Federal Government has engaged with the concept of multiculturalism and multilingualism.
Part C: Cultural and Linguistic Diversity and My Philosophy
Based on the analysis of government policies, consider how cultural and linguistic inclusion is evident in practice within early childhood related documents(e.g. the Early Years Learning Framework) to support culturally and linguistically diverse children and their families, including Indigenous children. And then, describe your understandings of cultural and linguistic inclusion and how you can embrace and apply it in practice as supported by your own philosophy. Your philosophy must refer to the literature.
Part D: The Professional Knowledge of Cultural and linguistic Diversity
In this section, please answer the following questions. You are requested to answer the questions and write in narrative form and do not use dot/bullet points.
How does a professional understanding of children’s language skills and cultures, including children who use Aboriginal English (AE) and are from Indigenous backgrounds, impact on supporting culturally and linguistically diverse children and their families? What kinds of knowledge of cultural and linguistic diversity would help early childhood professionals to develop an inclusive curriculum? Your discussion should include references to the importance of cultural awareness, the nature and duration of children’s second language acquisition, the importance of children’s use of home language, and the features of Aboriginal English (AE).
Part E :Conclusion and Implication for Curriculum Planning
Based on the previous section of professional Knowledge of Cultural and linguistic Diversity, discuss how the professional knowledge of cultural and linguistic diversity could be applied to early childhood curriculum planning. The inclusive curriculum should be organised to respond to the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse children and their families. Identify ONE important key element for curriculum planning and state your rationale. In your rationale, you are expected to be critically reflective about socially just teaching and consider fair and equitable approaches for young children.
Unit Learning Outcomes -This assessment task is designed to enable you to address the following unit learning outcomes:
1.Analyse a range of attitudes and beliefs about current Australian social policies and social systems;
2.Recognise and effectively communicate their own educational philosophical base within a wider cultural framework;
3.Evaluate various ways of establishing inclusive practice for culturally and linguistically diverse children and families;
4.Demonstrate an understanding of the nature and duration of second language acquisition, including literacy learning in a variety of ways in the early childhood environment;
5.Use independent judgment tocreate inclusive early childhood curricula reflecting and accommodating children from diverse backgrounds including those from non-English speaking backgrounds; and
6.Demonstrate a proficient standard of communication and professional responsibility.
The Introduction section is assessed as Part A in the rubric.
The section of Policies on Multiculturalism and Multilingualism in Australia is assessed as Part B in the rubric.
The section of Cultural and Linguistic Diversity and My Philosophy is assessed as Part C in the rubric.
The section of the Professional Knowledge of Cultural and linguistic Diversity is assessed as Parc D in the rubric
The section of Conclusion and Implication for Curriculum Planning is assessed as Part E in the rubric.
