Gifted & Talented Selective Entrance Languages Program

Since 1971, Mount Lawley SHS has had a long standing tradition for supporting specialist language programs and is very proud of the outstanding success of many of its students.

The Gifted and Talented Selective Entrance Languages Program, where application and selection processes are managed centrally by the Department of Education, Gifted and Talented Selection Unit is a highly prestigious program.

Selection is based on the results of the Selective Entrance Test combined with an interview.

Success

The Gifted and Talented Program provides students who are gifted in the linguistic area with the opportunity to develop their language skills to an advanced level.

They also develop a rich appreciation and understanding of the culture related to the country from which the language originates, and enjoy a dynamic and challenging learning environment.

Mount Lawley SHS Gifted and Talented students have achieved academic excellence, winning WACE awards as well as National and International language examinations, and competitions held by Language Associations.

Many past students have established careers in which their excellent knowledge of languages has been a key asset to their success.

A Commitment to Excellence

The Gifted and Talented Program operates from Year 7 through to Year 10.

In order to facilitate a specialist approach to students identified as gifted, the school commits resources to the Gifted and Talented Program through the appointment of a Gifted and Talented Coordinator and invests in the Professional Development of teachers.

Mount Lawley SHS provides an extensive, collaborative and responsive Gifted and Talented Program that caters for the individual learning needs of students with special abilities including those with high academic ability.

Learning programs are designed to support the unique emotional and social needs of students, and to enable their individual intellectual strengths, talents and learning styles to be recognised and developed.

We believe:

  • that giftedness is a multi-faceted concept
  • that  gifted students have special learning needs
  • that differentiated curriculum teaching and learning practices are critical  to  meeting the individual learning needs of all students, including those that are gifted
  • that gifted education programs need to be flexible, inclusive, collaborative and systematically evaluated.

Structure

In Middle School (Years 7 to 9) Gifted and Talented students are grouped together for Mathematics, Science, English and Humanities and Social Sciences and their individual choice of language studies in Chinese (Mandarin) or Italian in Years 7 to 9.

For the remainder of their program Gifted and Talented students pursue studies in Physical and Health Education and various elective areas (Art, Computing,  Design and Technology, Drama, Integrated Studies, Home Economics and Music) where they work with the broader student body as the timetable permits.

In Senior School (Year 10) they remain grouped together for Languages but are fully integrated with the rest of the Year 10 cohort for all other subjects.

Learning Language

Language teachers incorporate a variety of resources to develop comprehension, spoken interaction and writing skills.

They also develop students' knowledge and use of cultural norms and practices that are essential for effective communication.

Students are able to enhance these linguistic and cultural skills through the individualised support they receive from native speaking language assistants and tutors.

A range of methodologies are used to promote the learning of languages.

Audio visual resources including CDs, DVDs, computer software, films, magazines, posters, cultural literature, food tasting, external competitions, internet blogging and restaurant outings enable the Language students to experience a rewarding learning journey which includes listening, reading, speaking and writing in the target language.

Our Native Speaker Program provides our students with conversational skills in a realistic situation.

The Gifted and Talented Program utilises such strategies as:

  • flexible groupings
  • curriculum differentiation
  • links to mentors
  • enrichment opportunities through excursions
  • Individual Education Plans
  • external competitions and challenges, and,
  • has a strong emphasis on the use of ICT for curriculum delivery, as well as to:
  • enable students to participate in on-line forums
  • access mentors,
  • plan and conduct investigations,
  • share their work,
  • work together in small interest groups and
  • access links to interest clubs and organisations.

Enrichment and immersion is offered through the opportunity to visit China/Italy with an exchange program or study tour.

Students consolidate the value of learning to communicate in a new language while immersed in the culture of the target language.

Selection

Entry is competitive and based on available vacancies.

All applicants must sit the Selective Entrance Test coordinated by the Department of Education.

Applicants who are short listed then participate in an interview and submit school reports which will demonstrate their talent, aptitude and commitment.

Parents should apply on-line at the following site:

www.education.wa.edu.au/giftedandtalented