Careers - Secondary Teaching - Languages Other Than English (LOTE)

A career in Language teaching

In NSW and other Australian states prospective LOTE teachers usually need to be qualified to teach in either two languages or in one language and in one other secondary school teaching subject (curriculum area,) or in Counselling. If you are interested in a career as a LOTE teacher you would normally be required to complete three years (at least intermediate level) university studies in :

a Language
a second teaching subject discipline (e.g. English, Geography, another language, Mathematics or TESOL) or in Counselling
Education as a social science
professional and curriculum studies (teaching methodology)

Coursework (degree) options for prospective LOTE teachers

The University of Sydney offers these alternative ways of gaining a qualification as a teacher of Languages:

a Bachelor of Education program (4 years full-time study). This is an undergraduate course for school leavers.
a Bachelor of Arts (or an equivalent undergraduate qualification) followed be either a Master of Teaching or a Bachelor of Teaching (5-years or 4 and a half years of full-time study)
a Bachelor of Arts/ Bachelor of Education (Secondary: Humanities and Social Sciences) joint degree program (5 years full-time study). This is an undergraduate course for school leavers.
a graduate Master of Teaching or a Bachelor of Teaching (of 3 or 4 semesters respectively) for graduates with a first degree with a major or a minor in one or two Languages.

Prerequisite and recommended studies: School leavers

No HSC subjects are prescribed for those intending to pursue a career in LOTE teaching, as it is sometimes possible to enrol in 1st year university subjects in a language without having studied one in the HSC. However, it is clearly desirable that those intending to study a language at university in order to become a LOTE teacher, should include a language subject in their HSC. As well, you should also choose HSC subjects that are relevant to a second teaching area (see the information under the particular second teaching area you are interested in).

UAI Entry levels

To view the minimum UAI entry scores in recent years for those courses which lead directly (or indirectly with subsequent postgraduate study) to a teaching qualification in secondary school LOTE teaching, click here.

Prerequisite studies: Graduates

Graduates with a first degree which includes studies appropriate to teaching in a specialist area may be eligible for admission to the Master of Teaching/Bachelor of Teaching program. Entry into the postgraduate MTeach/BTeach course is competitive and will be based upon the following criteria and interview:

completion of a language major in an appropriate undergraduate degree
completion of a minor in a second teaching area (such as a second language, or English, or linguistics, or ESL)
level of achievement in undergraduate studies (grade average)
good communication skills
demonstrated commitment to teaching as a profession

Typically the subjects which are generally appropriate for LOTE teaching are: languages and linguistics.

For more information see that for the postgraduate Master of Teaching/Bachelor of Teaching program.