From Middle Years to VCE: Building Sustainable Asian Language Pathways in Community Language Schools with Dr. Ruilan Yuan

About the Workshop

How can community language schools build language programs that enable students to progress successfully from the middle years into senior secondary and VCE study?

This practical workshop will explore how schools can establish clear, sustainable language-learning pathways that strengthen student retention and prepare learners for VCE. Participants will examine curriculum sequencing, pedagogy, assessment and examination preparation, alongside the VCAA requirements and governance decisions that support effective VCE delivery.

Recognising the challenges faced by community language schools, including limited teaching hours, multilevel classes and constrained resources, the workshop will introduce an Asian Language Pathway Audit Tool, which participants will use to review their existing programs.

The session will connect educational planning with organisational sustainability to support stronger language-learning pathways from Years 7–10 through to VCE.

Learning Outcomes

• Explain the knowledge, language skills and learning progression students need to transition successfully from Years 7–10 into VCE language study;

• Identify strengths and gaps in their school’s curriculum sequencing, teaching, assessment and student retention;

• Recognise key VCAA requirements and the governance, staffing and resource considerations necessary for sustainable VCE delivery; and

• Apply the Asian Language Pathway Audit Tool to identify priorities and develop practical actions to strengthen their school’s language pathway.

Participants will leave with:

• an introduction to the Asian Language Pathway Audit Tool;

• a clearer picture of the strengths and gaps in their school’s existing program;

• practical priorities for improvement; and

• an understanding of key VCAA requirements and the governance decisions that support effective VCE delivery

Who Should Attend

• Teachers in community language schools, particularly those teaching middle-years or VCE students

• School leaders and principals

• Committee members involved in program and governance decisions

Session Details

Monday, 16 November 2026
6:30–8:00 pm
Online via Zoom
Free professional learning

About Dr. Ruilan Yuan

Dr Ruilan Yuan is the Principal of RLY Chinese Culture and Language Academy Inc. (新长安中文学院)

She has 31 years of experience teaching Chinese at primary and secondary levels in Australia, including VCE Chinese First Language (CFL), Second Language (CSL) and Second Language Advanced (CSLA). She has served as an oral examiner for all three VCE Chinese courses for the Victorian Department of Education, and has developed VCE Chinese Second Language and Second Language Advanced mock examination papers for 20 years.

With 12 years of experience managing community Chinese schools, Dr Yuan has made significant contributions to Chinese language education and community language development. She also served as Secretary-General of Chinese Model United Nations (Victoria) from 2023 to 2025.

Dr Yuan is a Council Member of both Community Languages Australia (CLA) and Community Languages Victoria (CLV), contributing her expertise to the advancement of community language education in Victoria and across Australia.