Many children in Australia today who are going to a childcare centre or preschool, or who are starting school, don’t speak English as their first language. Education professionals who work with these children require knowledge and skills to effectively support their bilingual capabilities in order to nurture their development and learning to achieve their best potential. 

This specialisation is designed for teachers, researchers and educational practitioners interested in working with children and young people learning English as a second or foreign language. It will equip you with knowledge, skills and understanding of second- and foreign-language teaching and learning in culturally and linguistically diverse settings – and can lead to careers in teaching, research or administration at any level of education. You’ll develop a familiarity with current issues and research trends in second-language acquisition, and you’ll learn how to interpret and explain the cultural, psychological and social dimensions of bilingual education.

Key Features

• If you’re a busy teacher, you can study online while you work and apply your new practices in the classroom. 
• Your study in this advanced field will benefit from our research-enriched teaching and learning environment. 
• Your learning will be enhanced by our deep relationships with hub and partner schools, which enable ongoing engagement with teachers and classrooms. 
• You’ll have the opportunity to learn and conduct research at our internationally renowned Mia Mia Child and Family Study Centre, the Macquarie University Special Education Centre (MUSEC) and the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC), which are all located on campus. 
• After you graduate, you’ll have access to ongoing professional learning and cutting-edge professional development through our Academy of Continuing Professional Development in Education. 
• Note: This is not a teaching qualification. To become a teacher, you must complete a Master of Teaching in either early childhood, primary or secondary education.

• Bilingual teacher 
• Classroom-based leader 
• Education administrator  
• Educational researcher 
• Mentor for other teachers 
• Policymaker 
• Specialised language teacher  
• Teacher, researcher or administrator at any level of education in a culturally and linguistically diverse setting