Distance Education

The Victorian School of Languages (VSL) also offers Distance Education courses, allowing students to complete and submit coursework at their own pace, while receiving regular oral lessons from specialist teachers at the VSL.

Distance Education is available only at the Secondary school level. Grade 6 students can enrol in Year 7 courses.

Please Note: Enrolments for school-based students must be processed through the student’s home school. Parents should review the information below and discuss enrolment with their child’s home school.

Language

Secondary

VCE

Accelerated

Arabic

Yes

Yes

No

Chinese
Mandarin FL

No

Yes

No

Chinese
Mandarin SL

Yes

Yes

No

Chinese
Mandarin SLA

No

Yes

No

French

Yes

Yes

No

German

Yes

Yes

No

Greek

Yes

Yes

No

Hindi

No

Yes

No

Indonesian FL

No

Yes

No

Indonesian SL

Yes

Yes

No

Italian

Yes

Yes

No

Japanese FL

No

Yes

No

Japanese SL

Yes

Yes

No

Latin

Yes

Yes

Yes*

Punjabi

No

Yes

No

Spanish

Yes

Yes

No

Vietnamese SL

No

Yes

No

*For late starters

Arabic

Secondary. Yes

VCE. Yes

Accelerated. No

Chinese Mandarin FL

Secondary. No

VCE. Yes

Accelerated. No

Chinese Mandarin SL

Secondary. Yes

VCE. Yes

Accelerated. No

Chinese Mandarin SLA

Secondary. No

VCE. Yes

Accelerated. No

French

Secondary. Yes

VCE. Yes

Accelerated. No

German

Secondary. Yes

VCE. Yes

Accelerated. No

Greek

Secondary. Yes

VCE. Yes

Accelerated. No

Hindi

Secondary. No

VCE. Yes

Accelerated. No

Indonesian FL

Secondary. No

VCE. Yes

Accelerated. No

Indonesian SL

Secondary. Yes

VCE. Yes

Accelerated. No

Italian

Secondary. Yes

VCE. Yes

Accelerated. No

Japanese FL

Secondary. No

VCE. Yes

Accelerated. No

Japanese SL

Secondary. Yes

VCE. Yes

Accelerated. No

Latin

Secondary. Yes

VCE. Yes

Accelerated. Yes*

*For late starters

Punjabi

Secondary. No

VCE. Yes

Accelerated. No

Vietnamese SL

Secondary. No

VCE. Yes

Accelerated. No

Spanish

Secondary. Yes

VCE. Yes

Accelerated. No

Pre-requisite Learning

Course Levels and Enrolment Information

  • Year 7 Courses: No previous secondary language study is required.
  • Year 8 Courses: Suitable for students who have completed approximately one year of secondary language study.
  • Year 9 Courses: Suitable for students who have completed approximately two years of secondary language study.
  • Year 10 Courses: Suitable for students who have completed approximately three years of secondary language study.
  • Accelerated Level 1 Courses: Accelerated 1 (Years 7 & 8) and Accelerated 2 (Years 9 & 10) are available in Latin and provide an alternative pathway for late starters.
  • Accelerated Level 2 Courses: Follow on from Accelerated Level 1 or Year 8. Available in German, Latin, and Spanish, these courses lead to Year 11 VCE Units 1 & 2 upon completion.
  • VCE Unit 1: Suitable for students who have completed approximately four years of secondary language study. This is not a beginner’s course.
  • VCE Unit 2: Follows on from VCE Unit 1.
  • VCE Unit 3: Follows on from VCE Unit 2. To gain VCE credit, it must be combined with VCE Unit 4.
  • VCE Unit 4: Follows on from VCE Unit 3. To gain VCE credit, it must be combined with VCE Unit 3.

Students should enrol in a language course that matches their day school level or select the appropriate Accelerated course where available.

Enrolment in courses two or more years above the student’s day school level is not permitted.

Parents and guardians are welcome to contact the VSL to discuss the most suitable course. Students unsure of the appropriate level may request a placement test.

Note: Students cannot enrol in VCE Units 3 & 4 Second Language courses in Chinese, Indonesian, or Japanese until eligibility to study these languages as a Second Language is confirmed. Eligibility should be sought from VCAA through the student’s home school.

Who can enrol in Distance Education?

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Victorian School Based Students

Enrolment Criteria
Students may be eligible to enrol in VSL Distance Education if:

  • The language course is not currently available at their day school.
  • A timetable clash prevents them from studying the language of their choice at their home school.
  • They are not attending a regular school due to overseas or interstate travel, ill health, or other difficulties.

All students must be Australian citizens or hold residency status according to DET guidelines. Otherwise, full fee recovery will apply.

Please note: Students cannot be enrolled in Distance Education if they are also enrolled at a VSL Centre for the same language at the same year level.

For any questions about the enrolment process, please contact us at 9474 0500 or 1800 675 872.

Enrolment Procedures
School-based students can only enrol in VSL Distance Education with the support of their regular home school. Parents should discuss this with the student’s home school. Once approved, the home school must complete the online enrolment request form. Note: Parents cannot complete this form themselves.

After the enrolment request is processed, the home school will receive an acknowledgement email with an attached form. Terms and conditions apply.

Payment Notes

  • The administrative fee must be paid by the enrolling school.
  • Materials will be printed and sent after payment of the administrative fee.
  • Refunds will be issued solely to the enrolling school.

Non School Based Students

Enrolment Criteria
If you are unable to attend school daily, you may be eligible to enrol based on remoteness, approved home schooling, medical disability, travel, or other approved reasons. A contact address in Victoria is required in all cases. All students must be Australian citizens or hold residency status according to DET guidelines; otherwise, full fee recovery will apply. Students aged 20 or under studying VCE at a TAFE Institute must also enrol online as non-school based students.

For any questions about the enrolment process, please contact us at 9474 0500 or 1800 675 872.

Enrolment Procedures
Parents or guardians of non-school based students must first contact the VSL Enrolment Officer before proceeding with enrolment. Once approval is granted, parents or guardians should complete the online enrolment form: VSL Online Enrolment Request Form. After the enrolment request is processed, you will receive an acknowledgement email with an attached form. Terms and conditions apply.

Home-schooled students must also provide a copy of their registration from the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority.

Full time students of the Virtual School Victoria (VSV)

Enrolment Criteria
Students wishing to study VSL languages should apply using the VSV enrolment form, available at vsv.vic.edu.au. For enquiries about language enrolment levels, please contact the VSL at 9474 0500 or 1800 675 872. All students must be Australian citizens or hold residency status according to DET guidelines; otherwise, full fee recovery will apply.

Primary
Year 6 students currently studying with VSV can also include beginner language courses in their study program.

Enrolment Procedures
Enrolment of VSV students in VSL classes is processed through the VSV enrolment procedure. Students wishing to study a VSL language should nominate the subject when completing the VSV enrolment form. For questions about the enrolment process, contact VSV directly. If parents or guardians have questions about the appropriate level for a student, they should contact the VSL enrolment officer.

International (or Overseas Full Fee Paying) Students

Enrolment Criteria
International students attending a Victorian secondary school can enrol in VSL subjects. For enquiries about language enrolment levels, please contact the VSL enrolment officer at 9474 0500 or 1800 675 872.

Enrolment Procedures
Enrolment procedures vary for government and non-government schools. In all cases, the International Student Coordinator (ISC) at the student’s home school must handle the enrolment.

Government school students: Enrolment is completed online using the VISIT system provided by the International Education Division of DET.

Non-Government school students: Enrolment is completed using a hard copy form, which can be downloaded here.

International students enrolled in TAFE colleges are considered non-government school students and must pay the full course fee. Enrolment procedures and costs are determined by the International Education Division of DET.

Cost
For students attending non-government schools and TAFE colleges, the annual fee (or pro-rata by semester) must be paid upon enrolment. Students attending government schools will have their fees deducted at their home school.

International (or Overseas Full Fee Paying) Students

Enrolment Criteria
International students attending a Victorian secondary school are eligible to enrol in VSL subjects. For enquiries about language enrolment levels, please contact the VSL enrolment officer at 9474 0500 or 1800 675 872.

Enrolment Procedures

Parents or guardians of non-school based students must first contact the VSL Enrolment Officer before enrolment. Once approved, they should complete the online enrolment form: VSL Online enrolment request form. After the enrolment request is processed, you will receive an acknowledgement email with an attached form. Terms and conditions apply.

Home-schooled students must also provide a copy of their registration from the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority.

Other Students

Enrolment Criteria
If you do not meet the criteria outlined in the categories above, or if you need any assistance, please contact us at 9474 0500 or 1800 675 872. We are here to help.

What You Need to Study via Distance Education

Studying through Distance Education requires students to be well-organised. Each week, students must complete one ‘workset’ and submit it to their VSL teacher. The time required to complete a VSL ‘workset’ is designed to be equivalent to the time needed for other subjects at the same year level. Courses include:

  • Weekly Work: Students must complete a set amount of coursework each week and submit it to their VSL teacher, who will then correct and return the work.
  • Oral Lessons: Students have regular ‘oral lessons’ with their VSL teacher to practice the language, receive feedback on their work, and ask any questions. These lessons are conducted fortnightly via video conferencing during school hours and last approximately 15 minutes.
  • Seminars: Many courses, particularly at senior levels, include several day-long seminars throughout the year to assist with study. These seminars also provide the opportunity to meet the teacher and fellow students. Attendance at seminars is not compulsory but is encouraged.
  • VCE Formal Assessment: As with all VCE subjects, School Assessed Coursework is conducted under exam conditions at the student’s home school. These assessments are organised by both the VSL and the home school.

Mode of Course Delivery

Students access their weekly course materials and submit their work through the VSL course page. Printed course materials are also mailed to students.

Depending on the language and year level, students will receive a different combination of online and print materials.

Printed coursebooks are the primary resource

French Years 7 – 9

German Years 7 – 8

Indonesian Years 7 – 8

Indonesian FL VCE Units 3 – 4

Italian Years 7 – 8

Latin Years 7 – 10, Accelerated 1 & 2

Spanish Years 7 – 9

Arabic Year 10, VCE Units 1 – 4

Chinese Years 9, 10

Chinese FL VCE Units 3 – 4

Greek All levels

Japanese Years 7 – 8

Japanese FL VCE Units 3 & 4

Printed Notes
Printed Coursebook

Printed Notes
Printed Coursebook
Weekly work for submission worksheet

Online
Download weekly work for submission worksheet
Access audio tracks
Upload completed work
Library of additional resources

Online
Access audio tracks
Upload completed handwritten work
Library of additional resources

Regular speaking lesson with teacher

Regular speaking lesson with teacher

Students access their weekly course materials and submit their work through the VSL course page. Printed course materials are also mailed to students.

Depending on the language and year level, students will receive a different combination of online and print materials.

Printed coursebooks are the primary resource

French Years 7 – 9

German Years 7 – 8

Indonesian Years 7 – 8

Indonesian FL VCE Units 3 – 4

Italian Years 7 – 8

Latin Years 7 – 8, Accelerated 1 & 2

Spanish Years 7 – 9

Printed Notes
Printed Coursebook

Online
Download weekly work for submission worksheet
Access audio tracks
Upload completed work
Library of additional resources

Regular speaking lesson with teacher

Printed coursebooks are the primary resource

Arabic Year 10, VCE Units 1 – 4

Chinese Years 9, 10

Chinese FL VCE Units 3 – 4

Greek All levels

Japanese Years 7 – 8

Japanese FL VCE Units 3 & 4

Printed Notes
Printed Coursebook
Weekly work for submission worksheet

Online
Access audio tracks
Upload completed handwritten work
Library of additional resources

Regular speaking lesson with teacher

Online interactive courses

French VCE Units 1–4, Year 10

German VCE Units 1–4, Years 9 & 10

Indonesian SL VCE Units 1–4, Years 9 & 10

Italian VCE Units 1–4, Years 9 & 10

Latin VCE Units 1–4

Spanish VCE Units 1–4, Years 9 & 10

Chinese Years 7–8

Chinese SL/A VCE Units 1–4

Hindi VCE Units 1–4

Japanese SL VCE Units 1–4, Years 9 & 10

Punjabi VCE Units 1–4

Vietnamese SL VCE Units 1–4

Japanese SL Year 9

Printed Notes
Printed Coursebook

Printed Notes
Printed Coursebook
Weekly work for submission worksheet

Online
Complete interactive tasks
Library of additional resources

Online
Complete interactive tasks
Upload completed handwritten work
Library of additional resources

Regular speaking lesson with teacher

Regular speaking lesson with teacher

Online interactive courses

French VCE Units 1–4, Year 10

German VCE Units 1–4, Years 9 & 10

Indonesian SL VCE Units 1–4, Years 9 & 10

Italian VCE Units 1–4, Years 9 & 10

Latin VCE Units 1–4

Spanish VCE Units 1–4, Years 9 & 10

Printed Notes
Printed Coursebook

Online
Complete interactive tasks
Library of additional resources

Regular speaking lesson with teacher

Online interactive courses

Chinese Years 7–8

Chinese SL/A VCE Units 1–4

Hindi VCE Units 1–4

Japanese SL VCE Units 1–4, Years 9 & 10

Punjabi VCE Units 1–4

Vietnamese SL VCE Units 1–4

Japanese SL Year 9

Printed Notes
Printed Coursebook
Weekly work for submission worksheet

Online
Complete interactive tasks
Upload completed handwritten work
Library of additional resources

Regular speaking lesson with teacher