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Intercultural Investigations: learning about languages and cultures

Intercultural Investigations (ICIS) is a subject that aims to help students learn about languages and cultures and how they connect and work together.

Intercultural Investigations may be taught as a precursor or alternative to language studies. The mandatory languages policy means it can no longer be taught to students as an alternative to the study of a learning area language in Years 6, 7 and 8.

Preparation for learning languages

Students studying Intercultural Investigations develop the following skills, knowledge and understanding about language and culture:

everyone has a culture and sees the world through their culture
culture includes things you can see and do (such as food, dress and language) as well as values, attitudes and beliefs
language and culture work together to shape how we see and understand the world
everyone has their own way of expressing their culture and responding to another culture
culture evolves and changes.

These understandings and skills prepare students for learning a second language in later years. They also support literacy, numeracy and information and communication technology skills.

Exploring cultures through language

While some students may learn basic communication skills in the language being studied through ICIS, the focus is on exploring cultures through language.

Students are encouraged to engage with the perspectives and practices of their own and another culture through the language by:

exploring cultural and linguistic elements in English
being introduced to a few words and phrases of the language from the culture being studied
using verbal and non-verbal aspects of language to gain an insight into the values, attitudes and beliefs of the culture being studied.

More information

For more information, including rationale, curriculum, assessment and reporting, download the Intercultural Investigations overview 74k.

Teachers can also access online support materials relating to curriculum, pedagogy and assessment in ICIS, including units of work, through Blackboard 62k.

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