An Arts Approach to Indigenous Studies in ESL. Robyn Heras, Principal, Bankstown AMES (Adult Migrant English Service), NSW. Abstract The NESB Youth and Aboriginal Arts Program has been operating with great success in NSW AMES courses for young people since 1995. This program adopts a totally integrated approach to developing increased knowledge and understanding of AustraliaÕs indigenous peoples and their cultures and the development of English language and literacy skills. It involves bringing together young migrants (aged 17 to 24) with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and performers who act as tutors in dance, music , story telling and the visual arts in an on-going series of interactive workshops and discussion groups. The ESL teachers conduct preparation and follow up sessions to the workshops and link these with the development of language and literacy competencies. The Aboriginal Arts Program has now become an integral part of NSW AMES Youth programs. It provides a model for integrating the development of English language and literacy skills with the breaking down of negative stereotypes of indigenous Australians held by many immigrants. This workshop will examine: The background to the program The Curriculum framework Video documents to demonstrate the level of interaction between the students and their indigenous tutors and how this contributes to the development of their language skills Extract from radio interviews where the indigenous tutors express their growing awareness and understanding of the many cultures they have been dealing with throughout this program How the Aboriginal Arts Program can be linked with the new ESL resource Wanyaarri - Indigenous Australia in the ESL classroom.

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