Teaching languages still a long way off
ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey has described Education Minister Barr’s claim that ACT schools already have a languages plan in place as an exercise in gilding the lily.
“The new ACT curriculum framework will ensure that all school kids are exposed to languages. But, sadly, there is absolutely no assurance that they will learn one” Dr Foskey said today.
“I have raised the issue of languages with the Minister on several occasions. And there are some more resources now going in to the system to try to strengthen language programs.”
“The trouble is that the ACT’s new curriculum framework doesn’t expect students to learn anything more than a few words of another language.”
“There is no ongoing commitment to bilingual schools, to immersion programs, to making language learning experiences meaningful and long lasting, or to ensuring we attract and keep good language teachers.”
“Too much education planning for our students is based on the perspective that languages are something that make ‘other’ students different, and understanding those differences helps ‘our’ communication in English with ‘them’.”
“Australia has a disadvantage in that no one or two languages, other than English, stand out as nationally important. The flip side of that is that our society enjoys a rich diversity of languages and ethnicities.”
“The ACT – as a national capital blessed with a large overseas born population, embassies from all around the world, and an educated and well informed constituency – is perfectly placed to offer a lead to Australia on language learning for an international future”.
“Such an approach requires more than a curriculum that divides the society into us and them, and deems 60 minutes a week to learn about a language as sufficient.”
“We should have more bilingual schools, language camps, and better support in schools for our specialist language teachers. Once the Education Minister starts talking like that, we can be more confident that the ACT is really addressing the falling commitment to language teaching” Dr Foskey said.
