The Forum > Article Comments > Repairing languages education > Comments
Repairing languages education : Comments
By Phillip Mahnken, published 16/5/2008We need advocacy and promotion of languages studies to equip ourselves to be fit participants in the global community.
- Pages:
-
- 1
- 2
- Page 3
- 4
- 5
-
- All
I applaud your idea of one month intensive language programs and interaction with speakers of the language. It should be tested over summer holidays with real credit towards school or uni entrance results if students attain equal or better results.
You write: “Right now language teaching in Australian schools is just a way for language teachers to perpetuate themselves.” In one sense you are right, just as music, history and science teachers – or devotees of a sport or a faith - believe in what they do and wish to perpetuate its benefits despite apathy or resistance. On the other hand, I just spent Saturday with a dozen Sunshine Coast language teachers and two trainers from Brisbane all giving up their day to think and work on professional standards and how to improve their own practice. Most language teachers are dedicated, hardworking, and frustrated beyond endurance by the failure of their enterprise. Australia has lost many top languages teachers who take off for the more rewarding work of TESOL teaching or other school subjects. So much less anxiety, constant battling with negative attitudes on all sides, so much easier on the nerves.
What does it say about us, what message would it give the world if once-proud multicultural Australia actually gave up on teaching the languages of others? Or continue to do it so poorly? We who live on an isolated continent, who need to work harder and communicate more cleverly with the world in trade, security and cultural realms, we who have the gift of immigrants from 160 or so other cultural groups, are not up to the job? Good only for wheat, wool, minerals and well-muscled young sports people?