Australia To Offer Bilingual Classes In Primary Schools

[Mulboyne]

ABC: Budget to fund bilingual primary schools
The New South Wales Education Minister Verity Firth says students will be offered a bilingual education at four primary schools from next year. Ms Firth says $2.25 million over four years has been set aside in the state Budget to fund the program. She says classes will start in kindergarten and students will have the chance to be taught classes in Mandarin, Korean, Japanese and Indonesian as well as English. "They'll be learning the language directly, with grammar lessons and so forth," she said. "Also there will be times where they will be taught different subjects in that language." Ms Firth says the schools will also offer non-bilingual classes.

[Taro Toporific]

ABC: Budget to fund bilingual primary schools
...classes in Mandarin, Korean, Japanese and Indonesian as well as English.

Where the hell do expect to find certified/licenced teachers in Mandarin, Korean, Japanese and Indonesian? (And, who the fuckque would want to learn Indonesian---immigrant kids of religious freaks?)

[Greji]

".....And, who the fuckque would want to learn Indonesian---immigrant kids of religious freaks?....."

Didn't some guy named Obama try that?

[Taro Toporific]

Didn't some guy named Obama try that?

Nope, his fruitcake school was conducted in engRish (aside from calls to prayers and fatwas).

[Doctor Stop]

Wow, they're going to start teaching English as well as Australian. If the program is successful, they won't have to redub Australian actors' voices in movies twenty to thirty years from now.

[Samurai_Jerk]

I actually knew an Australian girl here who majored in Indonesian and spoke it well, so maybe it's not so unusual to study it in Australia.

As for the good Doctor's comment, I have to say that I think Australians do need to learn English. The Australians I've dealt with professionally have had a pretty poor command of the language.

[Mulboyne]

...I have to say that I think Australians do need to learn English...

Apropos of nothing at all, Tokyo Times has a blog post about a book called "The Year of No Money in Tokyo" by Wayne Aponte, an American. I happened to look at the bloke's own blog and he has a photo section in which I spotted this one:



Aponte's caption for the picture is "An extra syllable". You'll be pleased to know he's an English instructor at a university in Japan. It's quite a coup to identify an accurate use of the language as an example of "engrish".

Back on topic, I also know an Australian who learned Indonesian. As far as I understand, it has been relatively easy to find that option at a number of the country's colleges and universities because of Indonesia's proximity to Australia and their leading role in ASEAN. Bali has also been a tourist destination for young Australians for years as, sadly, the terrorist bombing brought home all too clearly. Indonesia looms much larger for Australia that it does for any other Western nation, even including the Netherlands.

[IkemenTommy]

As for the good Doctor's comment, I have to say that I think Australians do need to learn English.

I was kind of hoping Charles would show up from the blue to say something along that line.

[gomichild]

As for the good Doctor's comment, I have to say that I think Australians do need to learn English. The Australians I've dealt with professionally have had a pretty poor command of the language.

Well I've met plenty of Americans who seem incapable of stringing a sentence together as well - however a few cases doesn't prove an issue within an education system does it?

It's not uncommon for Australians to study Indonesian as it's right next to Australia, and there is a need for the languages spoken there to be known for a number of reasons.

[Ol Dirty Gaijin]

The high school my sister went to had Indonesian 20 odd years ago. My school only had out of class lessons in Greek, Polish, Italian and Vietnamese. Why any school in Australia bothers teaching French is beyond me.

People who wanted second language education went to school on Saturday mornings. I think this is better as the basics in all areas of education are slipping.

[kurohinge1]

Well I've met plenty of Americans who seem incapable of stringing a sentence together as well - however a few cases doesn't prove an issue within an education system does it?

It's not uncommon for Australians to study Indonesian as it's right next to Australia, and there is a need for the languages spoken there to be known for a number of reasons.

Not only is Indonesia right on our doorstep, it is the World's fourth largest nation - nearly twice the population of Japan.

I'll translate that for the Doctor: "It's big too".

[Mike Oxlong]

One of my Japanese friends lived and did business in Indonesia for years. He said it was relatively easy to pick up the language, as it's not difficult grammatically or pronunication-wise. He also said the people were friendly and talkative.

[amdg]

As for the good Doctor's comment, I have to say that I think Australians do need to learn English. The Australians I've dealt with professionally have had a pretty poor command of the language.

When Americans learn how to spell properly, I might pay attention to something they have to say about English.

[Neo-Rio]

Where the hell do expect to find certified/licenced teachers in Mandarin, Korean, Japanese and Indonesian? (And, who the fuckque would want to learn Indonesian---immigrant kids of religious freaks?)

Umm... I speak the language fluently, as well as Japanese.
Aside from being right next door to Australia (and therefore somewhat useful) its actually easy to pick up as well.

From a business point of view? A lot of forex traders and trading programmers hail from there

[kurohinge1]

. . . A lot of forex traders and trading programmers hail from there

"four-x traders"? . . .

[Neo-Rio]

You do understand that it's called XXXX because Queenslanders are too stupid to spell B-E-E-R

ba-dum ching

[Greji]

You do understand that it's called XXXX because Queenslanders are too stupid to spell B-E-E-R

ba-dum ching

Neo, you shouldn't be so hard on Kuro. He's from Alice Springs, so he has no idea where Queensland is located, or how they do things there.

He's become more confused lately, since his mate, Charles quit, posting and informing of all things Aussie.....

[Mock Cockpit]

I believe Australian army officers and special forces (SAS) soldiers also need to study Indonesian as part of their training. Apparently the ability of Australian officers to speak Indonesian was of great benefit in East Timor as it defused a number of potentially dangerous incidents.

[kurohinge1]

I believe Australian army officers and special forces (SAS) soldiers also need to study Indonesian as part of their training. Apparently the ability of Australian officers to speak Indonesian was of great benefit in East Timor as it defused a number of potentially dangerous incidents.

As they say, "talk is cheap".
Bullets, however, cost money.

[Doctor Stop]

I'll translate that for the Doctor: "It's big too".

Thanks for the subtitles, Kuro.

[ColinizeR]

Well, actually I am a teacher of the Japanese language in a Western Australian school. I would like to think I have a pretty good command of the English language. In Australia, there is currently a big push for students to learn Asian languages, as the Asia-Pacific region has been identified as the future hub of world commerce etc. Our Prime Minister is also the only Mandarin speaking world leader (apart from the Chinese Premier I am assuming). He is injecting billions of dollars into promoting Asian language programs in Aussie schools. According to an article in The Australian newspaper over the weekend, it is of concern that 75% of Australians speak ONLY English. Our small rural school is currently applying for one of these grants as a way of boosting our language program and facilities. Japanese is the second most popular language in Western Australian public schools, following French.

For anyone who gives a XXXX.......

P.S. I have met many British people and Americans who have a pretty poor grasp of the English language, if we are going to generalise.

(In Australia, generalise is generally spelt with an 's'. Not a 'zee')

[GuyJean]

.. Apparently the ability of Australian officers to speak Indonesian was of great benefit in East Timor as it defused a number of potentially dangerous incidents.

Apa kabar, mate. satu nasi goren and duo bali koppi, playz..

GJ

[GomiGirl]

(In Australia, generalise is generally spelt with an 's'. Not a 'zee')

Isn't that a "zed"?

(I always had trouble as a kid with seseme street and the ABC song and the last line. But then I always have trouble finishing off anything. )

[Greji]

But then I always have trouble finishing off anything. )

Except a pint.....

[GomiGirl]

Except a pint.....

Depends who is buying!!

[Adhesive]

Good on 'em. I wish the US would make learning a second language mandatory for all primary education. It's so much easier to learn when you're young. I guess the only problem is the fact that most US students are already forced to learn a second language in primary school: English.