The NSW Premier Chris Minns has told the largest gathering of teachers of community languages ever in Australia that “community languages are a massive, if undervalued, asset of this state.”
He was opening the Annual Community Languages Teachers Conference conducted by the NSW Federation of Community Language Schools on Saturday, April 18 at Sydney University.
“There are lots of apps out there and computer programmes that make big claims about language acquisition, but the truth is no app, no computer, no magic website can substitute for a committed enthusiastic bright teacher in front of a classroom,” Mr Minns said.
“You can steer them in the right direction but most importantly, you can spark their imagination to fall in love with a new language and a new culture.
“Learning a language makes life bigger, more expansive, more interesting. If you can speak English, and another community language, that is an unequivocal massive benefit to our country.”
The President of the Federation, Lucia Johns, told the conference: “Language is a powerful force for social inclusion and participation. Australia’s future depends on our ability to engage with the world – not only in English, but in the languages of our trading partners and our neighbours.”
Professor John Hajek, University of Melbourne, told the conference: “Australia is changing fast. The proportion of Australians who speak a language other than English at home continues to increase.”
Professor Hajek said that by 2021 it had reached 22% and increasing.
“The percentage is much higher in Sydney (37.4%, up from 35.8% in 2016) and Melbourne (34.1%) The number of languages is also increasing – and the number of communities wishing to teach their language is also increasing,” he added.
He predicted that Community Language Education will become bigger and more visible as result.
