Australia: Don't start with Asian tongues

[Francis Hult]

The Australian

 

Don't start with Asian tongues

 

Australian language policy is in crisis. A concerted national effort is needed to ensure that all students finish year 12 with proficiency in a second language. Bilingualism must be the minimum policy aim, as in Europe.

 

State and federal authorities should nominate a few priority languages along with stepped-out attainment targets: that is, 30 per cent of year 12 students should have a second language by 2012, 50 per cent by 2015 and 100 per cent by 2020. 

 

The emphasis should be on those European languages with which English has an affinity: German, French, Spanish and Italian. These tongues have a dual action: they are relatively easy to learn and enrich one's knowledge of English. 

 

Full story:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25646326-7583,00.html

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