[lg policy] Asian language should be mandatory for Australian schoolchildren, Julie Bishop says

[Harold Schiffman]

Asian language should be mandatory for Australian schoolchildren,
Julie Bishop says


    AAP
    November 27, 2011 11:46AM


AUSTRALIAN schoolchildren would be required to learn an Asian language
under a proposal put forward by Deputy Opposition Leader Julie Bishop.
Ms Bishop says she will push to have the plan adopted as coalition
policy before the next federal election.

"I believe that we should have a much greater focus on a second
language," she told Sky News today.

"In fact my view is it should be mandatory.

"It should be an Asian language. I wouldn't necessarily say it has to
be Mandarin. Japanese, Indonesian - there are a number of Asian
languages that would be important."

Such a policy would help Australia engage with its increasingly
important region, Ms Bishop said.

"It would be brilliant form of soft diplomacy if we had a large body
of people in Australia who were able to speak an Asian language," she
said.

Ms Bishop also wants to see an expanded two-way student exchange program.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/asian-language-should-be-mandatory-for-australian-schoolchildren-julie-bishop-says/story-e6frfku0-1226207239286#ixzz1evT2c6Sv


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