Best in Class: Experts call for mandatory language learning to boost Aussie kids’ academics

Too many Aussie kids are graduating without the gift of learning a second language, experts say, but one Sydney school is punching above its weight in producing bright bilingual students.

Australian children are being stripped of their right to succeed academically due to a lack of mandatory second language learning, a leading researcher has claimed.

Professor Anne-Marie Morgan, a researcher with the Australian Federation of Languages Teachers Associations, said the evidence for developmental and academic benefits of second language learning is “absolutely unequivocal”.

“We’d be one of the few countries in the world not to have our citizens bilingual, if we don’t have language learning made compulsory,” she said.

“There is a massive bank of research literature on the benefits of bilingualism, everything from better cognitive performance, literacy in all languages … through to social harmony reasons.

“It’s something that really our population is being denied if we don’t provide languages in schools.”

French teacher Julian Escavabaja teaches classes at the Alliance Francaise de Sydney. The centre partners with a number of NSW schools to promote French language and culture learning. Picture: Justin Lloyd

There is no national requirement for language learning, with each state and territory taking different approaches. Professor Morgan said all school students should undertake a minimum of three 40-45 minute lessons per week, with a full bilingual program of 50/50 split learning the best practice.

“We have models of it being done really well in Australia, but just not enough and not universal at this point,” she said.

Killarney Heights Public School in Sydney’s north stands apart as a school uniquely invested in foreign language education, embracing the wider community’s large French-speaking population by embedding a bilingual program across each year group.

The “true immersion” program sees Years 1 to 6 taught half their visual arts, science and history units in French and half in English, principal Gillian Tegg explained.

“You’re not losing anything in learning English by learning a second language, it actually enhances learning – and we’re seeing that in the data as well,” she said.

The oldest students are even encouraged to complete a language diploma recognised by the French government. Everything from the signage to the school song is written in both tongues.

Killarney Heights Public School captains Chiara Ashton and Harry Benson in their French class. The school runs an internationally-recognised bilingual program, which sees students start learning French in Kindy and have the option of studying a diploma in year 6. Picture: Richard Dobson

School captain Harry comes from a French-speaking background and has loved being able to embrace that at school.

“It’s been good to explore my own culture, and strengthen familial ties,” he said.

His Anglophone co-captain Chiara meanwhile has expanded her own academic capabilities through the bilingual program.

“Studying French has inspired me to try my hardest in subjects such as science, history, math and reading,” she said.

Denis Morandet, Acting General Manager of the Alliance Française in Sydney, said Australia’s unique situation as neighbourless island nation has allowed us to languish in our language development, but the time has come for Australia to catch up with the rest of the world.

“The truth is today, 60 per cent of the world population speaks at least two languages. The big risk I see is being left behind,” he said.

“If your students are not getting prepared, you’re not doing them a favour.”

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare said it’s up to each state to decide how they’ll teach second languages.

“Studying another language can be hugely beneficial, especially in an increasingly interconnected world,” he said.

“States and Territories are responsible for the implementation of the curriculum.”

Originally published as Best in Class: Experts call for mandatory language learning to boost Aussie kids’ academics