http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Foreign-language-teaching-falls-report/2007/04/16/1176696757137.html

The teaching of foreign languages in schools has fallen by the wayside as governments focus on getting migrants to learn English, a report says.

A draft discussion paper by the Australian Council of State School Organisations (ACSSO) released Monday found national apathy exists towards language teaching in schools, to the detriment of students.

For many students, a foreign language subject was not a normal part of the school curriculum.

"If anything, the present federal government rhetoric has turned Australians more inward, through a focus on Australian values and culture, the primacy of learning English and emphasising the assimilation of new arrivals as opposed to the ideals of multiculturalism," the report said.

Further goes to show how rapidly Australia is becoming an insular nation full of xenophobes.

Learning a language not only exposes a student to other cultures, it also assists the learning of their native tongue.

AUShole wrote on Apr 17^th, 2007 at 2:49pm:

Further goes to show how rapidly Australia is becoming an insular nation full of xenophobes. Learning a language not only exposes a student to other cultures, it also assists the learning of their native tongue.

Gobbidy-Gook ::)

I have one boy in year 4 and another in year 7. They've always had foreign languages taught at school. My youngest got an A for Japanese just last week. My oldest an A- for Italian the week prior.

https://www.duolingo.com/learn

Please consider a few lessons in various languages. Just for the sake of broadening your horizons. Paris will be hosting the 2024 Olympics. By the time you get through a French language course on this site, you will probably be conversational enough to understand the announcers at the Olympics say things twice in two different languages.

Why isn't Jive on the curriculum?
They are wracists! >:(

Jasin wrote on Jun 12^th, 2022 at 3:36pm:

Why isn't Jive on the curriculum? They are wracists! >:(

Urban dictionary is online for your convenience.

UnSubRocky wrote on Jun 12^th, 2022 at 3:33pm:

https://www.duolingo.com/learn Please consider a few lessons in various languages. Just for the sake of broadening your horizons. Paris will be hosting the 2024 Olympics. By the time you get through a French language course on this site, you will probably be conversational enough to understand the announcers at the Olympics say things twice in two different languages.

https://youtu.be/hySnkFfWr84

Love the way the discussion is de-railed by the instant use of 'xenophobia' - what nonsense - it is xenophobia to not want to learn the language and customs of your new country and to form ghettoes in it.

Get a life.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuWFqndpJD0

Richie Beneaud's French competency.

Jasin wrote on Jun 12^th, 2022 at 3:29pm:

AUShole wrote on Apr 17th, 2007 at 2:49pm: Further goes to show how rapidly Australia is becoming an insular nation full of xenophobes. Learning a language not only exposes a student to other cultures, it also assists the learning of their native tongue. Gobbidy-Gook ::)

It IS total BS! Australia is FULL of migrants now. And their children are merely 1st Gen Aussies who are full blooded something else!

In fact I'm one of these 1st Gen Aussies who is also a full blooded European. 

Xenophobes my @rse! The country essentially consists of XENO citizens now 😂😆🤣

• For those who may not be tri lingual like me ... XENO comes from the Greek word XENO which basically means : foreign or strange.

freediver wrote on Apr 17^th, 2007 at 10:34am:

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Foreign-language-teaching-falls-report/2007/04/16/1176696757137.html The teaching of foreign languages in schools has fallen by the wayside as governments focus on getting migrants to learn English, a report says. A draft discussion paper by the Australian Council of State School Organisations (ACSSO) released Monday found national apathy exists towards language teaching in schools, to the detriment of students. For many students, a foreign language subject was not a normal part of the school curriculum. "If anything, the present federal government rhetoric has turned Australians more inward, through a focus on Australian values and culture, the primacy of learning English and emphasising the assimilation of new arrivals as opposed to the ideals of multiculturalism," the report said.

It's also true we used to learn french instead of somethign that belongs to our region, so this has never really worked

There are two broad motivations for learning a foreign language, its  utility or your love of the culture expressed in that language.

The most widely spoken language in the world is broken English, as most people tackle it for its utility. No other language comes close as far as utility is concerned.

French is the language of a culture that has a lot to love about it, as does German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese. But unless you want to live there, they cannot compete on utility.

True.
Nations like Mauritius that has heaps of languages incorporated in it's cultural growth has offered many of its citizens as linguistic opportunities in many fields around the world like the UN.
I remember dating a nice little Mauritian who while sitting in George St Maccas was telling me some Chinese guys were hanging crap on me in Chinese. They stopped when I looked at them as if I was reading their minds. ;D

But it really does come down to utility. France thinks it's language is superior mainly due to Political competition with Britain. But Britain is stepping back (Brexit) to leave the French out in front "You wanna be top dog, well - let's see how you go dealing with Islam for Europe, etc". French is not a flexible language for 'international' utility.
Nihonese (Japanese to the Media) sounds like someone is constipated and would never take off internationally.

Latin will always be around as a 'Scientific' language even though most 'non-scientific' people can understand it. It also seems to be more fluent to Music.
English for Politics, Latin for Music because Latin 'sounds' better with music as you don't need to understand it to enjoy it.

I find that the Maori enforcing all NZeders to speak Maori is no different than Boers forcing everyone to speak Afrikaans in South Africa. I think that's just cultural bullying.

Tolkien has brought much entertainment with the use of language, as has Shakespeare and people who learn Klingon.
But these are very very minor language variations of novelty more than utility, though Tolkien did create his from original languages from long ago.

Even if there was one Common Tongue spoken internationally. I think its great that there are many other languages available to use for whatever... like the language of love that a couple create together for their own private use and love for each other.

A few weeks back, I've enjoyed learning the 'clicking' language of the Xhosa, San, Khoi.

Frank wrote on Jun 15^th, 2022 at 3:59pm:

There are two broad motivations for learning a foreign language, its  utility or your love of the culture expressed in that language. The most widely spoken language in the world is broken English, as most people tackle it for its utility. No other language comes close as far as utility is concerned. French is the language of a culture that has a lot to love about it, as does German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese. But unless you want to live there, they cannot compete on utility.

https://blog.busuu.com/most-spoken-languages-in-the-world/


https://blog.busuu.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/most-spoken-languages-in-the-world-2020-chart-Busuu.jpg

Children/adults can choose if they want to study a foreign language or not.... Choice-Mobile....

If only everyone spoke in tongues, we would all get along so much better then.

https://youtu.be/eoVZWgWjVRo

Johnnie wrote on Jun 15^th, 2022 at 6:58pm:

If only everyone spoke in tongues, we would all get along so much better then. https://youtu.be/eoVZWgWjVRo

Christ! :D

They all look possessed and in need of an Exorcism more like it.

Religion in the hands of the Northern Hemisphere - sure is a 'poor' quality experience.

Thankfully for the world, a Religious Person will rise in South America (after Israel and Islam unite upon the final sacrifice and ending of Christianity for their sins) - and bring a sense of PROFESSIONALISM finally for Religion in the World.

Until then - Religion (like in the Middle-East) will always be a subordinated and conquered existence under all things Military and its Emperor known as 'God'.