Languages Other Than English Being Taught in Primary Schools

Abstract

Learning a Language Other Than English (LOTE) is not only a fantastic way for a student to learn to speak a language of another country, but more importantly during LOTE lessons students are also learning about the other culture and people. They will be encouraged to ask questions to understand the reasons why other ways of life can be so different from theirs in Australia. They also learn that Australian behaviours may not be acceptable in the other culture and may actually offend. Learning a LOTE not only encourages children to be respectful of other cultures and beliefs, but also instils in them a keenness to meet new people and to be accepting of the decisions people make and how they choose to live without judgment. Teaching staff recognise that learning a LOTE provides opportunities and career pathways that might be guided by the knowledge of the subject. Parents gave feedback that they valued a LOTE for broadening their children’s perspective about the world and the people in it. The feedback and data collected support the value of teaching primary students a LOTE to both the student and the school community as a whole, cross-curricular opportunities being countless and future career pathways for students being more accessible with their knowledge of a LOTE.