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Radio National: Teaching Aboriginal languages in schools

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Radio National: Teaching Aboriginal languages in schools

SUBJECTS:  English, Languages

YEARS:  7–8


Would you like to learn another language?

This audio recording features a number of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians discussing both the teaching of Aboriginal languages in schools and the benefits that this teaching offers all Australians.

If you like this clip, visit the Holding Our Tongues website for more information.


Things to think about

  1. 1.What are the benefits of learning another language? What factors should be considered when we select a language to learn?
  2. 2.Listen for Mari Rhydwen's views on the value of not imposing new number systems on a language. What does she see as the danger of rushing to produce a language program for schools? How does Mari justify the teaching of local Aboriginal languages? Why does Rob Amery believe that giving 'official recognition' to Indigenous Australian languages is important? List later reasons for supporting Indigenous Australian languages.
  3. 3.Mari Rhydwen lists some of the advantages of teaching Aboriginal languages in schools. Consider the challenges such teaching presents. What might critics say? Discuss the idea with your family, friends and school community to gauge their opinions.
  4. 4.Research your own cultural heritage and the languages in your family history. Is it important to celebrate your cultural heritage and to know your family's languages and histories? Consider ways you can celebrate the diversity of the languages in your school (or general) community.



Date of broadcast: 8 Mar 2009


Copyright

Metadata © Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia Ltd 2012 (except where otherwise indicated). Digital content © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). Video © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). All images copyright their respective owners. Text © Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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