Bilingual Learning In Schools

Bilingual Learning In Schools

Many Victorian government schools have a Language Other Than English (LOTE) program, but one suburban Melbourne school is leading the way with its dynamic Japanese immersion program.

Students at Huntingdale Primary School, in Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs, are taught an array of curriculum not only in English - but in Japanese too.

On top of two and a half hours of Japanese literacy each week, students learn entirely in Japanese for one hour per week in humanities, science, art, music and physical education.

Principal Monica Scully says this aural immersion is the most natural way for young children to learn a language.

"We use an approach where the children are taught for a minimum of seven and a half hours per week in Japanese. During this time the teachers only speak to the children in Japanese – the students may ask questions in English but the response is always in Japanese".

This innovative program has seen the school become a national leader in bilingual education and has had a dramatic impact on the way the students see the world and could pave the way for other schools to follow suit.

"The teaching of language cannot be separated from the teaching of culture and our children develop an international perspective where they see cultural similarities before they see difference" said Ms Scully.

To embed Japanese culture in the students' learning, all of the school's community celebrations are conducted in the language – including musical productions, sports nights and even the weekly assembly.

"While many of the parents can't follow exactly what's happening, they're just so appreciative that their child has the opportunity to learn a second language like this" Scully explained recently.

By the time they graduate from Year 6, most students at Huntingdale are operating at a Year 8, 9 or even Year 10 level of Japanese. It's what school's are declaring a "game changer".

"The greatest testimony to our program is our children's love of learning Japanese. They see it as the most natural thing in the world to learn in two languages".

According to Ms Scully, the key to the school's successful bilingual program is ensuring that the Japanese literacy program reflects the same quality teaching practice as its English literacy curriculum – with high levels of differentiation, infusion of thinking and embedded ICT.

"In the words of one of our parents : As a parent you choose what gifts to give your children. We bring our children to Huntingdale to give them the gift of language".

For more information on the Japanese Immersion Program, follow the link!