heritage and community languages in higher education: some initiatives from australia
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Anne PauwelsAnne Pauwels
Heritage and Community Languages in higher
education:Some Initiatives from
Australia
Heritage and Community Languages in higher
education:Some Initiatives from
Australia
Australia as a multilingual and multicultural community
Australia as a multilingual and multicultural community
• Almost 17% use a community language at home
• More than 350 languages spoken in Australia• Top ten languages in 2006: Chinese, Italian,
Greek, Arabic, Vietnamese, Spanish, Tagalog/Filipino, German, Hindi, Croatian
• Top ten languages in 1976:Italian, Greek, German, Serbo-Croatian,French, Dutch, Polish, Arabic, Spanish and Maltese
• Almost 17% use a community language at home
• More than 350 languages spoken in Australia• Top ten languages in 2006: Chinese, Italian,
Greek, Arabic, Vietnamese, Spanish, Tagalog/Filipino, German, Hindi, Croatian
• Top ten languages in 1976:Italian, Greek, German, Serbo-Croatian,French, Dutch, Polish, Arabic, Spanish and Maltese
Age profile of ethnolinguistic communities
Age profile of ethnolinguistic communities
• Young profile [% of speakers in the 0-14 years age group]: Arabic (26%), Vietnamese (23.6%),Cantonese (17.3%), Mandarin (17.1%), Spanish (14.3%), Greek (12.2%), Italian (6.6%)
• Old profile [% of speakers in +55 age group]: Latvian (67%), Lithuanian (64.4%), Dutch (56.6%),Ukrainian (53%), German (49.5%), Hungarian (49.1%), Maltese (43.3%)
• Young profile [% of speakers in the 0-14 years age group]: Arabic (26%), Vietnamese (23.6%),Cantonese (17.3%), Mandarin (17.1%), Spanish (14.3%), Greek (12.2%), Italian (6.6%)
• Old profile [% of speakers in +55 age group]: Latvian (67%), Lithuanian (64.4%), Dutch (56.6%),Ukrainian (53%), German (49.5%), Hungarian (49.1%), Maltese (43.3%)
Australia’s language policiesAustralia’s language policies
• Major fluctuations since its formation as a colony in 18th C
• National Policy on Languages (1987)– English for all– A second language for all– Maintenance of Australian indigenous
languages– Language services for people
• A series of reiterations and variations since 1987 (Lo Bianco 2009)
• Major fluctuations since its formation as a colony in 18th C
• National Policy on Languages (1987)– English for all– A second language for all– Maintenance of Australian indigenous
languages– Language services for people
• A series of reiterations and variations since 1987 (Lo Bianco 2009)
Languages in SchoolsLanguages in Schools• Priority languages• Increasing commitment to a minimum of 3
years compulsory study of a language• Widespread adoption of language study in
primary schools• 130 languages available for study• School of languages in some states• More than 40 languages available for final year
assessment (=A level)• Approx 13% of graduating students (A level)
take an exam in a language
• Priority languages• Increasing commitment to a minimum of 3
years compulsory study of a language• Widespread adoption of language study in
primary schools• 130 languages available for study• School of languages in some states• More than 40 languages available for final year
assessment (=A level)• Approx 13% of graduating students (A level)
take an exam in a language
Languages at UniversityLanguages at University
• Approx 66 languages available for study at 1 or more Australian universities in the mid 1990s
• In 2006 reduced to 29 languages• Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin), French, Italian,
Indonesian, German and Spanish are widely available• Most universities offer around 6 languages• Less widely taught languages are concentrated in less
than 5 universities on east coast of Australia• Hebrew, Hindi, Macedonian, Polish, Portuguese, Serbian,
Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian and Vietnamese available at only 1 or 2 universities
• Approx 66 languages available for study at 1 or more Australian universities in the mid 1990s
• In 2006 reduced to 29 languages• Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin), French, Italian,
Indonesian, German and Spanish are widely available• Most universities offer around 6 languages• Less widely taught languages are concentrated in less
than 5 universities on east coast of Australia• Hebrew, Hindi, Macedonian, Polish, Portuguese, Serbian,
Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian and Vietnamese available at only 1 or 2 universities
Linguistic diversity in Australian universities
Linguistic diversity in Australian universities
• 18% of Australian (home) students use a language other than English at home
• More than 120 languages are used by Australian students
• Top ten languages:Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Arabic, other Chinese dialects, Greek, Spanish, Hindi, Indonesian, Korean
• 18% of Australian (home) students use a language other than English at home
• More than 120 languages are used by Australian students
• Top ten languages:Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Arabic, other Chinese dialects, Greek, Spanish, Hindi, Indonesian, Korean
The situation of languages at university: a summary
The situation of languages at university: a summary
• A drastic reduction in the number of languages available for study (single, joint honours or as additional subject)
• Only 1 language is available in all states: Indonesian
• Only four universities offer more than 10 languages
• Most universities offer 2 to 3 European languages and 2 or 3 Asian languages
• Most language departments have less than 8 FTE academic staff
• Increased casualisation of the work force
• A drastic reduction in the number of languages available for study (single, joint honours or as additional subject)
• Only 1 language is available in all states: Indonesian
• Only four universities offer more than 10 languages
• Most universities offer 2 to 3 European languages and 2 or 3 Asian languages
• Most language departments have less than 8 FTE academic staff
• Increased casualisation of the work force
The situation of languages at university: a summary
The situation of languages at university: a summary
• Reduction in language programs & departments across the country due to financial constraints
• Increased demand for ab-initio courses• Significant increase in the number of tertiary
students with a home background in a language other than English
• Increased demand for language as an additional subject in degree programs
• Increased demand for language skills for strategic purposes (economic, security)
• Disjuncture with languages in schools
• Reduction in language programs & departments across the country due to financial constraints
• Increased demand for ab-initio courses• Significant increase in the number of tertiary
students with a home background in a language other than English
• Increased demand for language as an additional subject in degree programs
• Increased demand for language skills for strategic purposes (economic, security)
• Disjuncture with languages in schools
Strengthening languages through collaborative arrangements
Strengthening languages through collaborative arrangements
• To ensure that very small enrolment languages continue to be available for study in Australia
• To ensure that as many students as possible have access to language study across Australian universities
• To facilitate the introduction of new languages into universities, especially those of relevance to Australia
• To minimise the closure of language departments in Australian universities
• To enrich language learning experiences for Australian language learners
• To ensure that very small enrolment languages continue to be available for study in Australia
• To ensure that as many students as possible have access to language study across Australian universities
• To facilitate the introduction of new languages into universities, especially those of relevance to Australia
• To minimise the closure of language departments in Australian universities
• To enrich language learning experiences for Australian language learners
Models for language collaboration
Models for language collaboration
• Cooperative Blended Model• Cooperative Blended Exchange
Model• Blended Online and Immersion
Model: residential - study abroad• Collaborative city-based model
• Cooperative Blended Model• Cooperative Blended Exchange
Model• Blended Online and Immersion
Model: residential - study abroad• Collaborative city-based model
Initial EvaluationInitial Evaluation
• Cooperative blended model is the most successful to date
• Blended online & immersion model is working best for very small programs in languages working together
• Practical arrangements and administrative procedures are the main ‘stumbling blocks’ for long term collaboration.
• Cooperative blended model is the most successful to date
• Blended online & immersion model is working best for very small programs in languages working together
• Practical arrangements and administrative procedures are the main ‘stumbling blocks’ for long term collaboration.
City-based collaborationCity-based collaboration
• Version 1: students travel• Version 2: staff travel
• Version 1: students travel• Version 2: staff travel
Some concluding remarksSome concluding remarks
• Majority of world’s languages will never reach a ‘critical mass’ of students in a university and will need to be sustained through partnerships, collaboration across universities, systems, countries.
• Criteria for collaboration: – Willingness to work together– A degree of compatibility,– Willingness to embrace a new way of thinking– Sustainability
• Majority of world’s languages will never reach a ‘critical mass’ of students in a university and will need to be sustained through partnerships, collaboration across universities, systems, countries.
• Criteria for collaboration: – Willingness to work together– A degree of compatibility,– Willingness to embrace a new way of thinking– Sustainability
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