A whole-school approach to promoting languages.

Lane, Nathan

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Introduction

Advocacy is one of the dimensions of the Professional standards for accomplished teaching of languages and cultures (AFMLTA, 2005). This dimension states that languages teachers are 'advocates for languages both with and for students, schools and communities and engage with wider community to promote languages' (AFMLTA, 2005). As languages teachers, we are all aware of the significant advantages and benefits learning a language provides, and we believe In the Importance of second language acquisition. However, why is It that as languages teachers we seem to need to justify learning a second language and work hard to encourage more students to see the importance of learning a language and to continue their language studies into the post compulsory years? Michael Clyne termed society's attitude towards language learning as a 'monolingual mindset'. (2005) It is breaking through this 'monolingual mindset' and encouraging more students to see the great benefits In continuing their language studies past the non-compulsory years that is the challenge for languages teachers. To this end, the languages learning area at St Columba's College has implemented several initiatives to raise the profile of the department and to encourage more students to continue their language studies.

Breaking through the 'monolingual mindset'

St Columba's College, a Catholic girls' secondary school In Victoria, offers three languages, French, Italian and Japanese, from Years 7 to 12. Promoting languages at St Columba's College is a priority for the team of languages teachers. The St Columba's College is committed to providing experiences which value-add to the contemporary education the students receive. Each year, St Columba's College offers two language related events, one at Year 7 and the other at Year 9. Both events are well-supported by parents and students.

Year 7 parents' evening

The first event is an evening for new Year 7 parents. Rather than an evening where parents listen to presentations about the learning and teaching program at Year 7, the format for this evening provides a hands-on learning experience for the parents who attend. Parents are Invited to St Columba's College on one evening early In the year to experience a language lesson just as their daughter does. This is a great opportunity to showcase to parents contemporary approaches to the learning and teaching of languages. Given that the educational experiences parents had will most likely be different from how their daughter is taught, and that some parents may have had a negative experience In learning a language, the aim of the evening Is to show to the parents the way languages are taught in a contemporary way In schools and for parents to receive materials to support their daughter as they commence their secondary school language studies.

'Christmas in July'

In July, the languages learning area organises a Languages and Careers 'Christmas in July' Dinner for Year 9 students. This Is an event for both parents and students. The College Hall Is decorated In a Christmas theme and the evening commences with a cultural performance. Parents and students are treated to a meal consisting of French, Italian and Japanese food, and the invited guest speakers talk about their language learning journeys. Each speaker presents a different viewpoint on the Importance of learning languages. The guest speakers Include Dr Russell Cross from The University of Melbourne who talks about the Importance of learning languages. This is followed by three former students who studied French, Italian and Japanese, who share their language learning journey beyond high school. The final speaker is a member of the school's languages teaching team who shares his or her experiences in learning languages and the journey to becoming a languages teacher. It is hoped that the students who attend this evening reflect on what each guest speaker presented regarding the importance of learning languages, and they then choose to continue their language study into Year 10 when the subject becomes an elective.

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Each event is strategically placed in the college calendar. The Year 7 parent evening aims to get parents 'on board' with their daughter's language study at the commencement of their secondary schooling, with the hope that this support will continue throughout their secondary school years. The Year 9 dinner is held around subject selection time for Year 9 students going into Year 10. Hopefully the stories they hear on this evening motivate the students to continue their language studies. Both events continue to receive positive feedback each year.

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Information, competitions and immersion experiences

Another way to gain parental support of their daughter's language learning is to create a 'magnet' which outlines useful strategies parents can implement to support their daughter as they learn a language. The creation of this magnet was in response to parents, who, during parent-teacher interview evenings, would often ask how they can best support their daughter as they learn a language.

Other ways languages are promoted at St Columba's College are through competitions held each term. At the end of each year all the students are invited to think of the theme for the languages Learning area for the following year. In Term 1 of the following year a poster competition is launched and students are invited to submit an entry based on the theme of the learning area for the year. Other term based activities include art, singing and cake making competitions. The art and cake making competitions see students use their creativity to design an artwork or cake based on France, Italy or Japan. The singing competition invites students to record themselves singing a song in either French, Italian or Japanese. Immersion experiences have also been offered to students at Year 9 where they have joined with students from the same year level from another school and participated in different language based activities for a day. These immersion days are particularly powerful learning experiences for students as they get to see that there are other students in the same position as they are and who are studying the same language and experience the same successes and challenges as they do when it comes to learning another language.

Some simple initiatives to raise the profile of languages within St Columba's College include supplying 'I Love [insert heart icon if possible] French/Italian/Japanese' pens to new Year 7 students, displaying language learning quotes around the school, labelling school buildings in French, Italian and Japanese, displaying mini French, Italian and Japanese flags in the Front Office so the presence of languages is seen upon entering the school, and ensuring detailed information on the languages program is available on the college website. During significant events, such as the arrival of students from St Columba's College's sister schools in Italy and Japan, the Italian and Japanese flags are flown at the front of the school.

It is hoped that these initiatives which have been implemented by the languages learning area at St Columba's College can continue to assist in raising the profile of the learning area within the school community and encourage more students to continue with their language studies beyond the compulsory years.

References

Australian Federation of Modern Language Teachers Associations. 2005. Professional Standards for Accomplished Teaching and Learning of Languages and Cultures. Available at http://afmlta.asn.au/wpcontent/uploads/2013/02/Professional-Standards-forAccomplished- Teaching-of-Languages-and-Cultures.pdf

Clyne, M. 2005. Australia's Language Potential. Sydney, UNSW Press.

Nathan Lane has been teaching Japanese in Victorian government and Catholic secondary schools for the past 16 years. Currently he is the Languages Domain Leader and Japanese teacher at St Columba's College, Melbourne. He has presented at state, national and international language conferences and has been involved in resource development and external assessment for students studying Japanese at secondary level. He is the current President of the Japanese Language Teachers' Association of Victoria.