Languages is one of the nine key learning areas of study in Catholic schools, and is an essential component of a broad and balanced curriculum for students in Australia’s culturally diverse society. The following ten languages are offered in SA Catholic schools: Chinese, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Pitjantjatjara, Spanish and Vietnamese.

Languages are widely recognised as a strong vehicle for fostering greater understanding of other ways of being, a concept that is also reflected in the Catholic ethos.

The most effective language learning occurs within a setting which acknowledges the cultural context in which the language is spoken. Competency in languages provides students with the potential for greater global communication and understanding. Languages education is an investment in Australia’s future (SACCS Languages Policy 1998).

Learning languages:

• enriches our learners intellectually, educationally and culturally
• enables our learners to communicate across cultures
• contributes to social cohesiveness through better communication and understanding
• further develops the existing linguistic and cultural resources in our community
• contributes to our strategic, economic and international development
• enhances employment and career prospects for the individual.

Our learners are the future of our nation. Developing in them language skills and inter-cultural understanding is an investment in our national capability and a valuable resource.

Education in a global community brings with it an increasing need to focus on developing inter-cultural understanding. This involves the integration of language, culture and learning. Inter-cultural language learning helps learners to know and understand the world around them, and to understand commonality and difference, global connections and patterns.

Learners will view the world, not from a single perspective of their own first language and culture, but from the multiple perspectives gained through the study of second and subsequent languages and cultures. For learners who study their background or heritage language, it provides a strengthened sense of identity. (MCEETYA National Statement and Plan for Languages Education in Australian Schools 2005 – 2008).

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