Indigenous Bilingual Education Programs in Australia

Introduction Despite Australia’s ever-growing multiculturalism, it has been found that ‘monolingualism is extraordinarily common in Australia throughout the general population and all occupational levels (Bostock, 1973).’ With such an array of cultures present, one would assume that Australian education systems would have endless bilingual programs in place. However, this is not the case. Despite the successes of bilingual education on a global scale, little effort has been made to preserve any Australian languages, meaning that language death has become an everyday factor that Indigenous individuals have to deal with (Wurm, 1991). This paper discusses the concept of bilingual education and its faults in the transition from theory to†¦show more content†¦The positives of bilingual education have been recognised on a global scale for years. These benefits include: enabling minority cultures to maintain and develop their traditions, self-esteem and identity; improving i ntercultural communication between groups within and outside the society; enriching individuals intellectually, educationally and culturally and thus allowing ‘intergenerational communication, providing cognitive advantages, enhancing employment and career prospects and contributing to general wellbeing (Simpson 2009, p.3).’ Thus, in its broadest sense, bicultural education is the teaching of two ways of life (Harris, 1978). Bilingual Education - The Transition from Theory to Practice Despite bilingual education’s apparent successes on paper, the transition from theory to practice determines whether the program will succeed or fail. An evidential reason of why bilingual programs fail in schools, particularly in the Australian context, is that they are treated as transfer bilingual programs, rather than the maintenance model (Harris, 1978). According to Harris (1978), transfer bilingual programs are when the Indigenous language is merely implemented as an efficient way of making students literate in English inShow MoreRelatedBilingual Education Policy in Australia Concerning Indigenous Language and Associated Varieties2497 Words   |  10 PagesFrom the time the British first settled the continent to the present, the Aboriginal people of Australia and the English-speaking Australian government have had a rocky relationship. For many years, aboriginal Australians experienced much discrimination and racism. Like Native Americans in the United States, the Abor igines were displaced from their tribal lands and forced into designated settlements. This was all part of an attempt on the part of the government and the European settlers to eradicateRead MoreAnti Bullying Program Into The Schooling System951 Words   |  4 Pagesmillion dollars to safe schools coalition Australia (SSCA) to introduce an optional anti-bullying program into the schooling system. Nationally five hundred schools currently partake in the program, by 2019 the Victorian government is set to make it mandatory for all secondary state schools (Bita, 2016). Though all forms of bullying ought to be censured, the program focuses upon homosexual attraction, intersex and gender diverse children, however the program neglects to address problems of victimisationRead MoreHow Might Schools Empower Teachers to Be Better Informed about Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Education2265 Words   |  10 Pagesinformed about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education? 3. Indigenous literacies and Aboriginal English Overtime, the quality of education for Aboriginal and Torres trait islanders has seen much improvement, though there is yet a stagnant gap evident within the English language and literacy performances of students coming the Indigenous culture when compared to Australian students. This is supported by Dr Wendy Hanlen who asks â€Å"why do Indigenous students born in this country, many of whom speakRead MoreImproving Academic Outcomes For Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islanders Essay1955 Words   |  8 PagesIntroduction Improving academic outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders is mired in inherited and contemporary difficulties. Because of poor policies and pedagogy, generations fear and lack confidence in the education system (Harrison and Sellwood, 2013). It is, therefore, imperative that teachers have a range of resources and strategies for adapting the curriculum to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. This should include fostering pride in identity, making connectionsRead MoreBilingual Education and Native Language Maintenance2195 Words   |  9 Pages(2000) reports that 240 of the languages are in Irian Jaya. A number of the languages in the world are in danger if there is no effort to maintain the language. UNESCO reported that 10 languages are dead every year . Purwo further explains that in Australia in 18 centuries, there were 250 languages and today, there are only 20 languages left. A language can exist if the speakers of the language are more than 100,000 people. If we consider this condition, in Indonesia, there are 109 languages, not JavaRead MoreAboriginal Education Is A Subject That Should Be Embedded Into Curricular Activities2400 Words   |  10 PagesAboriginal education is a subject that should be embedded into curricular activities on a daily basis from the beginning of early childhood. This essay highlights the importance of Aboriginal education from an early age for both Indigenous and non-indigenous children in Australia through the discussion of three strategise. These include the use of Aboriginal perspective in the curriculum, Outcomes for Aboriginal children and cu ltural safety in the early childhood environment. It also evaluates theRead MoreAustralia and Oceania.2798 Words   |  12 PagesEurope and Russian Federation, North Africa and Southwest Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeastern and Pacific Asia, Australia and Oceania. Australia and Oceania represent an economic region made of Australia, New Zealand, and the archipelagos of Melanesia, Polynesia and Micronesia, characterized by a relative isolation from the major cores of the world economy. Despite this, Australia, although populated mainly along the shores is developed country. Mineral and energetic resources are important: coalRead MoreCritical Reflection1285 Words   |  4 Pagesdiscussion. Three of these references need to be recent peer reviewed journal articles outlining research in this area. Task: Students are to critically reflect on the professional responsibilities of managers and leaders in early childhood education and care. In this task, students are to identify and critically reflect on one current professional issue, linked to either 1) early childhood management, 2) early childhood leadership, or 3) advocacy in early childhood. The reflection needs to takeRead MoreA Brief Note On The Refugee Agency Un2619 Words   |  11 Pagesabout refugee in Australia as most of the information taken is from the international community (Garakasha, 2014). This case study paper will share some of the experiences and problem solving methods that have been helpful across cultures in trying to improve the refugee’s health outcomes and improvement of relationship between the health personnel. Body What are the barriers to effective health promotion A number of refugees face problems of access to healthcare in Australia, with reasons fromRead MoreEnglish as a Medium of Instruction3396 Words   |  14 PagesEnglish as the medium of instruction in our schools. According to those who filed the petition, the push for the use of English in our classrooms will only lead to further deterioration of what?s already been described as a rather inferior quality of education. Those who support the 2003 Executive Order filed by President Arroyo on the other hand argue that doing away with English as the medium of instruction will inevitably hurt the country and our people more because they believe that a less competitive