PERTH - Although foreign language teaching is compulsory in the Australian school curriculum, schools in Western Australia, like in other states, face the problem of a shortage of foreign language teachers in both primary and secondary schools.
On May 9, a meeting organised by Dr. Annamaria Paolino was held at the School of Education of Edith Cowan University in Perth to bring together Western Australian foreign language teachers.
The teachers present were from both primary and secondary schools and discussed the current situation.
This year, Edith Cowan University launched a language specialisation course in the fourth and final year of the elementary school teaching degree program.
Paolino explained how the path to introducing the course was long and arduous but her determination and passion for languages and language education encouraged her to persist.
“It was important to support my colleagues, to ensure that language teaching remains in schools and to give future teachers the opportunity to specialise in teaching one or more foreign languages,” she said.
Paolino is of Italian descent and is well acquainted with the realities of the school system, as well as the importance of learning foreign languages from an early age.
Before embarking on her academic career at Edith Cowan University, she was an Italian and music teacher at an elementary school.
The event was also attended by some of the students enrolled in the first edition of the specialisation course.
During their speech, they emphasised that the new course means a lot to them in their pursuit of becoming language teachers.
Paolino stressed that “these undergraduates are ambassadors for the future of language education in the state.”
Numerous foreign language teachers, as well as representatives of the SCSA - School Curriculum and Standards Authority – such as Adriana Douglas, attended the event.
Nathan Harvey, president of AFMLTA - Australian Federation of Modern Language Teachers Associations – was also present.
Edith Cowan University has been chosen as the venue for the next and 24th international language conference, organised by AFMLTA from July 7 to 9, 2023
