Unlocking Australia's Language Potential: Profiles of 9 Key Languages in Australia. Volume 1, Arabic.

Overview & Synopsis

This work is one in a series that focuses on nine languages representing the bulk of the second language learning effort in Australian education (Arabic, Modern Standard Chinese, French, German, Modern Greek, Indonesian/Malay, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish). These languages were categorized as the Languages of Wider Teaching. Overviews of Arabic education in primary and secondary schools, in tertiary institutions, in ethnic schools, and in adult education are provided. Diplomatic language training, curriculum approaches, and qualitative trends in Arabic education are profiled. Other topics addressed include teacher education and teaching materials; language courses for native and non-native speakers; parent, student, and community attitudes; policy considerations; Arabic in Australian society, and the Arabic-speaking community worldwide. Appendices contain a list of the individuals, ethnic schools, and ethnic community organizations consulted in preparation of the document; data concerning student numbers; references; and an attitudinal survey form and results. (Contains 56 references.) (JP)