Anne Pauwels Heritage and Community Languages in higher education: Some Initiatives from Australia

Australia as a multilingual and multicultural community Almost 17% use a community language at home More than 350 languages spoken in Australia Top ten languages in 2006: Chinese, Italian, Greek, Arabic, Vietnamese, Spanish, Tagalog/Filipino, German, Hindi, Croatian Top ten languages in 1976:Italian, Greek, German, Serbo-Croatian,French, Dutch, Polish, Arabic, Spanish and Maltese Almost 17% use a community language at home More than 350 languages spoken in Australia Top ten languages in 2006: Chinese, Italian, Greek, Arabic, Vietnamese, Spanish, Tagalog/Filipino, German, Hindi, Croatian Top ten languages in 1976:Italian, Greek, German, Serbo-Croatian,French, Dutch, Polish, Arabic, Spanish and Maltese

Age profile of ethnolinguistic communities Young profile [% of speakers in the 0-14 years age group]: Arabic (26%), Vietnamese (23.6%),Cantonese (17.3%), Mandarin (17.1%), Spanish (14.3%), Greek (12.2%), Italian (6.6%) Old profile [% of speakers in +55 age group]: Latvian (67%), Lithuanian (64.4%), Dutch (56.6%),Ukrainian (53%), German (49.5%), Hungarian (49.1%), Maltese (43.3%) Young profile [% of speakers in the 0-14 years age group]: Arabic (26%), Vietnamese (23.6%),Cantonese (17.3%), Mandarin (17.1%), Spanish (14.3%), Greek (12.2%), Italian (6.6%) Old profile [% of speakers in +55 age group]: Latvian (67%), Lithuanian (64.4%), Dutch (56.6%),Ukrainian (53%), German (49.5%), Hungarian (49.1%), Maltese (43.3%)

Australia’s language policies Major fluctuations since its formation as a colony in 18th C National Policy on Languages (1987) –English for all –A second language for all –Maintenance of Australian indigenous languages –Language services for people A series of reiterations and variations since 1987 (Lo Bianco 2009) Major fluctuations since its formation as a colony in 18th C National Policy on Languages (1987) –English for all –A second language for all –Maintenance of Australian indigenous languages –Language services for people A series of reiterations and variations since 1987 (Lo Bianco 2009)

Languages in Schools Priority languages Increasing commitment to a minimum of 3 years compulsory study of a language Widespread adoption of language study in primary schools 130 languages available for study School of languages in some states More than 40 languages available for final year assessment (=A level) Approx 13% of graduating students (A level) take an exam in a language Priority languages Increasing commitment to a minimum of 3 years compulsory study of a language Widespread adoption of language study in primary schools 130 languages available for study School of languages in some states More than 40 languages available for final year assessment (=A level) Approx 13% of graduating students (A level) take an exam in a language

Languages at University Approx 66 languages available for study at 1 or more Australian universities in the mid 1990s In 2006 reduced to 29 languages Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin), French, Italian, Indonesian, German and Spanish are widely available Most universities offer around 6 languages Less widely taught languages are concentrated in less than 5 universities on east coast of Australia Hebrew, Hindi, Macedonian, Polish, Portuguese, Serbian, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian and Vietnamese available at only 1 or 2 universities Approx 66 languages available for study at 1 or more Australian universities in the mid 1990s In 2006 reduced to 29 languages Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin), French, Italian, Indonesian, German and Spanish are widely available Most universities offer around 6 languages Less widely taught languages are concentrated in less than 5 universities on east coast of Australia Hebrew, Hindi, Macedonian, Polish, Portuguese, Serbian, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian and Vietnamese available at only 1 or 2 universities

Linguistic diversity in Australian universities 18% of Australian (home) students use a language other than English at home More than 120 languages are used by Australian students Top ten languages:Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Arabic, other Chinese dialects, Greek, Spanish, Hindi, Indonesian, Korean 18% of Australian (home) students use a language other than English at home More than 120 languages are used by Australian students Top ten languages:Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Arabic, other Chinese dialects, Greek, Spanish, Hindi, Indonesian, Korean

The situation of languages at university: a summary A drastic reduction in the number of languages available for study (single, joint honours or as additional subject) Only 1 language is available in all states: Indonesian Only four universities offer more than 10 languages Most universities offer 2 to 3 European languages and 2 or 3 Asian languages Most language departments have less than 8 FTE academic staff Increased casualisation of the work force A drastic reduction in the number of languages available for study (single, joint honours or as additional subject) Only 1 language is available in all states: Indonesian Only four universities offer more than 10 languages Most universities offer 2 to 3 European languages and 2 or 3 Asian languages Most language departments have less than 8 FTE academic staff Increased casualisation of the work force

The situation of languages at university: a summary Reduction in language programs & departments across the country due to financial constraints Increased demand for ab-initio courses Significant increase in the number of tertiary students with a home background in a language other than English Increased demand for language as an additional subject in degree programs Increased demand for language skills for strategic purposes (economic, security) Disjuncture with languages in schools Reduction in language programs & departments across the country due to financial constraints Increased demand for ab-initio courses Significant increase in the number of tertiary students with a home background in a language other than English Increased demand for language as an additional subject in degree programs Increased demand for language skills for strategic purposes (economic, security) Disjuncture with languages in schools

Strengthening languages through collaborative arrangements To ensure that very small enrolment languages continue to be available for study in Australia To ensure that as many students as possible have access to language study across Australian universities To facilitate the introduction of new languages into universities, especially those of relevance to Australia To minimise the closure of language departments in Australian universities To enrich language learning experiences for Australian language learners To ensure that very small enrolment languages continue to be available for study in Australia To ensure that as many students as possible have access to language study across Australian universities To facilitate the introduction of new languages into universities, especially those of relevance to Australia To minimise the closure of language departments in Australian universities To enrich language learning experiences for Australian language learners

Models for language collaboration Cooperative Blended Model Cooperative Blended Exchange Model Blended Online and Immersion Model: residential - study abroad Collaborative city-based model Cooperative Blended Model Cooperative Blended Exchange Model Blended Online and Immersion Model: residential - study abroad Collaborative city-based model

Initial Evaluation Cooperative blended model is the most successful to date Blended online & immersion model is working best for very small programs in languages working together Practical arrangements and administrative procedures are the main ‘stumbling blocks’ for long term collaboration. Cooperative blended model is the most successful to date Blended online & immersion model is working best for very small programs in languages working together Practical arrangements and administrative procedures are the main ‘stumbling blocks’ for long term collaboration.

City-based collaboration Version 1: students travel Version 2: staff travel Version 1: students travel Version 2: staff travel

Some concluding remarks Majority of world’s languages will never reach a ‘critical mass’ of students in a university and will need to be sustained through partnerships, collaboration across universities, systems, countries. Criteria for collaboration: –Willingness to work together –A degree of compatibility, –Willingness to embrace a new way of thinking –Sustainability Majority of world’s languages will never reach a ‘critical mass’ of students in a university and will need to be sustained through partnerships, collaboration across universities, systems, countries. Criteria for collaboration: –Willingness to work together –A degree of compatibility, –Willingness to embrace a new way of thinking –Sustainability