Bright brilliant minds The benefits of a bilingual education

BRIGHT, BRILLIANT MINDS

The lifelong benefits of a bilingual education

In our increasingly connected world – and with some 300 languages spoken in Australia – it’s not hard to recognise the value of learning a second language from a young age. And our State Government agrees, stipulating that all Victorian public primary schools must provide a foreign language in their compulsory curriculum.

But with most primary schools allocating just one lesson a week to second language subjects, is this really enough for students to realise the full potential that this learning offers? Sadly not. Despite our country becoming more diverse, only 10% of Australia’s Year 12 students in 2016 took a second language – compared to a staggering 40% in 1960. So, as a parent, how can you impart the love for a foreign language onto your children? And how can you ensure a long-lasting proficiency and passion for that language? The answer is simple and within easy reach: an immersive bilingual education. And the research is clear. Immersion programs, whereby children spend at least 50% of their time learning in a non-English language, are far superior to traditional teaching methods like rote vocabulary and memorisation. That’s because children are learning in a meaningful, real-world way through a myriad of lenses including culture, art and music. Naturally, the ultimate goal of a bilingual education is ‘biliteracy’ – a lifelong ability to understand, speak, read and write confidently in both languages. But the rewards extend far beyond this single goal. Below are the key benefits of a bilingual education:

on reading, mathematical comprehension, problem-solving and decision-making. • An intercultural mindset: Highly valued by employers, those with strong intercultural skills are better able to understand, communicate, and build trust with people from diverse backgrounds. • Global and social awareness: An immersive bilingual program cultivates successful, well-rounded global citizens who value social cohesion and understand that the world is so much bigger than themselves. Established in 2008, Deutsche Schule Melbourne (DSM) is a German-English bilingual school in Fitzroy North – known for its diverse, vibrant and close-knit community. Today, with 130 children across 27 nationalities and 24 languages, the school welcomes children of all backgrounds, including those without any German knowledge. Currently, one third of its Foundation Year students don’t speak German at home.

As an accredited German school abroad, DSM’s curriculum satisfies the highest standards in both countries’ education systems – creating a world of future study and career opportunities for its students.

‘A bilingual education is powerful. It helps children develop and understand diverse perspectives – and opens a world of opportunity. At DSM, we make learning German and English as natural as possible by integrating them into all our classes. We believe it’s a more seamless and effective way to learn.’ By Bernice Ressel, Principal – Deutsche Schule Melbourne. Learn more: dsm.org.au