French classes in Australia need to acknowledge our Pacific neighbours too
- Written by Florence Monique Boulard, Lecturer in Modern Languages, James Cook University
Things are happening in the Pacific. The Pacific Labour Scheme officially commenced on July 1 this year, Pacific nations were added to the New Colombo Plan, high-speed undersea internet cables are in the works in the region, and the Prime Minister of Vanuatu and an island-hopping French President were recently in Australia.
Read more: As Emmanuel Macron heads to Australia, the relationship is more important than ever
But how prepared is the next generation of Australians for increased engagement with Australia’s eastern neighbours?
There are missed opportunities in the Australian Curriculum, specifically in French language classrooms, for transforming our view of the Pacific from a region often seen as a “big blue patch of water” to a place young Australians are connected to. We need to change the way we teach French so it acknowledges our Pacific neighbours and helps sustain political and socio-cultural relationships with these nations.
French is a language of the Pacific too
Deeper engagement could be achieved with the Pacific through Australians learning native languages of various Pacific nations, but French is already the second most taught language in Australia.
French has been taught in Australia since the 1880s. But Australia’s proximity to French overseas territories – such as New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna and French Polynesia – is not often studied in depth in French classrooms.
Specific attention has been drawn to the French Pacific islands in the latest iteration of the curriculum. It states that they’re important for Australia’s bilateral engagement in trade and investment, educational exchanges, research and development in science and technology, humanitarian and environmental initiatives, and communications, strategic and defence priorities.
www.shutterstock.comWhile the Pacific represents less than 1% of all French speakers worldwide, French is spoken by over half a million people in the region. It’s also one of the official languages of Vanuatu.
www.shutterstock.comBut the rationale of using the French language as a vehicle to educate young Australians about the Pacific isn’t in the number of speakers. It lies in its geography. French speakers are scattered across the Pacific region, providing an ideal platform to engage students in rich learning about all of Australia’s East-side neighbours.
Curriculum transformation
Australia’s engagement with its East-side neighbours is predominantly undertaken by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). While DFAT’s role is critical, it’s not sufficient in creating and sustaining mutually beneficial and long-term partnerships between governments and the people they represent.
The vehicle of education, particularly on a large scale through schools, is integral to enhancing this relationship. We know this because of the success of the effort to increase knowledge of our North-side Asian neighbours through curriculum in the “Asian century”. It’s in Australia’s best interest to create a generation of young Australians who are willing and able to engage with their East-side neighbours as well.
Authors: Florence Monique Boulard, Lecturer in Modern Languages, James Cook University