This piece was prepared by Felicity Jackling who completed Year twelve French in 2003. Felicity will be commencing a Bachelor of Science at Melbourne University where she will continue her French studies.
Tapis Volant – for parents
Language education is recognised as an essential aspect of junior secondary school education due to its vast range of benefits. The aim of this website is to inform parents of the benefits of language education and to provide ways in which they can help their child to succeed with their language.
The benefits of learning a language
The benefits of learning French
Practical ways in which you can help your child to learn a language
Case studies
The benefits of learning a language
Learning a language can provide personal advantages including improved self-confidence and cultural awareness. Learning a language allows students to realise that throughout the world, people live their lives differently, eat different things and speak differently. In addition, employers are increasingly aware of the benefits of individuals with a wide range of knowledge. An employee with language skills is considered to possess a range of abilities, including speaking and listening skills and an appreciation of cultural sensitivities. By learning a language your child can improve many aspects of their lives.
Language education:
- develops an awareness, acceptance and appreciation of cultural differences
- contributes to the preparation of students for their future lives and careers in a multicultural society, which is valued by potential employers
- develops an understanding of language, which improves students’ appreciation of pronunciation, oral fluency, aural discrimination, reading comprehension, written skills and recall
- enables students’ to communicate their needs, thoughts, ideas and opinions in another language
- fosters student interaction, through communication in another language, which encourages mutual cooperation and tolerance.
- improves the English of students because when a grammar pattern, for example, is learned in a foreign language, the English equivalent is also learned.
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The benefits of learning French
Through learning French, students can discover a diverse culture, improve their chances of being accepted into their preferred university course, and enhance their career opportunities.
- LOTE (languages other than English) scaling bonus in VCE
Due to government policy aimed at encouraging students to study LOTEs, French study scores are adjusted up in year twelve. This means that study scores can be increased by up to twelve points (maximum study score is 50). This increases the ENTER obtained by French students and may help your child to secure the university place of their choice.
- Travel advantages
As French is spoken in over forty-two countries, being able to communicate needs, feelings and requests in French is an advantage when travelling overseas
- Career opportunities
The job prospects which can stem from learning French include engineering, banking, teaching, commerce, international finance, diplomacy and translating and interpreting.
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Practical ways in which you can help your child to learn a language
Parents can sometimes feel uneasy at the idea of helping their child learn a foreign language - particularly if they themselves are not experienced with the language. However, language learning extends far beyond grammar and verbs. Learning a language includes learning about the culture, way of life, traditions and history of a country. It is these areas that parents can help their children with their studies.
It is also important for parents to be realistic about their child’s progress. It is unreasonable to expect your child to be speaking fluent French within a year. Parents should monitor their child’s progress and show their support by being actively involved in their child’s language education. The following are some ways in which you can help your child with their language education.
- Provide encouragement and support
If your child knows you support their language learning, they are more likely to be committed to completing all set homework and extra revision. Encouragement for excellent results and reassurance when any unsatisfactory result is received will let your child know that you wish to help them achieve their best.
- Monitor your child’s progress with the assistance of their teacher
Keeping the communication lines open between you and the teacher is important for solving any problems which may arise in your child’s language learning.
- Visit French restaurants and see French films
A meal at a French restaurant or seeing a French film can give your child a lesson in aural comprehension, extend their vocabulary, and improve their grammar. It can also broaden their horizons, helping them to understand other cultures and ways of life. French restaurants and movies are also an excellent way to maintain your child’s interest in learning the language.
- Organise a French exchange student or overseas trip
The best way to learn French is total immersion in the culture and language. A visit to France or a French speaking country is the ideal way to experience French culture. It is also a fantastic opportunity to improve pronunciation, listening skills and communication skills. If a visit to France is not feasible, you may like to consider having a French exchange student stay with you.
- Alliance Francaise courses
Another effective way to improve your child’s French is to enrol them in a course at the Alliance Francaise. The difficulty of each course varies and there is also a useful library where students can borrow French books.
- Help your child to learn vocabulary, verb endings or spelling
Language learning involves learning vocabulary, spelling and so on. The language barrier between you and your child can often be overcome by helping your child to learn simple vocabulary - read out the English word and your child then says the corresponding French word. You could also discuss with your child memory techniques that you find useful.
You could also:
- Organise a French pen pal
- Buy or borrow French books or posters
- Buy a bilingual dictionary
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Case studies
ANNA – French Secondary School teacher
Anna studied French throughout High School and studied first year university French in Year twelve through MUPHAS (Melbourne University Program for High Achieving Students). Her enthusiasm for the French language and French culture has been strengthened by numerous overseas trips to French-speaking countries, including France, Belgium, Switzerland and New Caledonia. She believes the benefits of language learning are an “awareness of another way to make meaning”. Anna also feels that learning a second language “improves communication and interpersonal skills”. She describes the advantage of a greater appreciation of Australia “through being exposed to different cultures”. Anna is currently a teacher of Years seven, eight and nine, and has also done tutoring and translating. Her advice to students includes ensuring that they complete at least ten minutes of reading French aloud per night. To parents, she recommends “appreciating and valuing other cultures”, as this will encourage your child to learn and persevere with another language.
LISA – First year university student
Lisa completed year twelve French last year and has experienced first hand the benefits of learning a second language. She has an awareness of the difficulties parents experience when trying to help their children learn a language.
Lisa was able to incorporate her keen interest of science into her French studies. For example, her detailed study for year twelve French incorporated the work of scientist Marie Curie. The study of this famous scientist and her discovery of radium have given Lisa an enhanced understanding of how people from France have made important contributions to the society that we live in today.
She also found that her English improved once she began to learn French, with grammar lessons being useful for both French and English. She recalls that her parents had trouble helping her with French and so gave her the opportunity to attend some Alliance Francaise courses. These are “non-intimidating and helpful” courses, which aim to improve all aspects of a student’s French. Lisa encourages students to complete regular French revision which includes extending vocabulary and grammar work.
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In conclusion, the benefits of learning a language are life- long. The encouragement and support that parents can provide is an essential aspect of a successful student. A parent’s investment of time into language education can be one, which brings lifelong benefits to their child.
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