John Hajek
University of Melbourne
AFMLTA 2013
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John Hajek
University of Melbourne
AFMLTA 2013
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RUMACCC (Research Unit for Multilingualism
and Cross-cultural communication)
http://rumaccc.unimelb.edu.au/
LCNAU (Language and Cultures Network for
Australian Universities) www.lcnau.org
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to highlight how pervasive Anglocentrism
limits the way we see, experience and
understand the world and how we devalue
multilingualism/language success
How that same Anglocentrism limits the
success of languages education in our
schools and social multilingualism
Some good news, bad news and some ideas
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PS you have permission to LAUGH!
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You will now see an apparently random series
of face shots
Can you identify them?
Most (but not all) share a common
characteristic. Can you work out who they are
and what it is?
They will reappear later in the presentation
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English as no.1 = privilege and blight
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3 major consequences for native speakers:
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The Monolingual Mindset
The Anglobubble
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Language cost-benefit formula is totally skewed.
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The cost of linguistic success as L1 English speakers is so low
that there is no understanding of the real cost to achieve the
same for L2:
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Result: chronic underinvestment and inadequate policy re
language education and bilingualism in the wider societal setting
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The greatest impediment to recognizing,
valuing and utilizing our language potential is
a persistent monolingual mindset. Such a
mindset sees everything in terms of
monolingualism being the norm, even though
there are more bi- and multilinguals in the
world than monolinguals (Clyne, 2005)
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This is that part of the world, with a
concentration of monolingual English
speakers, that operates in English, thinks it
only natural that everything should happen in
English and should logically be experienced
and understood in English.
English is often said to open up the world for
you. There is good evidence that for L1
speakers it easily hides it from them.
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So what happens when you combine
monolingual mindset with the Anglobubble?
A few examples…..
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The new national curriculum will, after
establishing Italian and Chinese, also teach
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
languages. Why?
Can't someone explain to the bureaucrats
and educators that this is a massive waste of
time and resources?
English, as anyone who regularly travels will
tell you, is the universal language of
business, diplomacy and entertainment.
(Steve Price, Herald-Sun, February 2011)
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"Poorer schools outshine the rest"
The Australian 28 November 2009
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Richmond West Primary punching above its
weight
Highly disadvantaged – starts well behind. By
Yr3 90% meet NAPLAN minimum but still
below average.
By Yr5 well above the state average (in
English!)
What's their secret? How does it get reported?
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How do the Anglobubble and monolingual
mindset combine to affect the way we look
outside at the wider world?
The next slide contains a league table
Warning (Australians only): Australians may be
upset to find that New Zealanders are higher on
the table.
Good news (Kiwis only): we know we always
perform better than our neighbours over the
Ditch. Please get streamers ready.
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All
Brazil
Finland
Denmark
Norway
Argentina
France
Sweden
Colombia
Hong Kong
Turkey
Mexico
Israel
Singapore
Canada
Ireland
South Africa
US
UK
New Zealand
Australia
None
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0
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0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
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30
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One
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56
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54
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Two
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51
30
37
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40
30
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30
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23
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Three or more
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50
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37
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9
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Group A
Group B
Denmark
Finland
Germany
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Sweden
Greece
Ireland
Italy
Portugal
Spain
UK
Extra questions: Which of all these countries has the biggest
trade deficit? Budget deficit? Language deficit?
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94% of the world's population do not speak
English as their first language
75% of the world's population do not speak
English at all
World languages don't last
(remember Bladerunner?)
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New challenges and challengers
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Shift already occurring – on the web &
outsourcing
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It can be dangerous to speak another
language in the Anglobubble – when coupled
with the monolingual mindset
and politics…..
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Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has accused
Labor leader Kevin Rudd of being a show-off who
can't hold himself back from breaking into Chinese.
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"He likes to show off, and you get that a bit with
certain people in life," he told ABC Radio today.
Mr Downer says Mr Rudd is not the only person in
Australia who can speak another language.
"There are thousands upon thousands of Australians,
there are tens of thousands of Australians, who can
speak foreign languages and most of them don't
bother to show-off about it," he said.
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415 million views.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UVNT4wvIGY
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVckoz0fM_Q
512 million views
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1,7 billion views so far
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bZkp7q19f0
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It’s been coming a long time
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(More likely the Global Century)
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Various policy initiatives:
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NALSAS and now NALSSP
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As language teachers we do our best in
difficult circumstances, we really do….
Teachers get blamed for a lot of things.
But it's not your fault, as language teachers in
schools, if recent federal policy initiatives in
favour of Asian languages and studies have
not been successful – most recently NALSSP
(2008-2012)
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Decline in Asian language studies parents' fault, says Education
Minister Peter Garrett, The Australian, August 12, 2012
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(1) Chronic underinvestment
(2) Excessively low and excessively high
expectations + unachievable outcomes
(3) Misguided policy and failure to implement
what policy there is (e.g. principals have a
critical role here)
NALSSP = less than $1 p.a per Australian
= cost of one dim sim (steamed or fried)
White paper? Gonski report?
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What is official language policy for European
Union citizens?
(How many languages? Which languages?)
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What's so special about education in Finland?
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Need to improve supply in schools AND
demand in schools and in society
Well funded public campaign matched by
proper resourcing in schools + application of
policy
One solution: Language champions – just like
sporting, media, business champions – as
powerful role models
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We need to take Hollywood and subvert it for
our own purposes:
We take rich, beautiful, globally known stars
of film and TV – people we watch, admire and
aspire to imitate….
And we use them as role models and
language champions
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A nationally funded reality program to give
direct experience of the world beyond the
Anglobubble
Survivor – principals and policymakers
Leave them in sites around the world.
Compass, penknife, $10 and a list of
challenges
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How to convince business we're onto
something with language champions?
We need to find a champion who crosses the
business/entertainment divide
A rich, powerful CEO of a global company
with international profile and real staying
power – someone that even Gina Hancock
might listen to (….not Rupert Murdoch!)
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 FIN
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