More than 350 secondary school students explore languages at ANU

More than 350 secondary school students from across the ACT have visited campus to explore the largest offering of languages of any Australian university.

 

Sixteen languages were showcased at the ANU Languages Showcase on 31 May, jointly facilitated by the College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS) and the College of Asia and the Pacific (CAP). 

 

The students learned about the breadth and diversity of languages the ANU offers, including Turkish and Persian, which aren’t available at any other university in Australia. 

 

The event was also attended by the Ambassador of Italy, HE Mr Pier Francesco Zazo, who met with students and reiterated the importance of studying European languages.

 

Head of the School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics, Professor Catherine Travis, said speaking other languages opens up a new world – not only for places you can visit, but experiences possible travelling as an insider, rather than as a tourist.

 

“It also increases your job opportunities and gives you an advantage over monolingual English-speakers in business, international relations, politics and much more,” Catherine added. 

 

“Australian universities give bonus entry points to students who have studied another language, and several government departments, for example Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence, pay a bonus to speakers of other languages.”

 

Dr Carol Hayes, a Senior Lecturer in East Asian Studies who opened the event with Catherine, referred to a popular quote: ‘Monolingualism is curable’.

 

“We aim to produce ANU graduates who will lead the vanguard of Australia’s engagement across our region, as part of a multilingual society that communicates with our neighbours in their own languages,” Carol said. 

 

“This means learning not only learning to speak their languages but also developing a deep understanding of the cultures and societies that surround us.

 

“Say YES to a multilingual Australia and come and study languages at the ANU,” Carol added.

 

The 12 schools included St Francis Xavier College. Year 12 student Lucy Ramsay and Year 11 student Tristan Vergano, both studying Italian, explained why they chose that language.

 

“The culture is interesting and Europe is an interesting place,” Lucy said.

 

“I also like the sound of the language.”

 

Tristan, whose heritage is Italian, said as his grandparents speak Italian, he wants to be able to learn from them. He also agreed that Italian culture is interesting.

 

Both students have travelled to Italy on school trips. Lucy visited in 2013 and stayed with a local family.

 

“That expanded my language skills and I found when I came back I was much more confident speaking Italian,” Lucy recalled.

 

“I was in Year 10 last year when I went to Italy,” Tristan said.

 

“It was really cool to hear the native Italian language. I really expanded my knowledge and learned words I hadn’t known before.”

 

Tristan believes that his Italian will come in handy if he becomes a teacher in Italy.

 

“It’d be useful even if I went to Italy for sport,” he added.

 

Lucy, who has ambitions of working in journalism or politics, said that it will benefit her knowledge of Europe and the wider world.

 

In the 2016 QS World University Rankings, the ANU ranked #1 in Australia for languages and #26 in the world.

 

Students can study multiple languages through the Flexible Double Degree Programs, allowing students to studying programs such as the Bachelor of Languages with a Bachelor of International Relations, specialising in a language.