Technology the key to encourage language studies

A leading Australian linguist believes harnessing digital technology is the key to help reduce the decline in language studies in Australia.

 

In 2013 only eight per cent of HSC students sat a foreign language exam, down from more than 50 per cent in the 1950s.

 

Professor Catherine Travis, Head of The Australian National University (ANU) School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics, said technology had changed the face of language teaching over the past 20 years.

 

“The advancements in learning technologies and just the breadth of digital resources available now to students has really changed what they’re learning and how they’re using their acquired language,” Professor Travis said.

 

“One great innovation has been the use of Skype to communicate with conversation partners on the other side of the world. This can also work for mutual language exchange, since face-to-face communication is still the best way to learn a language."

 

The School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics hosted more than 400 year 11 and 12 students from across Canberra this week to help attract the next generation of language students to the ANU.

 

Despite the advances to technology, Professor Travis said there was no substitute for hard work.

 

“Language learning can’t be outsourced, even with great resources such as online dictionaries and translation tools,” she said.

 

“There is no less to learn even if you have access to these tools. They will never take the place of real communication, and in fact, the technology for translation tools is a long way from providing natural translations.

 

“What the digital technology means is that we can get much closer to an immersive, interactive experience without actual immersion, and I predict that that it will continue to have an enormous impact on language learning.”

 

The ANU Languages Showcase attracted record numbers of ACT language students and showcased 16 languages taught at the ANU.