Abstract
Currently, learners of Indonesian in Australian schools comprise the largest cohort of school learners of the language outside Indonesia itself. It is currently the third most studied foreign language in Australian schools. However, while this may appear a healthy state of affairs, the teaching and learning of Indonesian is experiencing a number of challenges that are threatening its place and future in the educational landscape. This paper analyses the current state of Indonesian in the schooling sector in Australia using statistical data and interviews conducted with key stakeholders as part of a larger report commissioned by the Australian Government. The paper also includes discussion of an extract of classroom interaction that highlights the issues and challenges in the teaching and learning of Indonesian in Australian schools.
The paper concludes by highlighting the ecological relationship between Indonesian and the broader social, cultural and political context in which it resides. It is a relationship of ambivalence and unease as Australia considers its identity and position in the Asia-Pacific region and its relationship to its nearest Asian neighbour.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Byram, M., Gribkova, B., & Starkey, H. (2002). Developing the intercultural dimension in language teaching: A practical introduction for teachers. Strasbourg: Council of Europe.
Commonwealth of Australia. (2012). Australia in the Asian century. Canberra: Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. http://asiancentury.dpmc.gov.au/white-paper. Accessed 19 Aug 2013.
DEEWR (Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations). (2008). National Asian languages and studies in schools program homepage. https://deewr.gov.au/national-asian-languages-and-studies-schools-program. Accessed 18 Aug 2013.
Kohler, M. (2010). Moving between knowing and being: a case study of language teachers’ mediation of the intercultural in practice, Unpublished doctoral thesis, School of Communication, International Studies and Languages, University of South Australia.
Kohler, M., & Mahnken, P. (2010). The current state of Indonesian language education in Australian schools. Canberra: Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.
Kramsch, C. (2007). On being a language teacher. The language connection, National languages conference of the Australia federation of modern languages teachers associations. Perth: Australia.
Liddicoat, A. J., Scarino, A., Curnow, T. J., Kohler, M., Scrimgeour, A., & Morgan, A. M. (2008 [2007]). An investigation of the state and nature of languages in Australian schools. Report to the department of education, employment and workplace relations. Adelaide: Research centre for languages and cultures education, University of South Australia.
Lo Bianco, J. (1987). National policy on languages. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service.
Mahoney, I. (2010). Constructing Indonesian Islam in the context of the War on Terror: A critical analysis of how the Australian press framed the ‘other’. University of Queensland.
MCEETYA (Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs). (1994). National Asian languages and studies in schools program. http://www1.curriculum.edu.au/nalsas/about.htm. Accessed 15 May 2012.
Read, J., & Reeve, D. (2010). Teaching Indonesian in Australia. Unpublished book chapter. http://altcfellowship.murdoch.edu.au/Docs/Read-Reeve_Indonesian_in_Oz.pdf. Accessed 19 Aug 2013.
Rudd, K. (1994). Asian languages and Australia’s economic future: A report prepared for the Council of Australian Governments on a proposed national Asian languages/studies strategy for Australian schools.
Liddicoat, A. J. & Scarino, A. (2013). Intercultural Language Teaching and Learning, Wiley=Blackwell: Malden MA
Scarino, A., Liddicoat, A. J., Dellit, J., Crozet, C., Car, J., Crichton, J., et al. (2007). Intercultural language teaching and learning in practice. Adelaide: Document Services, University of South Australia.
WACE (Western Australia. School Curriculum and Standards Authority). (2011). Indonesian: Second language syllabus statement. http://www.curriculum.wa.edu.au/internet/Senior_Secondary/Courses/WACE_Courses/Indonesian_Second_Language?1351476775880. Accessed 25 Oct 2011.
Worsley, P. (1994). Unlocking Australia’s language potential: Profiles of 9 key languages in Australia: Vol. 5 Indonesian/Malay. Canberra: The National Languages and Literacy Institute of Australia.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Kohler, M. (2014). The Teaching and Learning of Indonesian in Australia: Issues and Prospects. In: Murray, N., Scarino, A. (eds) Dynamic Ecologies. Multilingual Education, vol 9. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7972-3_11
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7972-3_11
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-007-7971-6
Online ISBN: 978-94-007-7972-3
eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and LawEducation (R0)