Students stop taking Asian languages in senior years

Despite the fact of  rise in Asian people immigrating to Australia, the news article proclaims that the proportion of students taking Asian language has decreased during senior years. Between 2010 and 2012 the number of students learning Chinese has grew up to 42 percent however in the recent period the number of HSC students studying Asian language has dropped by 27 percent. In 2013 there is 902 students taking Chinese which shrunk by 5 percent to last year. (McNeilage.A, Tovey.J, 2013) 

According to the president of the Board of Studies NSW, the reason for this issue is "''To the extent that studying a language is a functional advantage for interacting globally, the paradox is that as the world globalises, you don't need another language and people are aware of that,'' and, ''Everyone that goes to 

China knows you can get around pretty well with English.''. However, despite the decrease there has been a 

rise in students taking Asian language during 2010 and 2012. Every students must learn a second language during junior high as a mandatory subject but this article shows that students give up when it comes to taking HSC. 

The director of the Chinese Teacher Training Centre at the University of Melbourne, Jane Orton she says that the people learning foreign lanauge tends to stop right before HSC because they don't want to compete with background students. As she said ''There are kids who would like to go on but they just literally can't afford it for their futures,'' and ''It's like having a race for the under 12s. You can't have long-legged 15-year-olds racing down. Of course they're going to win.''

 Therefore there are numerous students learning French as it is similar to English and it's much easier for them to learn, at least it is easier than Mandarin. This year there 663 students took French as a beginner but only 52 students taking Chinese beginners. I totally understand this factor because as an Australian perspective, French is a lot easier and familiar. I think as HSC is becoming more stressful and competing and society is getting harder, students know what subjects to take for them to boost their mark. 

As someone preparing to be Japanese teacher in the future, I think it is so unfortunate that people are putting them selves in a disadvantaged position in the most advantaged place like Australia. Multiculturalism allows us to engage with other ethnics and gain experience without having to travel and meet people. I strongly agree to Dr Orton's statement " more parents need to value the learning of language, beyond just employment opportunities". Students should know the benefits of learning foreign language not just to be successful but for the possibility of becoming a bigger person with great understanding of other people. 

Another news article that I found inspiring by Anne Merritt she said "Learning a foreign language is more than just a boost to your CV or handy for travelling. It will make you smarter, more decisive and even better at English" which i totally agree because I've experienced of knowing my mother language stronger due to learning English as second language. 

References

1.     McNeilage.A, Tovey.Josephine (2013) Students stop taking Asian languages in senior years, Australia, The Sydney Morning Herald, Retrieved from
http://www.smh.com.au/national/education/students-stop-taking-asian-languages-in-senior-years-20131007-2v4cu.html#ixzz2hFkW11vz

2. Merritt. A (2013) Why learn a foreign language? Benefits of bilingualism, England, The telegraph, Retrieved from
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationopinion/10126883/Why-learn-a-foreign-language-Benefits-of-bilingualism.html