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Aboriginal and Indigenous Languages; a Language Other Than English for All; and Equitable and Widespread Language Services

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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 355 819 FL 021 087 AUTHOR Lo Bianco, Joseph TITLE The National Policy on Languages, December 1987-March 1990. Report to the Minister for Employment, Education and Training. INSTITUTION Australian Advisory Council on Languages and Multicultural Education, Canberra. PUB DATE May 90 NOTE 152p. PUB TYPE Reports Descriptive (141) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC07 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Advisory Committees; Agency Role; *Educational Policy; English (Second Language); Foreign Countries; *Indigenous Populations; *Language Role; *National Programs; Program Evaluation; Program Implementation; *Public Policy; *Second Languages IDENTIFIERS *Australia ABSTRACT The report proviCes a detailed overview of implementation of the first stage of Australia's National Policy on Languages (NPL), evaluates the effectiveness of NPL programs, presents a case for NPL extension to a second term, and identifies directions and priorities for NPL program activity until the end of 1994-95. It is argued that the NPL is an essential element in the Australian government's commitment to economic growth, social justice, quality of life, and a constructive international role. Four principles frame the policy: English for all residents; support for Aboriginal and indigenous languages; a language other than English for all; and equitable and widespread language services. The report presents background information on development of the NPL, describes component programs, outlines the role of the Australian Advisory Council on Languages and Multicultural Education (AACLAME) in this and other areas of effort, reviews and evaluates NPL programs, and discusses directions and priorities for the future, including recommendations for development in each of the four principle areas. Additional notes on funding and activities of component programs and AACLAME and responses by state and commonwealth agencies with an interest in language policy issues to the report's recommendations are appended. (MSE) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** A ACLAME 1k THE NATIONAL POLICY ONLANGUAGES DECEMBER 1987 - MARCH 1990 REPORT TO THE MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT,EDUCATION AND TRAINING BY THE AUSTRALIAN ADVISORY COUNCIL ON LANGUAGES AND MULTICULTURALEDUCATION MAY 1990 "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS Of EDUCATION nt U.S. DEPAPtTAENTfleseafch andta)provameON MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY °Rice 01 Educanoni INFOSS}ATI }RESOURCES EDUCATIONALCENTER (ERIC) reproduced as document lief ocoanizaton tiecls person 7, eived from the rf C"N31)\ or ginating made to improve have been 0 Minot cilantro reproduction duentv in ttsC,)cu- opinlooS stated TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES Pants of view of represent INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)." ment do netneCeSsanly OERI positron orpolicy 2 BEST COPY AVAILABLE ISBN 0 642 15548 8 This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced byany process withoutwrittenpermission from the AACLAME Secretariat, GPO Box 9880, Canberra, ACT, 2601. 3 BEST COPY AVAILABLE FOREWARD A NationalPolicy on Languages (NPL) is an ambitious concept and a large undertaking. In Australia, National needs to be distinguished from Commonwealthsince it mean a co-operative partnership among the States, Territories and the Commonwealth. Policy means establishingcleargoals and describing the processes which will leadto their achievement. Languagesmeans thatthedistinctive role of all language categories needs to be included. English, andLiteracy in English were given primacy in the NPLadoptedby theFederal Government in 1987 and supported bythe States and Territories. The second principle on which the Policy is based referred to the unique languages ofAustralia, theAboriginal andTorres Strait Islander Languages. The third principle expressed a now almostunanimously asserted Because goal: A Language other thanEnglish for all. Australia is a multicultural,predominantly European population at the edge of the South-EastAsian region this principle is a complex one involving support for languages of Australia's population, the languagesof neighbouringcountries and the languages of wide globalsignificance. services The fourth principle is a commitment to language (interpreting and translating, languagetesting, languages in the media, comprehensive languagespolicy advice, evaluation and research). This report catalogues the greatdeal of activity implementing in which the the National Policy on Languages. The spirit Policy was brought about; iecollaboration and discussionwith interestedparties was reflected in theproduction of this all to report. The NPL is of practical and symbolic significance Australia. This report shows why. Joseph Lo Bianco 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary iv 1. Introduction 1 1.1 Purpose of the Report 1 1.2 National Policy on Languages: Overview 1 2. National Policy on Languages: The Background 2 2.1 Development of the National Policy on Languages 2 2.2 Role of the National Policy on Languages 5 2.3 Needs to be addressed by the National Policy on Languages 5 2.4 National Policy on Languages: The Principles 6 2.4.1 English for All 6 2.4.2 Support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Languages 7 2,4.3 A Language Other Than English for All 8 2.4.4 Equitable and Widespread Language Services 9 3. National Policy on Languages: The Programs 10 3.1 Adult Literacy Action Campaign 10 3.2 Asian Studies Program 12 3.3 Australian Second Language Learning Program 14 3.4 English as a Second Language Program (New Arrivals element) 17 3.5 Languages Institute of Australia 20 3.6 Multicultural and Cross-Cultural Supplementation Program 23 3.7 National Aboriginal Languages Program 25 4. The Australian Advisory Council on Languages and Multicultural Education (AACLAME) 26 4.1 Terms of Reference 26 4.2 Membership 27 4.3 Organisation 29 4.3.1 Reference Groups 29 4.3.2 Sub-Committees 30 4.3.3 Assessment Panels 30 4.4 Consultancies and Grants 31 4.5 AACLAME's contribution to debate and policy-making 33 4.6 Publications 36 4.7 Surveys and data collection 38 4.8 Development of briefs for reviews 38 4.9 Conferences 39 4.10 Effectiveness cif AACLAME's activities 41 4.11 The future 41 5. Reviews and evaluations of the National Policy on Languages Programs 42 5.1 Review of the Adult Literacy Action Campaign 42 5.2 Review of the National Aboriginal Languages Program 44 5.3 Review of the Australian Second Language Learning Program 46 5.4 Other National Policy on Languages Programs 48 5 ii. 6. Directions and Priorities for the Future 50 6.1 Achievements of the National Policy on Languages 50 6.2 The case for maintaining the National Policy on Languages 51 6.3 Areas for future development 54 6.3.1 Development of the Principle of English for All 54 6.3.1.1 Proposal for a new program: The National Literacy Program 55 6.3.2 Development of the Principle of support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Languages 61 6.3.2.1 Proposal for a revised and extended National Aboriginal Languages Program 63 6.3.3 Development of the Principle of a Language other than English for All 64 6.3.3.1 Proposal for a modified Australian Second Language Learning Program for schools 72 6.3.4 Development of the Principle of Widespread and Equitable Language Services 72 6.3.4.1 Proposals for action relating to language services 73 6.3.5 Proposals relating to multicultural education 74 7. Recommendations 74 Appendices 1A. ALAC State / Territory expenditure, 1988 and 1989 78 1B. ALAC National level projects, 1988 and 1989 85 2. Funding details of the Asian Studies Program 87 3A. Funding details of the ASLLP General element 91 3B. Funding details of the ASLLP National level element 98 4. NALP projects 1997-88 and 1988-89 101 5. MACSP projects funded, 1988 to 1990 108 6. Summary of AACLAME expenditure 112 7. Membership of AACLAME's Reference Groups, Sub-Committees and Assessment Panels 114 6 8. Activities of AACLAME's Reference Groups, Sub-Committees and Assessment Panels 117 9. Papers delivered or conferences hcsted by AACLAME members, on behalf of the NPL 123 10. Review Seminar National Policy on Languages: the Next Decade (Canberra, 28 March 1990): Response to the recommendations of AACLAME's draft report to the Minister 129 Tables 1. Total Commonwealth commitment to the National Policy on Languages, as announced in December 1987 2 2. Summary of program funding available under the NPL 3 3. State allocations for the Adult Literacy Action Campaign in each of 1988 and 1989 11 4. Australian Second Language Learning Program annual allocation to each education system under the General element 16 5. ESL Program Expenditure 1982 to 1990 20 6. Total financial allocations for the Languages Institute of Australia 21 7. Languages Institute of Australia current activities and initial allocation 22 8. Grants and consultancies supported by AACLAME 39 9. Foreign Trade: Australia's top trading partners in 1988-89 65 10. Some languages in Australian education institutions, 1988 70 11. Summary of AACLAME's recommendations for additional NPL funding up to and including 1994-95 77 v 7 iv. Executive Summary This first report to the Federal Parliament by the Australian Advisory Council on Languages and Multicultural Education (AACLAME) provides a detailed overview of implementation of the first stage of the National Policy on Languages (NPL) till March 1990, evaluates the effectiveness of the NPL programs, presents
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