1992 School Magazine

Brisbane Girls' Grammai' School's Lote Progi'am Is a leader in Queensland. The school offers students the choice of five languages, French, Gennan, Latin, Japanese and Chinese. I have been informed that in terms of the number of languages offered at a High School, Girls' Granimar's only rival are, as per usual, Brisbane Boys' Grammar and Brisbane State High School. But Gills' Grammar's decision to make two foreign languages coin- pulsory in Year Eight and a foreign language compulsory througli to Year Ten pLits this school's Language Program ahead of every school in the slate When I inspected the building site back in API'11, I was interested to learn that withdi'awal looms ale attached to each language classi'o0m to encoui'age a tutorial appi'oacli to language learning. Language study within the school is also suppoi'led by native speakei's who come into the school once a week and by the School's EXchange Program whicli operates with two Japanese Schools, one German and one FIGncli School The development of a multi-cultural subject foi' Year Nine and Ten students who showed difficulties with a foreign language in Year Eight is also an innovative concept and one which OUT stale system will need to explore as our Languages Other Than English Progi'am becomes an InIe- gral part of all Primal'y and High Schools' curriculum I am adamant that cultural studies must I'eceive the same importance as the study of languages. AUSti'allans nave ITa- diiionally not in large numbers Ieai'ned other languages. This has been to OUT delrimeni, making us cultui'ally ISOla- 1101/1st. Brisbane Girls' Grammar students ai'e fortunate to attend a school whicli 11as the foresight to see the impor- lance of languages in a world which is nioving faster and closer tooether every day. Many of tile students here today will be Middle Managers in the yeai' 2010 and Senior Managers in 2020 it goes without saying that a coinpaiiy. for example, wish- ing 10 break into an Asian Mai'ket, would be wise to employ a person who had the I. elevant Asian language, was aware of the level of the country's Economic Development and therefore what was likely to be an appiopi'iaie product and also hatl insight into the society's Illstory, culture, val- ues and manners. Our schools In usI foster the developineni of this cullui'al understanding with Queensl and s tuttire genei'allons While, it is important and I'elevant 10 highlighi 111e eco nomic importance of the study of languages anti cultui'es, I do not believe it should be the ovei'-l'Iding factoi' delei'min- ing Government Policy. After all, to learn liboLii AsiaiT CUI- lures, which ai'e so Ticli in ideas and fLill of challenges, is a rewarding experience in its own I'ighi. Brisbane Girls' Grammar's commitment to languages and cultures is now supported by this modern communications centre. These improvements will mean the school's SIu- dents will have the skills and knowledge to woi'k effective- Iy and enjoy the challenges of life in the 21st Centui'y. The new Communications Centre is the culmination of the hard work and vision of all the Associated 01'ganisations

TITe in110duction of Equal Employment OPPoi'Iunity Plans in all Queensland Government Departments will ensure Inat as young women you will not have unnecessary and outdated myths hindering you from realising your dreams if you I. future careers bring you to Public Service. The Coss Government is committed to Equal Employment OPPoi'Iunity in all Government Departments. I am Ginphat- ICally committed to it in the Education Depai'linent because we understand that it is through female role inod- GIS, suclT as principals, that equality and ability are demon- sirated to all students, TheIe has never been a more promising time for young women to join the Education Department and I encourage 111e students here today to consider a career in Education. While there were concerns at the beginning of the yeai' that many Gladuate Teachers would not gain employment, the Government is on target to employ 1500 teacliers this yeai and of tlTese 80 per cent are recent graduates I would particularly like to highlight the opportunities available for good Language Other Than English Teachers both in OUT Primary and High Schools. The Goss Government's state wide Lote Program means that by the Year 2000 every state Primary School student will be studying a Foreign Language. To help make this possible in all Primary Schools, a special $1 million grant to sup- port Lote Programs in Non-Government Pi'jinary Schools will be provided in the upcoming state budget. Queensland is the only stale in Australia to have embarked o11 a coinpi'ehensive Foreign Language Program across Its Primary School population. So, in many ways the slate Government is following Brisbane Girls' Grammar's lead I am accompanied here today by the Manager of the Department's Languages Other Than English Unit, Mr Allan Langdon. When I visited the school earlier this year Mrs Hancock and Dr Grassie indicated their desire to work with the Department of Education in the introduction of our languages other than English Program. I therefore thought it would be useful if Mr Langdon visited the school to explore how Brisbane Girls' Grammar and the Department can work together to ensure OUT dream for a comprehensive Foreign Languages Program becomes a reality

1,111'I 11 I *! 4 ..

ill

I 11

,!

,

. ^

*,*

,

.

\

~-

\

~/

^

$

,

~

IL-R): C. Tumour, C. Wainwright, Mr Braddy, Dr Grassie, K. Orr, Mrs Hancock, Mrs Thornquist

10