Podcast: Language barriers

This week on Policy Forum Pod we take a look at Australian education language policy and ask whether we’re doing enough to give young people the language skills they need.

Language is a powerful tool in increasing engagement, communication, and cross-cultural understanding, and could play a vital role in fostering relations between Australia and the Asia-Pacific. So how can we make sure we’re giving students the language skills and experience they need? On this week’s Policy Forum Pod an expert panel – Associate Professor Angela Scarino, Grazia Scotellaro, and Luke Courtois – discuss policy to encourage the study of Asian languages and whether it’s doing enough in the Asian Century. Listen here: https://aca.st/f68791

Our presenters – Professor Quentin Grafton, and Lydia Kim – also discuss what the latest twists and turns in the Brexit saga tell us about the state of democracy in the UK, tackle some of your questions and comments, and welcome some new members of our Facebook group.

Angela Scarino is an Associate Professor in Applied Linguistics in the School of Communication, International Studies and Languages at the University of South Australia and is the Director of the Research Centre for Languages and Cultures. She was visiting ANU to take part in the Innovative Language Education Symposium, organised by the School of Culture, History, and Language.

Grazia Scotellaro is the Digital Learning Advisor for the College of Asia and the Pacific at The Australian National University and has a background in Technology Enhanced Language Learning.

Luke Courtois recently graduated from The Australian National University with a Bachelor of International Security Studies completing a double major in International Security/Thai language.

Quentin Grafton is Professor of Economics at Crawford School, an ANU Public Policy Fellow, and Director of the Centre for Water Economics, Environment and Policy. He is also Editor-in-Chief of Policy Forum.

Lydia Kim is a presenter for Policy Forum Pod.

Show notes | The following were referred to in this episode:

Brexit news section on The Guardian

National Policy on Languages – Making multicultural Australia

List of Indigenous Australia languages

‘Australia in the Asian Century’ White Paper

University of South Australia Research Centre for Languages and Cultures

ANU School of Culture, History & Language

Early Learning Languages Australia (ella)

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This episode of Policy Forum Pod was produced by Lydia Kim, written by Lilliana Cazabon-Mitchell, and edited by Branko Cvetojevic, with executive production by Martyn Pearce. Special thanks to Gouri Banerji at the ANU School of Culture, History, and Language, and Angus Blackman in the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific.