Book Description

This work is one in a series that focuses on nine languages representing the bulk of the second language learning effort in Australian education (Arabic, Modern Standard Chinese, French, German, Modern Greek, Indonesian/Malay, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish). These languages were categorized as the Languages of Wider Teaching. This particular volume aims to describe the position of Chinese language in the various education systems in Australia, the direction and quantity of change since the introduction of the National Policy on Languages, and factors promoting and/or inhibiting expanded language teaching and study. This profile will then be set against Australia's international economic and strategic context, as well as the current dynamic situation for Chinese language usage in Australia. Recommendations are offered on how best to achieve an efficient and equitable provision of Chinese language in Australia. Appendices provide a list of references and a bibliography, language map of China, gender breakdown for primary secondary statistics of the Chinese language in Australia, and a language study questionnaire. (Contains 86 references.) (Author)