Teacher feted for work in language

A CAIRNS language teacher has been named a finalist in Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) Excellence in Beginning to Teach Award.

Smithfield State High School French teacher Tangi Montfort redesigned the school’s language department and introduced a French immersion program.

The Tropical North Learning Academy – Smithfield State High School is trialling French immersion in Year 9, with students learning Humanities subjects, including opening bank accounts, history of World War I and global warming in the language.

Students have achieved outstanding results under the initiative, which was conceptualised, developed and implemented by Tangi Montfort, who came to Australia from France eight years ago. He will fly to Brisbane on Friday to attend the awards ceremony.

“I am passionate about language – not only French,” Mr Montfort said. “You just need to work in Australia to realise that people speak many languages. I am not saying that English is not important – English is extremely important – but I think it is not enough anymore.

“I think we always talk about 21st century skills – I just can’t see how the present Prep and Year 1 students can be successful in life without being able to speak two or three languages. Often people think ‘I have been very successful in life and I don’t speak another language’ … but they don’t need to be successful in 25 years, they are successful now, so changing this mindset is very important.”

Mr Montfort is also making a difference through his involvement in the school’s indigenous Leaders of Tomorrow Team, which is working on closing the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous student outcomes, and curriculum leadership roles in the Humanities and English faculties, in Philosophy, the International Student Program and Graduate Program.