City lags in second languages

THE number of Grade 12 students studying a foreign language in Cairns is higher than in Townsville, government data shows.

Figures released to the Bulletin by the Department of Education show there are 187 Grade 12 students in Cairns studying a language, compared with Townsville’s 118.

That number is significantly less in Mackay, with just 12 Grade 12 students studying a foreign language.

Across the state, there are 3193 Grade 12 students studying a second language.

As a whole there are 6594 Townsville school students from primary to secondary school studying a second language.

The data shows a gradual decline in Townsville in the number of students across year levels studying a language.

St Patrick’s College Townsville Grade 11 student Ella Evans is in her fourth year of studying French.

“I really enjoy learning about French culture and I think learning another language really helps my understanding of English and other cultures,” she said.

“It’s a lot more than learning another language, it’s learning that culture and about the greater world really. It’s learning about people and their way of life … to be tolerant and empathetic and understanding.”

Ella said studying a second language brought many benefits.

“It really does deepen your understanding of English and I don’t think a lot of people realise that … you get a deeper meaning of both languages and cultures,” she said.

St Patrick’s College Townsville Principal Paulina Skerman said the school stressed the importance of cosmopolitanism for its girls.

“The idea that they’re global citizens, learning a language is about looking outside of the current culture and we really value that,” she said.

The school offers French and Japanese to pupils.