Intercultural Understanding

Melissa Deacon and Lin Yatsuzuka, Year 11

The interconnections and interactions of individuals of different cultural backgrounds underpin Australian society. Multiculturalism is often said to be Australia’s defining attribute, so fostering cultural and linguistic understanding in young people is critical. 

We think that is why language students in VCE, despite the workload and stress that comes with taking classes like French, Japanese and the like at this level, continue in their studies. Taking French/Japanese classes on a regular basis for a number of years has been advantageous to us on numerous fronts. 

First, the intercultural understanding that comes with learning about another country, language and culture is priceless. Cultural understanding is to many the most exciting aspect of undertaking a language, at least at first. 

At Kilvington, we try our best to integrate French and Japanese into extra-curricular clubs and other opportunities for the wider School, including having Year 7 cultural days, selling French pastries for Bastille Day, and having French/Japanese conversation classes for senior students. 

The development of comprehension of the differences between Australian society and other cultures helps to catalyse a student’s understanding of the wider world, and expands their ability for empathy.

Secondly, we feel that we are better prepared for employment and the future with the language skills we have acquired, and will hopefully continue to acquire, over the course of our study of the French and Japanese languages. 

Learning another language helps individuals prepare for employment, as it enables the student to communicate more effectively with others. In fact, taking foreign language classes can improve expression of a person’s mother tongue. 

As reported by the Sydney Morning Herald this year, a 2019 Italian study found that individuals aged 59-79 who engaged in learning a second language fared better on tests measuring thinking, understanding, problem-solving and functional connectivity. 

In short, the benefits to learning a language are numerous and significant. Improved cultural understanding, empathy, work and life opportunities and cognition all serve to be beneficial for each and every person who is capable of studying another language. 

While the strain of grades and testing may be stressful in the short term, the long-term advantages of learning another language counterbalance them - though we may be a bit biased!

At the very least, we encourage everyone thinking about trying to learn a new language, whatever it is, to give it a shot. Attend a class, learn some short phrases or how to conjugate a verb or watch a film in that language. 

Doing something small every day can be enough to foster meaningful understanding of different cultures, languages and countries other than your own.