Flames123

Good morning all!

Can someone please tell me if school kids in Western Australia need to take up a second language?

Is this compulsory? If yes, what are the language options they have and at what grade is this introduced?

teza

Depends on schools and starts in primary, my kids have gone through 3 different primaries, the languages were French (in Perth), Indonesian (in busselton) and last 5 yrs it's been Japanese. They are part of curriculum.

Flames123

Thanks Teza, but is this compulsory?
My kids will be joining in Grade 6 and wont know a word of the other languages...how will they cope?

teza

Mine have joined in, as said gone through different schools, teachers seem to bring them up to speed very well. As said, if it's part of curriculum, it's compulsory. This usually carries on to local high school teaching the same language

Flames123

hmm..thanks not really reassuring, but I do hope my kids manage well

quoll

I wouldnt panic - they dont learn much of the language anyway, not like we had to conjugate verbs and all that, just cultural stuff and some stock phrases. They'll probably be doing a different language in HS anyway and will start over. LOTE is a curriculum requirement (we even had schools in ACT which did AUSLAN!)