JUNIOR SCHOOL
FORMING DEEPER HUMAN CONNECTIONS
LEARNING A LANGUAGE ALLOWS STUDENTS TO THINK IN A MUCH
BROADER SENSE .
BY LEARNING A LANGUAGE
Thinking , feeling , speaking , listening , reading and writing in new ways
We live in a beautiful country . Australia is a nation of many colours and traditions . People have made their home here from all points of the globe , and trying to live harmoniously together seems to be at the heart of our identity .
As a teacher of language , the theme of this edition ( harmony and advancement ) reminded me of the movie Stargate . This movie is a wonderful example of the importance of language and the value of intercultural understanding . In the movie , it is the linguist who saves the day . Through the use of the stargate , an unknown galaxy is discovered and they have a written language of complicated circular symbols .
The linguist begins to learn the people ’ s basic vocabulary . As he becomes more proficient , he is able to communicate with and develop an empathy for the people on the other side of the gate . It is his ability to translate what they are saying , and seeking out first to understand rather than be understood , that develops a rapport and leads to a positive relationship being developed .
At school , or in this country , we are not dealing with secret codes on gates and unknown civilisations . We are dealing with people – children , adults and communities . But the concept is the same – seek first to understand , rather than to be understood .
Perhaps the best quote on the subject came from Nelson Mandela , who said : ' If you talk to a man in a language he understands , that goes to his head . If you talk to him in his own language that goes to his heart '.
Learning a language allows students to think in a much broader sense . It allows them to think , feel , speak , listen , read and write in new ways they never thought possible . And the best outcome is that the new things they discover lead to greater sensitivity , which in turn will benefit the wellbeing of society as a whole .
I hope that many of our boys will continue to strengthen their language capabilities . It is , I believe , one way of moving forward and it is all about forming deeper and even more meaningful human connections .
CORNELIA KOEHNE-DRUBE – HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL LOTE
12 Great Scot Issue 160 – September 2020