Berwick Primary School students are among the thousands of young Victorians who will learn a language alongside native speakers in 2013.

Member for Gembrook Brad Battin said Berwick Primary School would welcome a native speaker of Spanish as part of the Victorian Coalition Government’s plan to ensure that every Victorian government school student from Prep to Year 10 is learning a language by 2025, starting with Prep in 2015.

“Language assistants will provide hands-on support with pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary to both students and language teachers,” Mr Battin said.
“They will also bring skills in ICT, dance, drama, music and sport to their school communities.”

Education Minister Martin Dixon said 22 languages assistants from China, 10 from France, seven from Germany, three from Japan, two from Spain and two from Indonesia were welcomed to Victoria this week.

“The languages assistants program literally brings the world to Victorian schools,” Mr Dixon said.

“I am sure that each and every one of our languages assistants will do fantastic work in developing the language skills of Victorian students, while providing real world insights into their home countries and cultures.”

Mr Dixon said demand for languages assistants was growing, with more than 100 schools applying for an assistant in 2013.

Languages assistants are mostly recent university graduates in their home countries. The Chinese assistants receive a stipend from the Chinese Government and the remaining assistants’ salaries are paid by the Victorian Government.