Australia’s ‘monolingual mind’ widens its isolation from Asia

Australians’ lack of Asian language mastery is undermining their homeland’s influence. Change will require a ‘fundamental rethink’

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International students walk by Sydney Opera House. Analysts warn Australia risks falling behind if it continues to rely on English alone. Photo: Reuters

Published: 9:30am, 14 Jul 2024

Australia’s waning commitment to Asian language education is jeopardising its regional influence, academics and analysts warn – with participation in language courses plummeting over recent decades, despite policies meant to boost proficiency.

“Languages study has continued to deteriorate at alarming levels”, Australian education experts Louisa Field, Rachel Wilson and Ken Cruickshank revealed in a recent paper. This is in spite of broad recognition that mastering regional tongues is vital for Australia’s economic and geopolitical interests.

The academics’ research, which analysed the take-up of language courses over a two-decade period, found “little to no improvement” since a 1994 national push to prioritise four key Asian languages: Japanese, Mandarin, Korean and Indonesian.

This failure to nurture cross-cultural understanding is now drawing scrutiny from Australia’s neighbours.

At a recent Singapore forum, regional analysts pointedly questioned the depth of Australia’s Asia literacy and its fading influence in Southeast Asia.

I think Australia has a slight problem, and that’s understating it

William Choong, political analyst

“For Australia to understand Southeast Asia and vice versa, there needs to be a mutual understanding on both sides,” said ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute senior fellow William Choong at the May forum, organised by the think tank and the Australian High Commission in the city state.