Permanent crisis, tenuous persistence: Foreign languages in Australian universities

Abstract

The relative scarcity of language teaching at Australian universities today is linked to decisions made in the 1950s when language entrance requirements for universities were waived. Secondary schools' language provision was subsequently sent into decline. This created a need for introductory language courses in universities, which became the most common form of language provision. The introduction of rationalist economic policies in Australian universities further debilitated languages departments. When stringent budget cuts were made in higher education in the late 1990s, language provision was severely affected. Underlying all these social and political changes is the issue of ethnic relations in Australia. This article reviews the major developments in language teaching in Australian universities since the 19th century. As the teaching of languages is inexorably linked with the development of the secondary school system, the history of migration to Australia and developments in language policy, the article also briefly discusses these issues.