Languages

LANGUAGES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE STEINER CURRICULUM.

Learning a new language enhances literacy skills, improves memory and brain function, helps develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, fosters respect and understanding of other cultures, improves overall performance at school, creates career opportunities and enhances travel experiences. Learning a language in Primary school accelerates brain development. Oral skills are developed easily, and younger children have more time to become proficient in the new language.

A communicative competence is aimed for throughout the classes. We have two language teachers at our school that alternate with class groups. Our school has a strong focus on learning Arrernte, a language that belongs to Arrernte people, the traditional owners of the land and country where our school is based. We also teach German. 

During the first three years, language instruction focuses solely on oral activities. From the very beginning in Class 1, children are immersed in the sounds of new languages. This period is an ideal time for language acquisition, as young learners are highly attuned to the melodies, rhythms, and structures of speech. It is during this phase that we can nurture both precise pronunciation and a genuine enthusiasm for foreign languages.

The lessons incorporate seasonal poems, songs, tongue twisters, and verses that are suitable for the student’s age. There is virtually no limit to the variety of material that can be introduced at this stage. Students create their own books, filled with illustrations inspired by the lessons, which helps lay the groundwork for reading and writing the new language by the end of Class 3. Movement and liveliness are brought into the lessons through various games. By the conclusion of Class 3, children are expected to recognise different objects in their environment, as well as know vocabulary related to clothing, body parts, colours, numbers, and telling time.

In Classes 4 to 9, German & Arrernte lessons shift from an oral foundation to a more structured approach, integrating reading and writing with continued speaking and listening. Students explore grammar, sentence structure, and vocabulary through engaging activities like storytelling, dialogue, and creative writing. Cultural elements, such as German songs, poems, and festivals, deepen their connection to the language. In the upper classes, students read and discuss literature, enhance their comprehension, and express themselves in written and spoken German. Lessons maintain a balance between academic rigour and creativity, fostering a deeper appreciation for both language and culture.