The Western Australian Curriculum provides students with a comprehensive curriculum that prepares them to be global citizens. The Languages Learning Area is key to developing students’ intercultural capacity.
Indonesian language study was reintroduced at Exmouth District High School in 2024 for Year 3 to Year 8 students. As one of Australia’s closest neighbours, Indonesian is a strategically important language for our students. Learning Indonesian also provides the following benefits:
- Intercultural Understanding: Indonesia is a culturally rich country with a fascinating history and diverse traditions. Learning Indonesian helps students understand and appreciate others’ cultures in relation to their own.
- Career Opportunities: As one of Australia’s closest neighbours and a major trading partner, proficiency in Indonesian opens up a range of career opportunities in areas such as business, diplomacy, tourism, and more.
- Travel: Indonesia is a popular travel destination. Being able to speak the language enhances travel experiences and allows for more in-depth interaction with local people.
- Academic Benefits: Learning a new language improves cognitive skills including problem-solving, creativity, and critical thinking. It can also enhance English literacy because students revisit and revise grammatical rules and sentence structures when comparing and translating languages.
- Personal Growth: Learning Indonesian can be a fun and fulfilling personal challenge. It boosts students’ confidence and provides a sense of achievement.
Our Indonesian language program is designed to be engaging and accessible for all students, regardless of their linguistic background. The program covers a wide range of topics, including everyday conversation, negotiation skills, culture, media, and geography. Students are also encouraged to use their Indonesian language skills ‘in real life’ as they enter into an e-pal program with a school in Indonesia. As the Languages program at Exmouth District High School continues to grow, so will opportunities for our students, so watch this space!
