Queensland School Revives Ancient Language

Bellbird Park State Secondary College is pioneering a new approach to language education with its Yagara language program, aiming to revive a "sleeping" Indigenous language. This initiative earned Deputy Principal Diane Pashen a Schools Plus Teaching Award, accompanied by a $20,000 grant. The program focuses on connecting students with both their local culture and their own heritage, a crucial goal in a school with over 54 different languages represented.

The Yagara program utilizes a distinctive co-teaching model, partnering with the Wirrinyah Gurrnung Corporation. Yagara people introduce new content, which is then consolidated by a supporting classroom teacher. This ensures authentic language instruction. Student assessment deviates from traditional exams, instead evaluating conversational skills with Yagara speakers, reflecting a deeper engagement with the language and culture.

This program, previously recognized as the best First Nations program, also delves into Yagara culture, covering totems and significant local landmarks. Pashen plans to expand the program into the senior curriculum and hopes to share the model with other schools. She will visit schools in the Northern Territory as part of her fellowship, seeking further inspiration for authentic teaching and learning.

This successful model aims to prevent the Yagara language from being confined to a small number of speakers. The school actively partners with research projects dedicated to documenting Indigenous languages. Students like Allorah Wittmann find the Yagara alphabet engaging but challenging, appreciating the opportunity to hear and learn the language spoken.