Cover not available

Article published In: Australian Review of Applied Linguistics
Vol. 13:2 (1990) ► pp.40–80

Get fulltext from our e-platform
JBE logo with link
PDF logo with download linkDownload PDF
authorization required

A review of bilingual education in Aboriginal Australia

 | South Australian College of Advanced Education
Published online: 1 January 1990
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/aral.13.2.03gal
Abstract
This paper reviews the state of bilingual education in Aboriginal Australia today. Critical issues associated with the current bilingual debate are raised and discussed in relation to existing and past programs with evidence presented from both sides. The paper addresses the issue of Aboriginalization of schools and the positive impact this will have on bilingual education in Australia in the future. Aboriginal people themselves are now making the decisions about their own school language programs. The fate of bilingual education is, to a large extent, in their hands.
References (33)
References
Amery, R. (1986) A new diglossia: Contemporary speech varieties at Yirrkala in NE Arnhem Land. MA sub-thesis, Department of Linguistics, A.N.U.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
In press (1991) What can (or should) you do with a dead language. VOX No. 61.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Commonwealth Education & Universities Commission (1950) Annual Report, Sydney.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(1951) Annual Report, Sydney.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Cummins, J. (1984) The role of primary language development in promoting educational success for language minority students. In Schooling and language minority students: a theoretical framework. Californian State Department of Education: 3–49.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(1986) Empowering minority students: A framework for intervention. Harvard Education Review 56, 1: 18–36. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Dickinson, R. (1987) Yiyili: An Aboriginal community school, Wikaru 141: 18–36.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Edwards, W.H. (1969) Experience in the use of the vernacular as an introductory medium of instruction. In S. Dunn. & C. Tatz (eds) Aborigines and education Melbourne, Sun Books: 272–288.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Fesl, E. (1984) Saving Aboriginal Languages. Education News 18,9: 29–30.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Fishman, J. A. (1976) Bilingual education: What and why? In J. Alatis & K. Twaddell (eds) English as a second language in bilingual education. Washington, TESOL: 263–272.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(1985) The rise and fall of the ethnic revival Berlin, Mouton. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
French-Kennedy, T. (1982) Anangu teacher education: a survey of community needs, S.A. College of Advanced Education, Adelaide.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Gale, K., D. McClay, M. Christie & S. Harris (1981) Academic Achievement in the Milingimbi Bilingual Program. TESOL Quarterly 15, 3: 297–314. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hanson, G. (1979) The position of the second generation of Finnish immigrants in Sweden: the importance of education in the home language to the welfare of second generation immigrants. Paper presented at a symposium. Split, Yugoslavia.
Harris, S. (1980) More haste less speed: Time and timing for the language programs in N.T. Aboriginal bilingual programs. The Aboriginal Child at School 81: 23–43. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(1982) Bilingual education in the N.T.: A sharp tool easily blunted. Australian Review of Applied Linguistics 5,1: 25–29. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
(1989) The place of Aboriginal Languages in Aboriginal Education in the N.T. Keynote address to The 3rd International Convention of the Indonesian Cultural and Education Institute, Darwin.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Harris, S., B. Graham & P. Buschenhofen (1984) Aboriginal bilingual education in the N.T.: Priorities for the 2nd decade. Paper presented at the 9th annual congress of The Applied Linguistics Association of Australia, Alice Springs.
Hart, A. M. (1970) A History of the education of full-blood Aborigines in S.A. (Unpublished) MA thesis, Adelaide University.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hyams, Trethaway et al. (1988) Learning and other things: Sources for a social history of education in S.A. Adelaide, Government Printer.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Kimberley Catholic Education Language Team (1988) Two-way learning: Language and culture in schools. Catholic Education Office, Broome, W.A.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Lambert, W.E. & G.R. Tucker (1972) Bilingual education of children: The St. Lambert experiment. Rowley, Mass., Newbury House.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Liberman, K. (1981) Aboriginal education: the school at Strelley, W.A. Harvard Educational Review 51,1: 139–144. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Lewis, E. (1977) Bilingualism and bilingual education: The Ancient world to the Renaissance. In B. Spolsky & R. Cooper (eds) Frontiers of bilingual education. Rowley, Mass., Newbury House: 22–93.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Lock, A. (1951) Travels across Australia. Melbourne, Robertson & Mullens.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
McConvell, P. (In press) Understanding language shift: A step towards language maintenance. In P. McConvell (ed.) Can Aboriginal languages survive? to appear in S. Romaine (ed.) Language in Australia. New York, Cambridge University Press.
Murtagh, E. (1979) Creole and English used as languages of instruction with Aboriginal Australians. (Unpublished) D.Ed, thesis, Stanford University.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
National Aboriginal Education Committee (1986) Policy statement on teacher education for Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. Canberra, Australian Government Publishing Service.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
N.T. Dept. of Education (1986) Handbook for Aboriginal Bilingual Education in the N.T. Darwin, N.T.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Skutnabb-Kangas, T. & P. Toukomaa (1976) Teaching migrant children’s mother tongue and learning the language of the host country in the context of the socio-cultural situation of the migrant family. The Finnish National Commission For UNESCO, Helsinki.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Vorih, L. & P. Rosier (1978) Rock Point community school: an example of a Navajo-English elementary school program. TESOL Quarterly 12,3: 263–269. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Walton, C. and W. Eggington (eds) (1990) Language: Maintenance, power and education in Australian Aboriginal contexts. Darwin, Northern Territory University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Watts, B., W. McGrath & J. Tandy (1973) Recommendations for the implementation and development of a program of bilingual education in schools in Aboriginal communities in the N.T. Department of Education, Canberra.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Cited by (13)

Cited by 13 other publications

Oliver, Rhonda & Carly Steele
2025. Applied Linguistics in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander contexts (1977–2026). Australian Review of Applied Linguistics DOI logo
Lo Bianco, Joseph
2022. Reconceptualizing literacy for a new Australia. The Australian Journal of Language and Literacy 45:3 ► pp. 281 ff. DOI logo
Thomas, Archie
2021. Bilingual education, Aboriginal self-determination and Yolŋu control at Shepherdson College, 1972–1983. History of Education Review 50:2 ► pp. 196 ff. DOI logo
Oldfield, Janine & Joseph Lo Bianco
2019. A Long Unfinished Struggle: Literacy and Indigenous Cultural and Language Rights. In Literacy Education and Indigenous Australians [Language Policy, 19], ► pp. 165 ff. DOI logo
Freeman, Leonard A. & Bea Staley
2018. The positioning of Aboriginal students and their languages within Australia’s education system: A human rights perspective. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology 20:1 ► pp. 174 ff. DOI logo
McKay, Graham
2017. The Policy Framework for Bilingual Education in Australian Indigenous Languages in the Northern Territory. In History of Bilingual Education in the Northern Territory [Language Policy, 12], ► pp. 85 ff. DOI logo
Disbray, Samantha
2014. Evaluating the Bilingual Education Program in Warlpiri schools. In Language Description Informed by Theory [Studies in Language Companion Series, 147], ► pp. 25 ff. DOI logo
McKay, Graham R.
2011. Policy and Indigenous languages in Australia. Australian Review of Applied Linguistics 34:3 ► pp. 297 ff. DOI logo
Harris, Stephen & Brian Devlin
1997. Bilingual Programs Involving Aboriginal Languages in Australia. In Bilingual Education, ► pp. 1 ff. DOI logo
Watts, Noel
1997. Innovative Second Language Education in the South Pacific. In Encyclopedia of Language and Education, ► pp. 231 ff. DOI logo
Watts, Noel
2008. Innovative Second and Foreign Language Education in the South Pacific. In Encyclopedia of Language and Education, ► pp. 1350 ff. DOI logo
Gale, Mary-Anne
1994. Dhangu Djorra'wuy Dhäwu: A Brief History of Writing in Aboriginal Language. The Aboriginal Child at School 22:1 ► pp. 22 ff. DOI logo
Gale, Mary-Anne
1994. Dhangum Djorra'wuy Dhäwu: A Brief History of Writing in Aboriginal Languages. The Aboriginal Child at School 22:2 ► pp. 33 ff. DOI logo

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 14 november 2025. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.

Mobile Menu Logo with link to supplementary files background Layer 1 prag Twitter_Logo_Blue