A UNIQUE education program is breaking down language barriers at a Werribee primary school.
About 30 grade 2 pupils at Wyndham Park Primary School are learning to read and write in English and Karen as part of an education department bilingual program.
The program began as a pilot at two Wyndham kindergartens in 2010. The pupils have continued the classes during prep and grade 1 at Wyndham Park. About a quarter of the school’s pupils have a Karen background.
In the past three years, new school pupils who are keen to learn to talk to their Karen friends have joined the program.
Pupils are taught in English three days a week and in Karen for two days. The subjects taught in Karen mirror those being taught in English.
Teacher Louise Holley says the program helps Karen children learn English and allows English-speaking pupils to talk to Karen classmates in their own language. Karen teacher Tu Tu says the program gives pupils of different backgrounds a chance to shine.
“Some are good at writing, others are good at reading. Some students need me to write out the words and then they copy them out.”
Mr Tu encourages pupils to use Karen as much as possible.
He takes them on excursions, which they have to write about in their new language, and introduces them to Karen music during classes so they can learn about his culture.
For non-Karen pupils, the classes are a chance to learn something new.
Tauheed, whose family speaks Dari, said Karen was a fun language to learn.
“It’s easy to learn. I like learning numbers in Karen. It helps me talk to my friends.”
Principal Troy Johns said the program had helped Karen families connect with the wider school community.
“The Karen students don’t just stick together any more. There’s a greater understanding of them and their culture.”
Funding for the program runs out at the end of this year, but Mr Johns says the school is looking at ways to continue the classes.
Parent Ester Sunny said she would be disappointed if the program finished. She said her children had made more friends and had passed English on to other members of the family since joining the program.
