WA principal on engaging with Asia

We recently caught up with Lis Turner, principal at the Waggrakine primary school, who earlier this year participated in the Leading 21st Century Schools: Engage with Asia program.

Located in a suburb of Geraldton in Western Australia, it has 380 students and 25 teaching staff.

Ms Turner explained the challenge: ‘There is no current Asian language study, no Asian language speaking teachers, few resources about Asia, and only one family of Asian extraction, recently moved from the Philippines.’

Nonetheless, she added, ‘several teachers had travelled extensively through the Asian region and had a strong personal interest and understanding of Asian cultures’.

Alleviating Concerns

Teaching staff were concerned about how to fit Asian languages and culture into the crowded curriculum. ‘However, once the imperatives for including an integrated Asian focus in the curriculum was explained, the staff became enthusiastic supporters and could readily see the need and benefit of providing opportunities for students to learn about Asia.’

Full support for including Asia in teaching and learning was gained from the Parents and Citizens group.

A collective effort

Ms Turner continued: ‘An interschool network has been created amongst other schools within our Midwest cluster that are part of the Leading 21st Century Schools program. There have been several meetings which have allowed us to share ideas and resources.’

The school’s newfound enthusiasm for Asia literacy has led to forming a relationship with a sister school in Pelaga village in Bali. ‘Our classes have begun communicating with classes in Bali, as they learn Indonesian and they will hopefully begin communicating with us as English becomes part of their curriculum.’ 

‘The year six and seven children are making a short video of all the classes in the school, presenting English language songs and rhymes to provide the Pelaga school with new activities in learning English.’

And the project has bedded down firm roots for Asia literacy not merely within the school walls.  ‘As a whole school we are planning to continue to promote the importance of Asia literacy to the wider community through encouraging publicity of school events celebrating our engagement with Asia,’ she said.

Read more

• Main Leading 21st Century Schools page
• Read case studies of more schools involved in the program
• Waggrakine Primary School homepage