Author: Alyson Moore, ABBEY Language Travel
Analysis of NSW Board of Studies statistics shows an overall increase over the last 10 years in the number of senior high school students taking up languages at Beginner level. With the exception of German, there are now more students taking HSC Beginner courses in Japanese, French, Italian, Spanish and Chinese than in 2006.
Whilst 2016 HSC enrolments of French Beginners have remained steady compared with 2006, Beginners of Japanese, Italian and Spanish have grown by 13%, 18% and 17% respectively (see Table below). Japanese Beginners exceeded French Beginners in terms of HSC enrolments in 2016.
Reference data drawn from www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/bos_stats/media-guides.html
There is however a decline by 20% or more in the same period in the number of students taking these 6 languages as HSC subjects at more advanced levels (Continuer & Extension).
Reference data drawn from www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/bos_stats/media-guides.html