When we think of bilingualism, we normally first think of someone with substantial skills in two or more languages. However, on more careful consideration, we realise that bilingual language skills vary greatly, depending on the needs they serve and the uses to which they are being put. Queensland, Australia is embarking on a massive limited bilingual primary school second language learning programme, in the limited sense of the term. All students in the state are by the year 2000 to be studying a language other than English in their first eight years of schooling to foster individual and national development. This proposal, potential problems for its implementation, and implications for schools and the wider society are discussed. The emphasis on studying Asian languages in the programme suggests the desire for Australians to develop a closer relationship with their Asian neighbours.
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