The University of Queensland is going back to primary school to give young learners access to top-tier education, in a unique collaboration to combat the growing shortage of language teachers.
UQ’s Institute of Modern Languages (IML) has provided Compass Independent School in Brisbane’s Kelvin Grove with a Spanish teacher for Prep to Year 6, with UQ Associate Lecturer Ms Paola Tagini teaching regular classes.
IML Academics Program Manager Dr Claudia Vasquez Fernandez said this collaboration model was innovative and provided a practical response to the ever-growing need for comprehensive second language education in Australian schools.
“In today’s interconnected world, learning a second language is even more crucial,” Dr Vasquez Fernandez said.
“Importantly, it fosters multilingualism and promotes cultural competence and awareness in learners from an early age.”
Ms Tagini said she had found the experience incredibly rewarding since the partnership began in late January.
“I am a junior teacher by trade so it has been wonderful to get back into a primary school classroom and pass on my passion for teaching Spanish,” Ms Tagini said.
“Learning a second language is very beneficial, especially to start at such a young age, so I am trying to bring energy and excitement to the students for that one hour a week.
“Hopefully they will continue to learn the language and one day I can teach them in a university setting.”
Compass founder and Principal Ms Alicia Gilbert said the partnership provided them with a highly skilled and engaging teacher who supported students in real-world communication and cultural exploration.
“We are so excited to see our language program already sparking curiosity, confidence and a deeper connection with the world,” Ms Gilbert said.
While the partnership launched with a Spanish language program, Ms Gilbert said they hoped to expand the partnership to include a range of languages in the high school curriculum in 2026.
“This further collaboration will give our Year 7 to 10 students the opportunity to choose a language that interests them, rather than being limited to a single option,” she said.
This is the second program IML has run in partnership with a school, the first in Victoria last year with a Latin program.
